Strive to achieve Ambedkar's ideals, AU VC tells students

Constitution a guide for all administrators: Prof. Raju

Visakhapatnam: Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof. GSN Raju has called upon the student community to strive to achieve the ideals of the Architect of Indian Constitution, 'Bharat Ratna' Dr BR Ambedkar, to uplift the poor and the downtrodden.

Prof. Raju was addressing an impressive gathering at a function organised by Prof. John, Prof. Veerraju and members of AU SC, ST Association for the first time on a grand scale on the AU campus to mark the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti on Sunday. He thanked former in-charge Vice-Chancellor Prof. P George Victor for setting up a statue of Ambedkar on the campus and the SC, ST Association for organising the meeting.

Paying rich tributes, he said the Indian Constitution, a perfect document written by Ambekar, is a guide for all administrators to help lead the government.

Noted cine writer and orator Goreti Venkanna observed that society would not witness 'equality' unless the 'caste menace' was rooted out adding that caste discrimination has been growing on par with increase on the education front. He said it was great to see a life-size statue of Dr Ambedkar in front of the Registrar's office on the campus and to conduct the Jayanti celebrations officially. "The prospects would have been different for Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and former chairman of APPSC Prof. Chalam if Ambedkar is alive now," he added.

Lamenting the spurt in criminal and mafia gangs following social evils like drinking and playing cards being 'supported' by the government itself, he said Ambedkar wanted the people to agitate on social issues without bloodshed. Mr Venkanna hoped that a change would come in the society at least in places where there were Ambedkar statues.

Prof. K Sanjeeva Rao of Potti Sreeramulu University said it was unfortunate to celebrate the Jayanti of Dr Ambedkar by only SCs, that of Alluri Sitarama Raju only by Kshatriya community, Potti Sriramulu Jayanti by Vysya community and that of Babu Jagjivan Ram only by Madiga community even after 65 years of Independence. He said Ambedkar never wanted such discrimination and asked the students and scholars to draw inspiration from such a great personality.

University Rector Prof. AV Prasada Rao said Ambedkar had tried to transform the society from 'inhuman' yesterday to 'less inhuman' today to 'more human' in future. Describing Ambedkar as an iconic personality, the Registrar Prof. K Rama Mohana Rao said he was the only person who had the social status of 'Bharatamata Muddu Bidda.'

Prof. Johan thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his magnanimity in helping the beautification of Ambedkar Park and to hold the function.A Principal of AU College of Arts and Commerce Prof. Prabhakara Rao presided over the function. Prof. Veeraiah, Prof. B Bharata Lakshmi, Dr K Samrajya Lakshmi, Prof. DVR Murty and Prof. Ganapathi were among those present.A Earlier, Prof GSN Raju, Prof. Prasada Rao and Prof. Rama Mohana Rao garlanded the statue of Ambedkar.