Eminent academician, psychologist,
former Chancellor of GITAM Deemed-to-be University and former
Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University (AU), Padma Shri Koneru Ramakrishna
Rao, passed away in the early hours of 9 November, 2021, in Vizag due
to age-related illness. He was was 89-years-old when he breathed his
last. Over
the demise of Koneru Ramakrishna Rao, Vice President of India, M
Venkaiah Naidu expressed his anguish and conveyed his condolences to the
academician’s family members. In a message, the Vice President said
that he knew the former AU Vice-Chancellor for decades and it was a
personal loss to him. He also added that Mr. Rao was a multi-faceted
personality and his invaluable contributions are a source of inspiration
to many. Mr. Rao was
internationally recognized for his works as a psychologist and also
served as the President of the US-based Parapsychology Association and
Indian Academy of Applied Psychology. Mr.
Ramakrishna Rao was a scholar of Gandhian studies and an impeccable
educator. During his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University
and the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Council of Higher Education (APSCHE),
he was instrumental in bringing in numerous reforms to link classrooms
with the community. For
the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Ramakrishna Rao served as the Vice
Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Planning Board. A
renowned scholar that he was, Koneru Ramakrishna Rao, has to his name,
over 20 books and several hundreds of research papers. He was awarded
honorary doctoral degrees from Nagarjuna, Andhra and Kakatiya
Universities. Koneru Ramakrishna Rao is survived by two daughters and a son. The faculty and staff of Andhra University and GITAM mourned his demise on Tuesday.
|
