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Prof. K. Purushotham Reddy
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A brief profile of
India’s eminent Environmentalist, Academician, Political Scientist
and Development Activist
Profile summary
Professor K. Purushotham Reddy, widely known as Man of the Environment and Masses in the state of Andhra Pradesh championed for causes of planet and people and his mission continues and inspires millions across the nations.
He is a revered personality in the country and outside for his remarkable contributions for Environmental security, Social Development, Academic and Political enlightenment of the society.
Professor’s long public life and activism spans across areas such as Environmental Policies, Public Policies on Sustainable Development, Restoration of damaged Eco-systems, Conservation of Natural Resources, Sustainable Agriculture, Water Resources, Academic and youth empowerment, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Urban Studies, Gandhian Studies etc.
Background and Childhood
Reddy was born in an affluent and benevolent farmer’s family on 14th February 1943 to Sri K Raja Reddy and Smt. Kausalya Devi, who have donated thousands of acres to the landless poor inspired by Bhudan Movement carried out by of Sri Vinoba Bahave half a century ago. Professor Reddy, while pursuing his early education in Hyderabad, he also spent good amount of time in rural area of Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar district. This must have been one reason in emerging as India’s leading environmentalist.
His humble beginning in a farming family and exposure and interaction to distressed farmers in the region made him to strides towards a farmer’s leader prior to the environmental movements. As he witnessed dramatic changes in the ecological resources over a period of time especially the Green Revolution and its dire consequences made to have looked into environmental domain.
Peri-Urban industrial pollution its devastating effects, in Hyderabad city made him a leading anti-pollution crusader and he is the first and foremost environmentalist to launch and run a decided of green movements in the state of Andhra Pradesh. He has become synonymous to Environmentalism in the state and country.
Education
He had an excellent academic track and always stood top throughout schooling and college days. He a academic stint of medicine after schooling but his passion towards litterateur and social concerns made him pursue literature and political science.
He received MA, MPhil and PhD degrees in Political Science from Osmania University. His PhD was on “Environmental Policy & Education-An Investigative Analysis of Eco-degradation of Patancheru in Andhra Pradesh.”
Reddy was a very well appreciated student and was recognized by many great scholars for his all-round ability. His tutelage was under some noteworthy personalities like Professor Rasheeduddin Khan, who later become a Member of Parliament.
Professor N. Rajurkar, who is a distinguished authority of political sciences especially on India’s freedom struggle. He has also had honor of addressing parliamentarians and diplomats for a week in the parliament annex. He was very well supported by Professor Reddy on same.
He emerged later as India’s one of the authority on India’s freedom movements, social and developmental issues in post-independent India.
Career as an Academician
He joined in the academic service in Osmainia University in 1972 and retired from active service in 2004.He held various academic positions during his long tenure of 32 years in Osmania University. He began his career as a lecturer and went on to hold various positions at the university as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Head of the Department, and Chairman Board of Studies in Political Science Department. He was the Director for Centre for Environmental Studies of the University.
He was a source of inspiration for fellow academician and students. He calls the society as is his lab and most part of his life was dedicated for the cause of society and environment.
An active tenure as the head of the largest Political Sciences department in India, professor Reddy was instrumental in many path braking changes. His innovative approaches and inspiring lectures are still very much a favorite among the teaching community across the state and country.
He was instrumental in re-engineering the designations at university. He changed the positions nomenclature from ‘Lecturer’ to ‘Associate Professor’.
President, Osmania University Teachers Association (OUTA)
Inherent leadership qualities of professor enabled him to lead the Osmania University Teachers Association as President for two consecutive terms i.e. 1996-1998 and 2000- 2002. He made a remarkable presence by making the OUTA, a visible forum of university teachers in the state. He successfully bridged the rift that was existing between OUTA and university Administration. He built confidence in all stakeholders of the institution. As a professor and at various capacities he set road maps, encouraged and gave source of inspiration for innumerable students, faculty and many others.
Member of IQAC
Professor currently serving as Member, OU-IQAC (Osmania University-Internal Quality Assurance Cell). IQAC is conceived as a mechanism to build a quality culture at university level and it is meant for planning, guiding and monitoring quality assurance and quality enhancement activities across the university.
Post to his active retirement at university, Professor Reddy is on an active advisory and support role to academic institutions and educational organizations in the country.
As Resource person and Advisor
Professor Reddy continues to b a guiding source, councilor and advisor for many state led and private educational institutions of all scales.
