AU pays homage to Durgabai Deshmukh

VISAKHAPATNAM: "Everyone should take Durgabai Deshmukh as a role model, a great social activist who worked for the poor and downtrodden and took active part in the Independence struggle," said Prof G S N Raju, vice-chancellor of Andhra University (AU) who was the chief guest at the one-day UGC seminar on 'Durgabai Deshmukh's Contribution to the Value System' organised by the Centre for Women's Studies, AU, on her 104th birth anniversary.Prof Raju also released a book on the occasion.
AU registrar Prof K Rama Mohan Rao said that there is a need to conduct more awareness classes and workshops for the benefit of women.
Prof Prasanna Kumar, the former rector and chairman of the centre for policy studies, requested AU authorities to give away merit awards every year to economically weak students from the Centre for Women's Studies in the name of Durgabai Deshmukh.
"Deshmukh possessed the characteristics of both India Gandhi and Mother Teresa and was a very talented leader," said Prof Kumar in his keynote address. Prof K R Rajani, director, Prof K Mary Sujatha and P Usha from the Centre for Women's Studies were also present at the seminar. Earlier in the day, women Congress leaders garlanded the statue of Durgabai Deshmukh on Beach Road. MP T Subbarami Reddy, MLA Dronaraju Srinivas, MLA Malla Vijayprasad and the city president of the women wing of the Congress P Ramani Kumari were also present on the occasion.tn