Mar 16, 2017
Most basic departments founded between 1918 and 1948, 1967 heralded education boom in state.
Most basic departments founded between 1918 and 1948, 1967 heralded education boom in state.
Now: The Arts College building on the Osmania University campus.
Though the medium of instruction of the University was Urdu, English was compulsory for all students. “One of the basic ideals of Osmania University is to achieve an intellectual synthesis of oriental and occidental learning of the best that has been thought of. Every phase of growth is historical and the university will continue to grow in the centenary year,” says Prof S Ramachandram, vice-chancellor of Osmania University.
The first phase of OU’s growth occurred between 1918 and 1947 and was characterised by Urdu as the medium of instruction in all branches of higher education, including medicine and engineering.
The chemistry, civil engineering, English, history, mathematics, and physics departments were started during this period.
The first 30 years saw initiation of new disciplines such as sociology, geography, zoology, botany, geology, education, law, engineering, medicine, agriculture and veterinary science.
During the second phase, from 1948 to 1968, the university celebrated its Golden Jubilee. The year 1948 was historic because the princely state of Hyderabad merged with the Indian Union and Urdu was replaced by English as the medium of instruction.
This led to a huge rise in student in-take. Infrastructure development got high priority, several buildings came up, including the library, and new courses were introduced. The university permitted affiliated colleges under private management.
By 1967, there were 45,000 students studying in 48 constituent and affiliated colleges. The third phase (1969 to 1993) was the period between the Golden Jubilee (1968) and the Platinum Jubilee (1993). There was a growth in research and development during this phase.
The Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, Institute of Genetics, Navigational Electronics, Centre for Area Studies, Audio Visual Research Centre, and the English Language Teaching Centre were set up.
In the fourth phase (1994 onwards), the university celebrated its Platinum Jubilee (75 years) and new courses such as computer applications, infrastructure were started. It granted autonomy to campus colleges, started new post-graduate centres in other districts, which later elevated to universities.
Hyderabad: Osmania University, which will be turning hundred years in a few weeks, is still waiting for its first woman vice-chancellor. The university had 24 vice-chancellors in the last 100 years, but none of them was a woman.
Persons from different fields like bureaucracy, judiciary, literature as well as top academics served as OU VC, which once catered to the entire Hyderabad princely state and later the entire Telangana region.
Nawab Wahi-ud-Dowla served as the vice-chancellor for the longest period. He was the V-C for 15 years between 1920 and 1935. The shortest stint was of Nawab Habibur Rehman Khan during 1918-19.
Dr D.S. Reddy comes the second after Dowla in terms of the period in office. Dr Reddy was in office for 12 years from 1957 to 1969. He was credited with improving academic standards.
“He was instrumental in convincing professors like Dr E.G. Parameswaran (psychology) and Gautham Mathur (economics) to join as OU faculty. Dr Reddy had supported OU’s demand for autonomy,” said former OU VC Tirupathi Rao.
The other prominent personality was Prof. G. Ram Reddy, who worked as OU V-C for five years from 1977-82. He was considered as the architect of Distance Education and Open Learning in India.
After his stint at OU, Ram Reddy went on to adorn chairman posts in IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University), UGC (University Grants Commission) and ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) at the national level.
Syed Hashim Ali (IAS), Justice P. Jaganmohan Reddy (retired SC judge) and N. Narotham Reddy (Golconda Patrika editor) were some of the V-Cs with non-academic background who left a big impact on the varsity.
Jaganmohan Reddy (1975-77) adopted a no-nonsense approach after education standards started dipping following agitations. He dealt mass copying in exams with iron hand and even debarred scores of students, said K. Purushotham Reddy, retired OU professor said. Prof. T. Navneeth Rao (1985-91) protected OU lands from encroachments despite pressures.
Arts College Building after completion in OU campus
The first 30 years saw initiation of new disciplines such as sociology, geography, zoology, botany, geology, education, law, engineering, medicine, agriculture and veterinary science.
During the second phase, from 1948 to 1968, the university celebrated its Golden Jubilee. The year 1948 was historic because the princely state of Hyderabad merged with the Indian Union and Urdu was replaced by English as the medium of instruction.
This led to a huge rise in student in-take. Infrastructure development got high priority, several buildings came up, including the library, and new courses were introduced. The university permitted affiliated colleges under private management.
By 1967, there were 45,000 students studying in 48 constituent and affiliated colleges. The third phase (1969 to 1993) was the period between the Golden Jubilee (1968) and the Platinum Jubilee (1993). There was a growth in research and development during this phase.
The Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, Institute of Genetics, Navigational Electronics, Centre for Area Studies, Audio Visual Research Centre, and the English Language Teaching Centre were set up.
In the fourth phase (1994 onwards), the university celebrated its Platinum Jubilee (75 years) and new courses such as computer applications, infrastructure were started. It granted autonomy to campus colleges, started new post-graduate centres in other districts, which later elevated to universities.
Woman failed to break Osmania University glass barrier for vice-president post
The university had 24 vice-chancellors in the last 100 years, but none of them was a woman
Osmania University
Persons from different fields like bureaucracy, judiciary, literature as well as top academics served as OU VC, which once catered to the entire Hyderabad princely state and later the entire Telangana region.
Nawab Wahi-ud-Dowla served as the vice-chancellor for the longest period. He was the V-C for 15 years between 1920 and 1935. The shortest stint was of Nawab Habibur Rehman Khan during 1918-19.
Dr D.S. Reddy comes the second after Dowla in terms of the period in office. Dr Reddy was in office for 12 years from 1957 to 1969. He was credited with improving academic standards.
“He was instrumental in convincing professors like Dr E.G. Parameswaran (psychology) and Gautham Mathur (economics) to join as OU faculty. Dr Reddy had supported OU’s demand for autonomy,” said former OU VC Tirupathi Rao.
The other prominent personality was Prof. G. Ram Reddy, who worked as OU V-C for five years from 1977-82. He was considered as the architect of Distance Education and Open Learning in India.
After his stint at OU, Ram Reddy went on to adorn chairman posts in IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University), UGC (University Grants Commission) and ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) at the national level.
Syed Hashim Ali (IAS), Justice P. Jaganmohan Reddy (retired SC judge) and N. Narotham Reddy (Golconda Patrika editor) were some of the V-Cs with non-academic background who left a big impact on the varsity.
Jaganmohan Reddy (1975-77) adopted a no-nonsense approach after education standards started dipping following agitations. He dealt mass copying in exams with iron hand and even debarred scores of students, said K. Purushotham Reddy, retired OU professor said. Prof. T. Navneeth Rao (1985-91) protected OU lands from encroachments despite pressures.
Photo of the 1939 inaugural of the Arts College building in the Osmania University campus. Seen from left to right in the picture are Prince Basalat Jah, Prince Moazzam Jah and Prince Azam Jah and other sons of the Nizam in the far right of this picture.
Pixs courtesy: Safiullah
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