Rajamahendravaram:Many a great personality worked in this college

Rajamahendravaram: A sizable number of great personalities either worked or studied in the Government College (Autonomous) in the historical and cultural city which is an abode of world class education coupled with life skills and soft skills. The college has been in existence for the last 167 successful years, the oldest college in the State. Now, it has attained the status as a centre of excellence and a smart campus for inspiration.

The college has produced great stalwarts of India as well as many great personalities worked in the college.

Initially, it came into existence as a Zill Parishad High School in 1853 and in the year 1885, it was upgraded into a college. In 1891, the college obtained the affiliation to the Madras University and in 1926 it was affiliated to the Andhra University.

On a par with Presidency College in Madras and Kumbhakonam College in Kumbhakonam, the Government College was graded as top class in the Madras Presidency. Great personalities like Dr Sarvepalli Radha Krishnan (the second President of India) worked as Lecturer in Philosophy from 1916-19 and noted social reformer Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu worked as Telugu lecturer during 1876-77.

The alumni of the college include Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu (first chief minister of Andhra Pradesh), KV Reddy Naidu (former Governor of Madras Presidency in 1936), Adavi Bapi Rju (artist and novelist), Varahagiri Jogaiah Panthulu (father of former President of India VV Giri), VK Krishna Menon (former Union minister), Padma Bhushan PS Rao (ICS and former Kerala Governor), Justice Koka Subba Rao (former Chief Justice of India), Justice V Pardhasaradhi, Justice MS Ramachandra Rao, Justice M Krishna Rao, Bhamidipati Kameswara Rao (humorist), Kavi Kondala Venkat Rao (lyricist), M Narasimham Panthulu (former member of Madras Public Service Commission), Dr Suri Bhagavantham (noted Physicist), C Venkatachalam Panthulu (first AP Bar Council member), D Seshagiri Rao Panthulu (Kakinada Municipal chairman) and AVS Krishna Rao (violinist), Gadicharla Hari Sarvottama Rao etc.

As part of its introduction of higher education, in 1930, B. Sc course with MPC group was started, in 1957-PUC course, in1958--Arts courses, in 1971, Post Graduate courses and in 1998, restructured courses in B.Sc were introduced.

In 2000, the autonomous status was conferred to the college, in 2003, it was accredited with A Grade by NAAC, in 2006, autonomous status was extended up to 2013, in 2011, it was reaccredited with A Grade by NAAC, in 2015, autonomous status was extended up to 2020, in 2015, community college was started, in 2016, the college was conferred with the title 'college with potential for excellence' status by the University Grants Commission and in 2016, Rs 80 lakh DFST-FIST grant was sanctioned, in 2017, seven job-oriented courses were introduced, in 2018, ten job-oriented courses were started and in 2019, four PG courses were started.

The college has nine research centres and 61 academic programmes including 47 under graduation and 14 post-graduation programmes and is currently offering 21 value-added certificate courses. The college made it mandatory to all students to study value added courses.

At present, the strength of the college is 5,000 students. Moreover, the college has as many as 86,246 books including 78,863 textbooks, 23 research journals and 7,383 reference books in its reference section.

Relating to student support services, the college has Jawahar Knowledge Centre, career guidance cell, value education cell, academic cell, learning resource centre, departmental libraries, NSS and NCC units, grievance and anti-ragging cells, district resource centre, eco- and red ribbon clubs, women empowerment cell and others are functioning along with Andhra University distance education study centre and Dr BR Ambedkar Open University study centre.

Speaking to 'The Hans India' in Rajamahendravaram on Tuesday, college principal Dr Rapaka David Kumar said that the college follows the principle 'student is first' and takes up the challenge of nurturing the minds of the students. The college is serving the society with vision through value-based education, he added.

Dr Rapaka said that the pedagogy is student-centric with an emphasis on all-round growth and progress of the students. For the benefit of the students many programmes such as seminars, guest lectures, field trips, study projects, group discussions and remedial classes are also being conducted.

The college has a number of amenities such as science and computer laboratories, spacious classrooms, open gym, open air auditorium, virtual and digital classrooms with interactive boards, integrated attendance management system, digital library, dynamic website, CCTV surveillance, immaculate canteen and sprawling play grounds among others.