Aruna | DC
Visakhapatnam April 27
Andhra University, one of India’s oldest institutions of higher learning, celebrated 100 years of service to education and society with grand centenary celebrations at the Engineering College Grounds in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Andhra Pradesh Governor Syed Abdul Nazeer, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and AP education minister Nara Lokesh attended the landmark function along with students, alumni and dignitaries.
Marking the centenary celebrations the Chief Minister announced a hefty grant of `500 crore for the institution, pledging to transform it into a premier global brand.
The announcement came shortly after Lokesh requested him to grant `250 crore for AU, specifically for research, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening higher education and innovation.
Speaking to a packed audience at the AU Engineering Grounds, Naidu proposed that the university aspire to rank among the top five in India and break into the top 100 globally. “We speak of a hundred-year history today, but in the coming hundred years, AU will create a new history. It will establish itself as a premier brand,” he said.
The CM proposed creating a corpus fund of `500 crore, suggesting that contributions from business leaders and alumni could make this vision a reality. “It would be sufficient if every student contributed just one rupee in aid. If the alumni of AU set their minds on it, anything is possible,” he said.
Naidu said universities should not merely serve as centres for conferring degrees but must evolve into platforms for innovation and societal impact. He inaugurated the AU I-Factory and a Network Centre, projects worth `64 crore, and laid foundation stones for nine other initiatives totalling `112 crore, including new hostels and a convocation hall.
Naidu urged students to focus on knowledge, startups and entrepreneurship, stressing that their goal should not only be to seek jobs but to create them.
Naidu highlighted Visakhapatnam’s growing global stature, noting that Google is set to invest 15 billion dollars in a data centre project in the city. “Visakhapatnam is a global metropolis, a true global city. It is unstoppable; no one can halt its progress,” he remarked, pointing to AU’s role in connecting the world through its diverse student body, which includes learners from 58 countries.
Tracing AU’s legacy, Naidu recalled its historic role in the state’s political and educational journey, from hosting cabinet meetings after bifurcation to producing stalwarts such as former vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu. He paid tributes to early benefactors and leaders like Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who laid the foundations for AU’s growth.
“AU is dedicated to upholding the glory of the Telugu language and culture,” he said, noting its tradition of honouring distinguished figures with the prestigious Kala Prapurna award.
Looking ahead, Naidu urged the university to embrace global collaborations, pointing to existing MoUs with the University of Florida and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. He called on AU to pioneer in emerging fields such as data centres, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
“The greatest asset parents can bequeath to their children is education; with education comes the self-confidence to conquer the world,” he said.
Naidu linked AU’s future to the broader vision of national progress. “Prime Minister Modi’s vision is Viksit Bharat 2047, our goal is Swarnandhra 2047. The triumphant journey of this resolve must begin right here at AU,” he said, urging students and alumni to take responsibility for shaping the next century of Andhra University’s legacy.
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