Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to Andhra University. Participating in the closing ceremony of AU's centenary celebrations, Naidu made the announcement in response to a request by IT and HRD minister Nara Lokesh for a grant of Rs 250 crore. He also called upon local industrialists to raise an additional Rs 500 crore corpus for the university.
"At a time when the university is celebrating its historic 100-year milestone, the foundation stone to be laid for the data centre of tech giant Google tomorrow (Tuesday) will be another landmark in Visakhapatnam history. The fact that this largest FDI investment of $15 billion in India's history is being made after economic reforms reflects the greatness of this city. Even before Google, AU connected Visakhapatnam to the world. The presence of students from nearly 50 countries studying here is a matter of pride for the state and the nation," said Naidu.
A commemorative postal stamp and coin were released on the occasion, while the university entered into memoranda of understanding with various national and international organisations. Several infrastructure projects were also launched.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, who was the chief guest for the event, said it was a privilege to be part of the centenary celebrations of AU, an institution, he noted, has both witnessed and shaped history. "For 100 years, this great university has served as a melting pot of ideas, promoting character and leadership, and nurturing generations who have gone on to enrich our nation in countless ways. A significant number of Indian technocrats are in the United States, and the Telugu community has made a remarkable contribution, thanks to strong educational institutions like AU. Failures should never demoralise individuals, as they are an essential part of the journey towards success. Managing inner pressure and maintaining composure during challenges is important," he said.
Drawing examples from high achievers, he said great milestones are achieved through patience and sustained hard work rather than talent alone. "Setbacks often teach more valuable lessons than success and should be used as opportunities for growth. I urge students to remain confident and persistent in their pursuits," Radhakrishnan added.
Andhra Pradesh Governor and AU chancellor S Abdul Nazeer traced the demand for a separate university for Telugu people, the subsequent developments, and the history of Andhra University, highlighting how successive vice-chancellors placed it on the global pedestal of higher education. "The university's leadership has always believed that excellence in higher education is the best investment for the country and has engaged the services of eminent educationists. On this historic occasion, I pay my tributes to the great educationists and academicians who shaped generations of students and laid a strong foundation for this institution," said the governor.
IT minister Lokesh said AU is a matter of pride not only for Andhra Pradesh but for the entire country. "Times are changing, and technology is evolving. Therefore, there is a need to revise our curriculum. Industry linkage is very important. It is not enough to study only in classrooms, students must spend at least a year in the field to understand real-world conditions. The chief minister has also directed that pending posts be filled on a war footing, and we will ensure that all vacancies are filled by next year," he asserted.
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Odisha Governor K Hari Babu also spoke on the occasion. Later, alumni excellence awards were presented.
