Koneru Ramakrishna Rao, former chancellor of GITAM deemed-to-be university, former vice-chancellor of Andhra University and Padma Shri awardee, died here on Tuesday following a brief illness. He was 89 years old.
Born on 4 October 1932, Ramakrishna Rao was an internationally recognized psychologist, Gandhian scholar and teacher. He wrote more than 20 books and 300 research publications. Ramakrishna Rao had served as an advisor to higher education and as the chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education. He was also the Deputy Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Planning Board. He was conferred with several honors including honorary doctorates from Nagarjuna, Kakatiya and Andhra universities. For his research contributions, he was elected thrice as the President of the Parapsychological Association, a US-based international society, and also served as the President of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology.
Ramakrishna Rao during his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and President of APSCHE was instrumental in bringing about several curriculum reforms to connect the classrooms with the community.
His family consists of two daughters and a son. Faculty members of AU and GITAM Deemed-to-Be University condoled his demise.
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