From tribal girl to law college prof

Hyderabad: A tribal woman who has done her Ph D against odds, crowning her studies during formative years in a village, tribal area residential school and government college, has now been appointed Assistant Professor in the Post-Graduate College of Law in Osmania University. The woman, Gummadi Anuradha, is from the Koya community.

The Koyas mainly inhabit the hilly areas of Khammam and Warangal districts and are sparsely found in Adilabad and Karimnagar districts. Their population as per 2011 Census is 4,86,391. Anuradha, daughter of Gummadi Narsaiah, former legislator who was elected five times as MLA, has by choice never allowed her father’s identity to overshadow hers. Looking very simple, and with a coy smile, she says: “My father is my strength and weakness.”

Recalling her early schooling, Anuradha says, “I studied Class 1 to Class 2 in my village, Tekulagudem, which is in Karapalli mandal of Khammam district. From 3rd class to Intermediate I studied at the AP Tribal Area Residential School at Sudimalla in Yellandu and later completed degree at the Yellandu Government College.”

She underscored, “I never felt my father as an MLA. He was only my father. In school days, the teachers as well as students treated me as a normal student. I had led my school life like all other students. There was no special treatment for me among the students.” The point she repeatedly makes is that she has never used her father’s name for anything.

She asserts that she has completed her studies without using his name and had never asked for any special treatment. Recalling an incident, Anuradha said that when she joined the OU College of Law, some students searched for the daughter of an MLA who is understood to have joined the institution. “They found it difficult to identify me because of my simplicity. They were shocked and wondered why I had stayed at the hostel,” she revealed.

On her noticeable simplicity, Anuradha explained, “I have learned simplicity from my father. There has been lot of influence of my father on me. He used to tell us to be part of society to understand people.”

Expressing her views on the thesis she submitted for her Ph. D titled ‘Tribal Property Rights in Telangana-- special reference in Khammam district’, she says, "The tribal people did not get any rights provided in the enactments and no one educates them about their rights and violation of the rights of Adivasis.”

Anuradha’s reaction upon being appointed as Assistant Professor was: “It is the greatest opportunity to serve my community. I want to do a lot more to my community. I would like to educate them to adapt to the current and modern trend to get the best opportunities.”

“I am at this stage due to the motivation extended by my father. In our community, many children do not show interest in studies. Many stop at Intermediate or Degree and go to agricultural work. No one opts for higher studies.

My father encouraged me to study as he knew the importance of studies and its value in society,” she adds. She was felicitated on Wednesday to mark the World Tribal Day at a function organised at the Tagore Auditorium in Osmania University.

By V Naveen Kumar