A.U. Centenary Alumni Meet Felicitates Distinguished Graduates* *MLA's Palla Srinivasa Rao and Vishnu Kumar Raju underscore need to restore academic autonomy*

.                          Sharma K .V. Editor 
Visakhapatnam,  : Visakhapatnam Darpan news service 13:December : The Andhra University Centenary Alumni Meet, organised under the aegis of the Department of Civil Engineering as part of the institution’s centenary celebrations, unfolded on Friday with notable solemnity and warmth. The event saw the felicitation of three distinguished alumni whose contributions across public service and industry have earned them considerable acclaim.

Among those honoured were Gajuwaka MLA and State President of the Telugu Desam Party, Palla Srinivasa Rao, a senior alumnus of the Civil Engineering department; B. Brahmanayya, former Chief Engineer in the Irrigation Department; and P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Visakhapatnam North MLA and Director of SVC Projects Pvt. Ltd. The gathering acknowledged their professional accomplishments with sustained applause, underscoring the enduring bond between the university and its alumni.

Addressing the assembly, Mr. Srinivasa Rao described Andhra University as an institution that has, for decades, shaped some of the country’s finest engineers, scientists, and administrators. He noted that the Civil Engineering department, in particular, has long served as the backbone of Andhra Pradesh’s infrastructure development. Strengthening alumni–university linkages, he argued, would pave the way for deeper engagement with industry and expand employment opportunities for students.

In a sharp critique of the previous administration, he contended that the autonomy of universities had been undermined during the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy regime. Between 2019 and 2024, he said, even premier institutions such as Andhra University witnessed unwarranted politicisation, eroding the academic ethos that should have been safeguarded. Educational institutions, he emphasised, must remain centres of knowledge and research, not arenas for partisan influence. Any dilution of academic independence, he warned, inflicts lasting damage on the State’s educational reputation.

Contrasting this with the present governance approach, Mr. Srinivasa Rao asserted that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has set the State back on a reform-oriented trajectory. By delinking education from political interference and by restoring respect for academic autonomy, the government, he said, is advancing a clear roadmap that integrates education, skill development, and employment. The Chief Minister’s decisions, aimed at enhancing the standing of universities at both national and global levels, would, in his view, serve as foundational steps for Andhra Pradesh’s long-term progress.

The TDP State President urged young people to cultivate scientific temper, ethical values, and competence in emerging technologies. Aligning with the Chief Minister’s forward-looking vision, the government, he said, is committed to transforming education into a generator of employment and innovation. He expressed hope that the centenary celebrations of Andhra University would not merely remain ceremonial, but would inspire a renewed commitment to academic excellence and institutional integrity.