R.Yagnaraman was born in 1922 . He Graduated from Loyola College, Chennai, secured a law degree from Madras Law College and while practicing in the bar for 15 years, he got involved in cultural, social and religious activities. From 1954, he became closely associated with Krishna Gana Sabha at Thyagaraya Nagar, Chennai as a member of the Managing Committee and as Joint Secretary till he was elected as General Secretary in 1956 and continued to serve till April 2007 for a duration of 50 years steadily.

During his stewardship from 1956, three major festivals of Music, Dance & Drama were organized each year instituting awards to eminent artistes -the awards of “Sangeetha Choodamani”, “Nritya Choodamani” & “Nataka Choodamani” for each field of arts carrying a cash award and a Gold Medallion for Music, Dance & Theatre respectively. He pioneered & instituted the Natya Kala Conference from 1980 in December each year for a period of 10 days at an all-India Level – the first of its kind, representing all classical dances of India. Under his stewardship, the Sabha launched a talent promotion scheme in 1965 which is still going strong and today, most musicians and dancers who are ranked in their respective field have been identified and encouraged by Krishna Gana Sabha.

R. Yagnaraman also served in the Executive Committee of Tamilnadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram, the cultural wing of Tamilnadu Government for 5 years & as Vice Chairman for 5 years. The only Sabha Secretary ever elected as Vice Chairman of the Iyal Isai Nataka Manram, Government of Tamilnadu served as a member of the local audition board of Chennai All India Radio and in the advisory council of All India Radio in National Programmes. Elected as President of Federation of City Sabhas from 1975 to 1982. Krishna Gana Sabha was housed in a steel framed asbestos sheeted structure built at a very nominal cost of Rs.1,10,000/- in 1960 under his secretaryship mainly from contributions by himself and from the Committee members. Under his stewardship, Krishna Gana Sabha was renovated in the year 2003 in traditional Chettinad /Tanjore style without employing concrete at a cost of Rs 65 lakhs to make it a temple of arts befitting the status of the Sabha with its hoary 52 years of contribution to the growth and promotion of classical arts, purely from contributions from well-wishers and general public. He is a recipient of many awards such as the Kalaimamani, Nada Seva Ratna, Bharatha Seva Ratna, Kala Poshaka, Sangeetha Prachara Mani‟, Tirupugazh Maamani‟, Sangeetha Seva Niratha, Kalai Selvam, amongst others.