Baru Venkata Govinda Rao was born in Rajahmundry on 26 November 1920. Popularly known as V.G.R. Baru, his father Baru Raja Rao was a freedom fighter. He was expelled from college for participating in the Vande Mataram movement and went to jail for participating in the Civil Disobedience movement. He worked as Secretary of All India Congress. Govinda Rao's mother Baru Alivelamma was also a freedom fighter. Her statue was installed in Rajahmundry Freedom Park. Following in the footsteps of his parents, Govinda Rao was inspired by the freedom movement from childhood. He was debarred from high school in 1941 for his participation in the student movement and for going to a meeting of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and garlanding him.
Trained in social service at Sevagram Ashram, Wardha, 1941-42, Rao worked as a volunteer in Hindustan Sevadal in 1946. He was active in the freedom movement and celebrated with great joy after Independence.
From 1954, he worked as social education organizer on behalf of Andhra Pradesh Government. Having received the facilities of pension and railway pass, he travelled all over the country.
He breathed his last on May 13, 2002.