Lankapalli Bullayya

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Lankapalli Bullayya (1918 - 1992) was an eminent educationist and Vice-chancellor of Andhra University, Andhra Pradesh, India.

He was born in Guntur district and educated by travelling long distances during school days.

He was graduated and did his B.A. Honours from Andhra University and worked as principal of B.Ed. College.

After the formation of Andhra Pradesh State in 1956, he joined Andhra University as Director of Public Instruction (DPI), he was instrumental in bringing about reforms in school education. He mooted the idea of 10+2+3 system in Andhra Pradesh even before it was recommended by the Kothari Commission. He was given the responsibility of strengthening the education system right from the primary to the university-level.

In 1968, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor and continued in that position till 1974. He was the first dalit to become the Vice-Chancellor of a university in India. He sympathised with economically poor students and contributed for their welfare.

Vigorous pursuit of academic, curricular and examination reforms (introduction of semester system), virtual abolition of external examinations and abolition of the detention system and continuous assessment marked his tenure.

During this period, the Departments of Education, Geography, Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Physical Anthropology were started.

Six affiliated colleges were permitted to run Postgraduate departments in select subjects in pursuance of the policy of decentralisation. Coaching classes for Civil Services examination were started and the Continuing Education Scheme was introduced.

The School of Correspondence Courses was started as a result of his efforts. He was an able administrator and maintained very good rapport both with the Centre and the State Government and used it for the betterment of the university.

The university buildings were badly damaged in the 1970 cyclone which hit Visakhapatnam. He got them photographed and took the snaps to the University Grants Commission authorities in New Delhi and sought grants for the repair of the buildings. The UGC granted funds which were utilised not only for undertaking repairs but also for constructing a few new buildings.

Dr. Lankapalli Bullayya Colleges at Visakhapatnam were named after him. He started the Dr. V.S. Krishna Government College in remembrance of his earlier Vice chancellor Vasireddy Sri Krishna. He was more concerned about it than the college that was named after himself.

A statue (bust) of this visionary educationist has been installed in the premises of the School of Distance Education in Visakhapatnam.