Rajahmundry Arts College shines bright

The government arts college at Rajahmundry is one of the oldest institutes in the city. The institution, which was established in 1885, has seen numerous distinguished personalities that include ‘Andhra Kesari’ (lion of Andhra) Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu and the first president of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan as faculty, among others.

A bust of Prakasam, who gave up his lucrative law career to join the Indian freedom movement, is found on the staircase leading to the first floor of the college building. Though he became Chief Minister of the State after independence, he was said to have died a pauper, having sacrificed all his wealth for the sake of the nation.

Another gold-painted bust painted for Radhakrishnan is situated in front of the college building, which mentions the former president’s tenure at the university i.e. 1917-19. He became vice-chancellor of Andhra University a few years later before reaching the pinnacle.

The Arts College, which is located nearly seven kilometers from the Rajahmundry railway station, had British principals in its early years. Notable names include EP Hunter, EW Middlemast, Mark Hunter, OJ Couldrey, and CJ Wilkinson who served from 1877 through 1920.

The first Indian principal was NR Krishnama, a Bachelor of Arts from Canterbury in England who held charge from 1921 to 1924. The college was conferred autonomous status in the year 2000-01 and its present head Ch. Masthanaiah is the 69th principal of the college who is in office since 2013.