Vice Chancellor of Osmania University drafts plans to make fete grand

Hyderabad: The Vice Chancellor of Osmania University Prof S Ramachandram sought the support and participation of the Vice Chancellors and Registrars of various universities in the State to make the OU centenary celebrations State-wide. He was speaking at a review meeting on the celebrations here on Friday.

Prof Ramachandram urged the VCs to involve students from the districts by conducting competitions in literary, cultural and sports activities aimed at recognising talent and promoting Telangana culture.

“The spirit of Osmania is about embracing cultures, preserving customs and to perpetuate the richness of Telangana by way of empowerment through education,” he said. The VCs and Registrars from eight universities contributed to the discussion with their suggestions and ideas.

Among many suggestions was the need to bring to the fore the folk and tribal cultures of the State. The VCs highlighted how each district’s customs and traditions added a unique flavour to the composite culture of Telangana. Ideas also emerged on the need to promote Urdu language and art among students.

“The centenary celebrations will continue year-long and will converge into a grand closing ceremony on April 25, 2018. We have involved our alumni from both here and abroad to participate and support us with ideas,” Prof Ramachandram said.
“We are planning a cultural week, that will showcase rural and folk traditions of every district in Telangana,” he added.

The meeting was also attended by Prof K. Venkata Chalam, Vice Chairman of Telangana State Council of Higher Education and Dr A Ashok, Secretary, Board of Intermediate Education. The officials promised their support to make the centenary celebrations a grand success.

Later, at a press meet, Ramachandram said the competitions would be open to all degree and PG students and would be held in two stages. Initially, intercollege competitions would be held in colleges in respective universities culminating in the final Inter university contest.

“We will explore the possibilities to fund the universities,” he said and added that the events would tentatively start from November onwards and end in the first week of January. Also, he urged the departments in Osmania University to step up academic activities and announced that a photo exhibition would be held in August in Arts College. Further, he said the VCs were asked to sensitise students and research scholars to participate in the Indian Science Congress in January in a big way.