V.

Gopal Reddy, former Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya and Palamur universities academics, administrator Hi friends, Here is a Profile of Prof V GOPAL REDDY, the new Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya University. Professor Vangala Gopal Reddy s story is a saga of sunny surfing success. He is a man of amiable nature. He is a friend and well-wisher of all and a foe and trouble-maker to none. He has a versatile, myriadminded and multi-faceted personality. Prof Reddy hails from Nashkal village of Station Ghanpur Mandal of Warangal District. He was born on the Formation Day of AP, that is, November 1, but he was born in 1952. He is the second youngest ViceChancellor of the university. Now it is the time for him to have his own vision ( his mission for UASC was "Excellence through creativity and productivity") for the overall development of KU. Coming to his education background, Prof Reddy did his schooling at St. Gabriel's High School, Kazipet. He obtained Bachelor degree in 1971 and post graduation in English in 1974 from the Osmania University. He completed M.Phil. in 1981 with a Gold Medal. He did Ph.D. in 1988 from the Kakatiya University under the guidance of Prof S Laxmana Murthy. He started his teaching career as a Lecturer in English at Lal Bahadur College, Warangal in 1975 and joined the Kakatiya University in 1982. He became Professor of English in 1998. He has published 6 research articles, co-edited a book, guided 4 M.Phil dissertations and 2 Ph.D. theses. Presently 7 Research Scholars are working for M.Phil. and Ph.D. under his supervision. He has attended 13 seminars and presented some research papers. He taught ESL course in the Blackwood Community College, New Jersey, USA during 1992-94. He is a Green Card Holder of the USA. He is a Life Member of Indo-American Centre of International Studies, the Indian Association of Canadian Studies and the Indian institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. He was also a member of Academic Senate of Kakatiya University for three years. He was a member of the Planning and Monitoring Board of KU. He was the Chairperson, Board of Studies in English, Kakatiya University and an external member of the Board of Studies in English, Osmania University. As a Programme Officeer of National Service Scheme of University Arts and Science College, he conducted several special camps in the interior villages of Warangal District. He received the Best NSS Program Officer Award from the government in 1987. He was Vice- Principal of Univesity Arts and Science College and officiated as the Co-ordiantor of BR Ambedkar Open University Warangal Study

Centre during 1988-91. He proved to be a conscientious teacher and an able administrator. He endeared himself to the student community. As the Vice-Principal and the Principal of University Arts & Science College, he was literally wedded to its overall development. Owing to his untiring efforts, the college bagged A grade by NAAC. Inter-University National Youth Festival among fifty universities was peerlessly conducted at the College. It was he who created renewed interest in the college and now students are eager to take admission there. He fervently hopes that the good image of the college he has strived hard to create has to be sustained. In his Acceptance Speech in Hyderabad on October 11, 2004, he pledged that he would rededicate himself to the cause and development of KU. He is one of those who fought for the establishment of KU and now he feels proud and thrilled to be its head. He assured that he would strive sincerely for the pending jobs of the teaching and non-teaching; give priority to the job-oriented courses; set right the academic schedule and create conducive working culture by bringing all people together. As a Lion Ln Prof. Reddy embraced Lionism in 1986 as Charter Joint-Secretary of Lions Club of Hanamkonda and served as its Secretary during 1988-89. He was elevated as President during 1995-96. As the President, he literally made the club run with several service activities. No one was willing to succeed him and I became the victim. I had to work day in and day out to keep the same tempo. He was District Chairman for various subjects during 1996-2000. Later, he became the Zone Chairman in 2000 and the Region Chairman in 2001. He was instrumental in organising two physically handicapped camps through 'Mangalam' of which I am a Life Member. During his tenure as the President, he club reached the 7th position in the district. He bagged the 100 % President Award and attended 87th Lions International Convention at Denver, USA. Prof Reddy is rendering his yeoman service by associating himself with several social, literary and cultural organisations like Lions Club, Prakasham Krishi Vignana Kendram, Lok Satta, Grama Nava Nirmana Samithi and Janapada. His Family Ln. Gopal Reddy is blessed with a son, and two daughters. His son, Vinay, is working as a computer professional in Virginia. His eldest daughter, Shilpa, has done B. Pharmacy from KU and his youngest daughter, Swetha, is doing BS (Computer Science) at the George Mason University, Virginia, USA.

In Brief In short, we see in Ln Prof Gopal Reddy a rare combination of several qualities. We find in him an

amiable administrator, a committed scholar, a disciplined teacher, a sagacious social worker and a wise well-wisher of all. We wish him God s speed.