Mrs A V N College

Mrs A.V.N. College has the unique distinction of being one of the select few colleges serving admirably the educational and cultural needs of South India in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular. Very few colleges in our country can boast of having produced a richer and more variegated alumni than this 140 year old institution. The first and foremost Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman passed out of this institution. Sir C.V.Raman's bronze bust was installed on the 4th of April, 1991 and unveiled by Sri V.P.Rama Rao, IAS, Former Chief Secretary. Other distinguished students were Sonthi Ramamurthi, ICS, Sri B.S. Sarma, Member of Viceroy's Executive Council in the twenties, Sri Vepa Ramesam, High Court Judge, Madras, Padma Bhushan Dwaram Venkata Swami Naidu, Sri Tenneti Viswanadham, Prof. B. Rama Chandra Rao, Ex-Vice Chairman, UGC, Sri S.V. Rangarow, Alluri Seetharama Raju, Dr M. Gopala Krishna Reddy, Former Vice-Chancellor, Andhra University, Padma Vibhushan Prof. C.R. Rao. Founded in 1860 as a school, this premier institution grew with the support of the public especially the zamindars of that time. It gained status of a High School in 1886 with a European Head master, Mr E. Winckler, who became the Principal in 1878 when it was elevated to the status of a college named Hindu College. Other Principals who succeeded him were Messers H.H. Anderson, R.S. Sheppard, W. Ramaiah, P.T. Srinivasa Iyengar were responsible for high standing of the College. But the financial position was unsatisfactory. Here, providence played its benign hand and the fortunes of the college changed for the better when in 1892, Ankitam Vekata Narsinga Row, a celebrated and munificent landlord endowed a handsome amount of Rs one lakh, 11 acre site and a huge building, besides a building grant of Rs 15,000 in memory of his beloved wife. The College thus came to be known by her name Mrs. A.V.N. College ever since.