Former AU Vice-Chancellor Padma Shri Koneru Ramakrishna Rao passes away in Vizag

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.