The trio who kept the university’s head high

The trio who kept the university’s head high:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

A decade ago, there were no buildings, no hostel facilities, with limited teaching and non-teaching staff. The combined Andhra Pradesh government hurriedly established Adikavi Nannaya University on April 22, 2006 here.

• Many students from East and West Godavari districts and equal number from north Andhra districts joined the university in the first year as there was only one option left for them, that is Andhra University in Visakhapatnam.
  Two students from Vizianagaram and one from Polavaram in West Godavari became classmates in the university, and roommates as paying guest outside. Their family background i.e., poverty, backwardness in their districts, social stigma strengthened their bond.
  Borgam Satish, G.S. Chinnam Naidu and Allu Seetham Naidu, who encountered many teething troubles in the university in its first year, came to university campus on Thursday and shared their experiences.
  “We are first shocked to see the structures that have come up here, which was our dream. We never thought one day our university will also will have such buildings.”
  This was the reaction of Mr. Seetham Naidu, who came to Visakhapatnam from Mumbai as a Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited employee. His father, Krishnam Naidu, is a daily wage labourer and mother Polamma supports the family.
  “After completion of our M.Sc., when we went for an interview, they used to ask us where this university is, and whether it was recognised by the government or not?” said Mr. Seetham Naidu.
  The trio said the former Registrar and senior Professor from Andhra University A. Nageswara Rao laid the foundation for their careers in Nannaya University, and later Prof. Jagan Mohan Reddy advised them to go for research.
  “I topped in M.Sc., Chemistry in this university and wrote GATE exam and cleared CSIR JRF and NET in chemical sciences in Chennai. Then Prof. Reddy advised me to join in IIT Chennai to take up research. After three-and-half years, I discontinued research due to personal problems,” said Mr. Chinnam Naidu, whose parents are struggling to survive as NREGS labour near Vizianagaram.
  Mr. Satish, who came from a Tribal community, stood first in his entire academic career before joining Nannaya University. He got distinction along with two other friends and wrote all the competitive exams.
  “The entire first batch of university came with many hopes to the university and we struggled for each and every thing during our two years’ study. Most of our batchmates have settled in some or other position which they deserve,” said Mr. Satish, who is lecturer in Addattegala Junior College. After his demise of his father at an early age, he took the burden of his big family and did part-time jobs and settled his family.