V-Cs who left an indelible mark on OU
In reaching the century milestone, Osmania University has come across men who have given their all to make the institution stand out. If the vision of the founder himself was exemplary, people who took the baton later left indelible impression on their times.
As OU enters the 100th year of its formation, it’s important to recall the contribution of some Vice-Chancellors, who worked in the most turbulent times of the varsity’s history and took tough decisions to restore the glory of this famed institution.
Nawab Aliyawar Jung Bahadur (1948-52)
The credit for mainstreaming and integrating the then vernacular OU into the broader milieu of post-Independence era goes to him. He headed OU when Hyderabad State was merged into the Indian Union. The Nizam College (established in 1887), affiliated to University of Madras till then became a part of Osmania University in 1948.
Suri Bhagavantham (1952-57)
He set a new vision for the university and embarked on integrated development of science education and research through institution-building and interface with national laboratories. He later became the Director of IISC, Bengaluru.
D.S. Reddy (1957-69)
It was an epoch-making period for OU that registered substantial progress in different spheres and emerged a pace-setter in higher education at the national level. The university celebrated golden jubilee on a grand scale in 1968. He vigorously pursued the cause of university autonomy.
Ravada Satyanarayana (1969-72)
He was an outstanding teacher and provided a healing touch to the university transitioning through a turbulent era with the OU becoming the hotbed of the Telangana agitation.
P. Jaganmohan Reddy (1975-77)
A jurist, he took on the mantle of resurrection of OU from the prevailing rot and brought in discipline while creating conducive atmosphere for serious academic pursuits. The notoriety of mass copying was suppressed by him and he set right students by debarring them for copying. The university established three District PG Centres to expand the avenues of higher education during his tenure.
G. Ram Reddy (1977-82)
His indelible imprint can be seen in giving a new thrust to academic pursuits and envisioning distance education as a viable and alternative mode. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first State open university (BRAOU) and also the first national open university (IGNOU) in India. The university celebrated diamond jubilee in 1978.
Syed Hashim Ali (1982-85)
An IAS officer with an academic bent of mind, he succeeded in stabilising the university and infusing dynamism into its functioning. He took upon campus beautification to create conducive academic ambience and all the greenery one sees on the campus now and the pavements is attributed to him. He later headed the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
T. Navaneeth Rao (1985-91)
The credit for vigorous pursuit of sustained development of the university and protection of university land goes to him. He built the massive boundary wall that helps the university in keeping the land sharks away, to a large extent. He also strengthened the network of District PG Centres by setting up one centre each in Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar, which now have been elevated as State universities.
M. Malla Reddy (1991-95)
The university celebrated platinum jubilee during his tenure marked by several controversies. But he was credited with the expansion of District PG Centres along with the conferment of autonomy to campus colleges. A new faculty of oriental languages was carved out during his period.
V. Ramakistayya (1996-99)
He successfully pursued the task of streamlining the university functioning and setting up of four specific inter-disciplinary centres of excellence to promote teaching and research. The university also hosted 85th session of the Indian Science Congress in 1998.
D.C. Reddy (1999-2002)
He unveiled a distinctive vision for OU and pursued with passion his mission for its planned development. Besides academic reforms like introduction of semester system in PG courses, he also initiated institutional innovations like Directorate of Admissions and University Foreign Relations Office (UFRO) as a single window agency for international students. The university secured NAAC grade of five stars in 2001 under him. He also took a bold decision of closing down hostels for vacations thus driving away non-boarders while the allocation of rooms was taken away from the clutches of student unions.
J. Anantha Swamy (2002-04)
He set out with significant initiatives of consolidation of academic reforms like extension of semester system and establishment of new institutions such as Research, Development and Consultancy Cell (RDCC) and Alumni Association of Osmania University (AAOU). He extended semester system to all affiliated colleges and was also credited with the modern Central Facility Building.
Mohd Suleman Siddiqui (2005-08)
He is credited with the establishment of University-Industry Hub for the first time on the campus and also launched a unique course ‘Learn while you Earn’ in B.Com in association with GECIS. The library also went digital. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam attended 77th convocation of OU while Hameed Karzai, Afghanistan President, also visited the varsity during his term.
T. Tirupati Rao (2008-11)
Despite the Telangana agitation being at its peak during his term, he launched the Choice-Based Semester System (CBCS) and ensured that exams were held at any cost, thus saving the academic year. A well-known social scientist, he had to go through a tough period as even teachers joined the separate statehood agitation. Addition of girls’ hostels was another positive aspect of his period.
S. Satyanarayana (2011-14)
He inherited the hostile atmosphere on the campus with the Telangana agitation spiralling and the reputation of the academic institution being at stake. However, it was during his tenure that the university secured the prestigious University with Potential for Excellence (UPE) status.
