Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) is Organizing Year long celebrations of Bharat Ratna Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, the great social reformer and champion for the cause of depressed classes. As a mark of respect the the University has been renamed by the then government of Andhra Pradesh in 1991 as Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Open University during his birth Centenary celebrations.
The university has planned programs which will be held from march 22nd to April 14th April 2017 on his memory of 125th birth anniversary celebrations as a part of the University is conducting various programs which includes conducting of seminars, symposiums, photo exhibition on Dr.B.R.Ambedkar.
Along with this University is also encouraging Students and staff members by conducting essayand elocution competion. The University has decided to invite all the retired teaching and non teaching staff members, who have rendered their valuable services to the university since its inception, to include them in the Celebrations.
The programmes planned during March-April 2017 are as follows : Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Public
Administration is organizing a One Day Symposium on “Dr.B.R.Ambedkar’s Vision of state and Administration : Relevance to 21st century” on 23rd March, 2017. Prof.R.V.R.Chandrashekara Rao, Former Vice Chancellor, Dr.BRAOU Hyderabad is the Chief Guest, Prof.V.S.Prasad, Formerly Vice Chancellor, Dr.BRAOU, Hyderabad and Director NAAC is the key note speaker. Prof.G.Hara Gopal, ICSSR National Fellow, Tata Institute of social sciences, Hyderabad will deliver a lecture on “Democracy and Governance”. Prof.K.Y.Rathnam, University of Hyderabad will deliver a lecture on “Social Justice Perspective of Public policy”. Sri Mohan Kanda, IAS (Retd) will present a paper on “Constitutional Morality and Governance”. Prof.K.Seetharama Rao, Vice Chancellor, Dr.BRAOU Hyderabad is the President of the function. Dr Pallavi Kabde, I/c Head Department of Public Administration is the Convener of the Symposium.
On 1st April, 2017, Department of History is organising a Seminar on “Dr.B.R.Ambedkar and Buddhism”, Sri Mallepally laxmaiah, Special Officer, Buddhavanam project, will be the Chief Guest. Dr Vaddanam Srinivas is theConvener of the Program.
The CSTD and GRADE jointly organising a National Symposium on “Democratising Higher Education -Dr.Ambedkar’s Vision” On 04-04-2017. Prof.K.S.Chalam, formerly member, UPSC, Vice Chancellor, Dravidian University will speak on the topic. Prof.Jandhyala Tilak, Director NUPA – New Dehli, Prof Kale, Former Vice – Chancellor, Gujarat University, Dr.Vundru Rajashekar, IAS are the guests for the occasion and they will speak on the topic. Prof Sudha Rani, Director CSTD, and Prof Pushpa Chakrapani Director GRADE, are conveners of the Symposium.
On this special occasion University is conducting essay writing competitions on “Dr.B.R.Ambedkar – Kulanirmoolana” at Regional Co-Ordination Centre’s (RCC’s) at district level on 2nd and 9th April, 2017.
On 14th April, 2017 on the day of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar’s Birth Anniversary, the University to organize a day long Programme, including Memorial lectures, which will be followed by Cultural events, Prizes distributions etc. Prof Anand Teltumbde, Indian Institute Of Management, Goa will deliverer the Memorial lecture on “Dr B R Ambedkar and Democracy.
Since 1991, when the university was renamed after Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Open University (earlier known as Andhra Pradesh Open University) has been organizing Dr.B.R.Ambedkar memorial lectures by inviting speakers of high repute.
The university staff members and invitees for the guest lectures offer rich floral tributes to Dr.B.R.Ambedkar on his birth and death anniversaries during April and December respectively every year.
The university takes pride to say that it has awarded honorary doctorate to Smt. Dr.Savitha Ambedkar, wife of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar on 7th Convocation at the campus the year 1994.
Sri Prakash Yeshwant Ambedkar, Grand Son of Dr B R Ambedkar was also invited to deliver Dr.B.R.Ambedkar memorial lecture in the year 2012. He spoke on “Foreign Policy of Dr B R Ambedkar”.
On 14th April 1999, in honour of Dr B R Ambedkar a life size bronze bust was placed in the University main entrance. The Father of Indian Constitution is scholarly engaged with the knowledge and inspired generations of intellectuals for a fair and democratic inclusive society. Our University ‘in word and spirit’ is following his message.