Prof P.L. Vishweshwar Rao is a multi-faceted personality having been a university teacher and an administrator, a researcher, a social activist. He has a rich and varied 35 years of experience as a professor in two central universities and one state university, namely the University of Hyderabad, Maulana Azad National Urdu University and the Osmania University. Prof Rao was a Fulbright Fellow at Boston University, USA.
Under Prof Rao’s leadership, the UGC-Academic Staff College was ranked as the third best Academic Staff Colleges in the country, the first such honour for Osmania University Academic Staff College. Also, during his tenure as a Director of the Educational Multimedia and Research Centre (EMMRC) was placed as first position in the country in terms of the number of produced. He was also a member of the Governing Council of the Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh. He was associated with the Indira Gandhi National Open University and the B.R. Ambedkar Open University.
He has three Masters Degrees: in Linguistics, Mass Communication & Journalism and Sociology; M Phil and Ph.D from Osmania University. He has guided about 20 M.Phil and Ph.D students.
He has edited books on development issues and has written book chapters on media and has contributed book chapters and research papers to national and international journals of mass media and communication. He has been published in international media journals like Media Asia, Combroad and the leading Indian Media Journal, Vidura. He has published articles and commentaries in newspapers like The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle and Deccan Herald.
He had held several prominent positions as a university professor and administrator in three decades such as Prinicpal and Dean of Arts & Social Sciences of Osmania University, Director of the Educational Multimedia and Research Centre (EMMRC), Head of the Journalism & Communication department of Osmania University, Dean of S.N School of Communication at University of Hyderabad, Director of UGC Academic Staff College of O.U, President of Osmania University Teachers Association and Secretary –General of Andhra Pradesh Federation of University Teachers Associations,Co-director of ICSSR- funded major project on OBCs in India which has been published by Routledge, an international publisher. He has attended several international and national seminars and conferences on media and has presented papers.
Prof Rao’s contribution to Telangana
Under the leadership of Prof Rao, the Centre for Telangana Studies was setup in Hyderabad. Prof Rao edited a book that brought out various aspects of under-development and which became a ready reference for all activities for separate state of Telangana. The book was also translated into Telugu and it was crucial in spreading the injustice meted out Telangana in social, economic and other aspects.
As Chairman of Telangana Intellectuals Forum, he campaigned for a separate Telangana State in various colleges and universities by conducting meetings, seminars and discussions in the Telangana state. Prof Rao was instrumental in bringing out two popular folk audio cassettes sung by popular folk artist during the statehood movement. He held meetings with the intellectuals of Telangana and in Delhi to mobilize support for separate statehood.
Prof Rao in the last 10 years since the formation of Telangana State continues to fight for people’s rights and against anti-people policies of the state government. Prof P.L.V. Rao is looking to contribute to the growth and development of education in Telangana in view of his wide experience in governance of educational institutions. He has been involved with education for a long period and continues to teach even at the age of 72. He believes in motivating the younger generation and helping them to contribute to the development of society.