VISAKHAPATNAM: The Port City -- Visakhapatnam’s rise as India’s next major economic and technology hub took centre stage at the Andhra University Annual Alumni Meet 2025, where GMR Group Chairman and Andhra University Alumni Association (AAA) Founder Chairman Dr GM Rao outlined an ambitious roadmap for the region’s future.
The event, held at the AU Convention Centre as part of the university’s centenary celebrations, drew distinguished alumni, faculty, and students from across the globe.
Setting the tone for the day, Dr Rao described Visakhapatnam as the ‘Gateway of the East’ and highlighted how unprecedented investments are reshaping the city’s economic landscape.
Citing Google’s proposed $US 15-billion data centre, the Reliance–Meta data ecosystem, and the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport being developed by GMR, he said these projects were transforming the region into a rising powerhouse of innovation and opportunity.
“Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, Visakhapatnam is witnessing remarkable momentum,” Dr Rao said.
He emphasised that the city’s growth trajectory would create an enabling environment for Andhra University to evolve into a globally competitive institution, leveraging its talent pool, research capabilities, and expanding industry linkages.
The meet was attended by AU Alumni Association Chairman KVV Rao and Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof GP Rajasekhar, who underscored the strength of the university’s alumni network and its crucial role in shaping the institution’s centenary vision.
The celebrations included departmental visits, interactions with faculty and students, and cultural performances showcasing classical, folk, and international art forms.
The highlight of the event was the address by the chief guest, Sudha Murthy, Rajya Sabha member, Founder Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, and Chairperson of the Murthy Trust. Speaking to a packed auditorium, she urged students to embrace lifelong learning, perseverance, and purpose. “Keep learning. Learning keeps you young, agile, and happy. Perseverance is your best friend; it will never cheat you,” she said, drawing from her personal experiences as a teacher, author, and philanthropist.
Describing Andhra University as a ‘temple of learning,’ she likened students to sugarcane refined through discipline and examinations. She emphasised the transformative role of teachers and recalled the contributions of the university’s founders, including Kattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy and Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. “This university has a soul. It survived because people worked not for themselves, but for future generations,” she said.
Sudha Murthy also stressed the importance of valuing education, staying rooted in one’s culture, and respecting the mother tongue. Quoting “Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi,” she encouraged students to remain connected to their heritage while striving for excellence.
Earlier in the day, she visited the AU Alumni Association office along with Dr GM Rao and offered suggestions on strengthening alumni engagement, improving teaching standards, and supporting research initiatives such as the study of palm-leaf manuscripts preserved by the university.
The centenary-year alumni meet witnessed enthusiastic participation across all departments of the university.