The illustrious Arts and Science College in Anantapur is on the verge of completing 100 years of existence. The college is the alma mater of many great leaders and eminent personalities.
Established by the British on July 8, 1916 as part of their effort to bring advanced education to the people of the ceded districts, the institution has effectively served the educational needs of the region and has produced many stalwarts.
The erstwhile Anantapur region comprised the present-day Bellary district of Karnataka, besides the Rayalaseema districts and the Nellore district.
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice-President and second President of India, worked here as a teaching staff for a few years in its early days. Former President and the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was a student of this college in the early 1930s while in the later years, many luminaries like the first Dalit Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Damodaram Sanjivaiah, former ISRO chairman Padma Bhushan U.R. Rao and former RBI Governor Y.V. Reddy among many other IAS, IRS and IPS officers were associated with the college.
Currently, the college offers 31 under-graduate programs and 14 post-graduate courses and is home to 7964 students. More than 90 per cent of them belong to the economically poor and disadvantaged sections of the society.
The college administration plans to announce 2015-16 as centenary celebrations year.
“An alumni meeting has been called on January 4 (Sunday) to chalk out an elaborate plan to celebrate the grand occasion in a fitting manner,” said Principal N. Ranga Swamy.
