For a first in 106 years of OU, Yerukula community's professor becomes dean

Hyderabad: For the first time in 106 years of Osmania University’s history, a senior professor from the Yerukula community has been appointed as the dean and principal of the Osmania University College of Arts and Social Sciences. He also completed his postgraduation and doctorate from the university.

Professor Arjun Rao Kuthadi, who recently assumed charge of OU, vowed to encourage PhD scholars and make them achieve a better rank in the National Eligibility Test-Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) exam of the University Grants Commission (UGC), which can result in better NAAC ranking.

Arjun Rao was born on June 15, 1964, in Vemsur village of Khammam district. His parents are Prakash Rao Kuthadi and Savithramma Kuthadi. He completed schooling from ZPHS, Vemsur, in 1979 and he pursued his graduation in BA (History, Political Science and Economics) from JVR GDC, Sathupalli, in 1985.

Rao pursued his MA in History from Osmania University in 1988 and he completed his MPhil in Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao Pantulu Biographical Study in 1992. Later, he completed his PhD in Vernacular Press and the National Movement: A Case Study of Andhra 1902-1947. Rao achieved his doctorate in 1996 and he joined Osmania University as a lecturer in the Department of History at PG College, Secunderabad. In 2004 he became associate professor, and professor in 2010. For almost two-and-a-half decades, Rao has been working at Osmania University in various capacities.

Rao as a professor published six books and 50 research papers (both national and international) and delivered almost 50 lectures on various occasions. Apart from that, he also served as a member of various study boards in Hyderabad, Lucknow, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.