Attender’s PhD becomes a text book for AU students

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 18: In the present scenario of youth neglecting research works, falling prey for easy money by working in call centres, Bora Venkata Ramana Reddy becomes an inspiration to them. B V R Reddy, who joined Andhra University as a temporary attender in 1982, is a proud possessor of PhD in Telugu now. He was the first person to get a doctorate from the non-teaching staff of the Telugu department, which was formed in 1931. Andhra University was initially started with lone Telugu department. Till now 255 PhDs and 133 M Phil degrees were awarded in the department. His thesis “Andhra University-spread of functional Telugu” work was just published in a form of 300page book. And now he takes pride himself calling “Dr B V R Reddy”.It all started when Reddy joined the Andhra University as a temporary attender in the Telugu Etymological Scheme in 1982 immediately after writing his SSC exam. After getting inspired seeing the research scholars and the letters “Dr” before the names of the PhD holders, he decided to get a doctorate from the university. He strived hard to attend night classes, at the Bharatiya Tutorials College in Dabagardens between 1982 and 1984, after a day’s hectic work at the department and completed his intermediate.Later he immediately joined in the night college of Mrs AVN College and did his graduation in B Com between 1984-87. Here he got a break for almost 6 years to join Post Graduation through distance mode in MA Telugu due to his personal works. At this juncture responding to a notification released by the varsity administration for typists he applied for it and became a typist in the same department in 1993 as by that time he was qualified as a graduate after toiling at Night College. “Sometimes I still do not believe am I the person who did all these, going to night classes and then completing PG through distance mode besides working as a attender and later typist in the age old Telugu department. That spark which got ignited in me when I joined the department to get a PhD in my lifetime drove me ” said Reddy.He started his research in 1995 and submitted his thesis in 2000. The PhD was awarded in the year 2001. His thesis was just published in 300 pages book and was released by the University press. Book will be sent to the varsity library soon. “It is pride to our department as Reddy who started his career as an attender got a doctorate. University authorities should encourage such people by giving them good avenues which will inspire many other people like him” says the Co Director of Reddy’s research work and HOD of Telugu department, Andhra University, Yelavarthy Viswanadha Reddy. Now Dr B V R Reddy stands beside the famous Telugu writers like Chalamarthy Kanakayya and Vavilala Subbarao who got doctorates from this department. “Telugu language should be given the ancient language status. How can the union government ignore the Telugu language besides the other Dravidian language Tamil was given such status” says Reddy.