He is a resource person for many Universities and their Academic Staff Colleges in the state, University of Hyderabad, Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resources Development Institute (MCRHRD), AP Judicial Academy, National Academy of Legal Studies and Research(NALSAR), Engineering Staff College of India(ESCI), MIT School of Government IMIT-SOG) Pune, and Center for Cultural Resources Training (CCRT) etc.
Environmental Movements by Professor
A self made personality, he emerged as India’s one of the eminent environmentalists. His name has become synonymous with environment in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Professor Reddy comprehension on ecosystems, his roots in farming family from a country side and his passion for greener environment made him emerge as one of the leading environmentalist in the country.
As a young man he has very closely experienced the plight of thousands of villagers living in the native districts of Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar due to the scarcity of water resources. Their problems arising from polluted groundwater from fluorine caught his conscience and carved an agenda to stop the further suffering of people.
However his awakening and realization came post the Bhopal tragedy in the year 1984. Moved by the catastrophe and havoc caused by the event, Professor Reddy felt a strong urge for fronting the cause of environmental protection.
For nearly two decades since then, he has initiated numerous forums, organizations, and bodies to identify, resolve and fight for various environmental issues. He prophesized the need for living in harmony with nature and background ecosystems. preserving the natural resources and maintaining the ecological balance.
The whole media followed him for two decades, given his style of struggles for the cause and also the importance of the issues. He works with the aim of making Environmental Studies and integrated, interdisciplinary stream, which helps in making the Earth Clean and Green. He swung in to action after Bhopal Gas disaster in 1984. Since then he carried out many land mark environmental struggles. Be believes that true development is sustainable development which is inclusive of entire ecosystems society. He popularized the dictums such as sustainable development, think globally act locally etc.
Professor is Founder President, Citizens Against Pollution (CAP), an Environmental Action Group established in 1985 and based in Hyderabad. As part of this group and independently worked for sustainable development policies that included activities in the areas like policy development exercises, campaigning and development of political agenda. New York Times on its February 6th 1991 edition regarded CAP as one of India's leading Environmental Action Groups. Following are few remarkable environmental struggles carried out by professor through CAP.
Struggle against Nuclear Reactor
In 1987-88, launched a campaign against the establishment of a Nuclear Power Plant at Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. This is the only success story of its kind in India. People of four districts were mobilized for a massive public protest.
Struggle against Mechanized Slaughter Houses
In 1990, launched a struggle against two export oriented mechanized slaughter houses in Medak District, with the slogan – “Save Cattle - Save Nation”. Establishment of such mechanized slaughter houses resulted in the depletion of cattle population, thereby affecting the small farmers, environment and agriculture.
Struggles against Industrial Pollution
Clean Environment Campaigns: Ongoing struggles for the past 22 years on Gandhian Principles, striving to make environmental rights like Right to Clean Air, Right to Clean Water and Right to Livelihood a meaningful proposition.
In 1985, he focused on Ground Water Pollution in Saroornagar. The outcome of the Campaign is had initiated a number of similar actions against Industrial Pollution around Hyderabad.
Struggle against Industrial Pollution in Nacharam Industrial area in 1986.
From 1986 onwards launched a struggle against industrial Pollution in Patencheru. Educated and motivated the farming community to protect their lands from toxic pollution. The Supreme Court of India has extended an interim compensation to the affected farmers and the final decision on the compensation to be paid which had been valued at around Rupees Thirty Two Corers is awaited. “The Polluter pays” principle has been used in this case. The real outcome of strategic peoples struggle is that heavy attention of policy-makers was drawn and even the Supreme Court of India responded to the cause of industrial pollution victims of Patancheru.
Legal Battles
He has initiated legal struggles, which are as diverse as the travails of the people with the degraded environment and projects, which affect them adversely to mention few are:
Writ petition in the AP high court seeking its intervention in connection with the spate of suicide deaths and to save the farmers of Andhra Pradesh from the clutches of indebtedness. also filed a complaint regarding the same matter with the national human rights commission, new Delhi.
Several public interest litigation (PIL) cases have been filed demanding environmental public hearing (EPH) and adherence to rule of law.
Writ petition in AP high court seeking direction to save 170 lakes in Hyderabad urban area. appointed by the high court as member of the expert committee to prepare an action plan to protect Saroornagar lake.
Other roles served for Environment and Development
He was a Member of Expert Committee to advise the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB), Hyderabad, First Board of Directors, and Environment Protection Training Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad, Member of the Environmental Education Committee of the A.P. State Council of Higher Education, and Expert Member of the A.P. State cloud seeding Project, Government of Andhra Pradesh.. Human Rights Commission of Andhra Pradesh appointed him as a member of the Special Committee on relocation of Bholakpur tanneries.
As the Director of Contractors Development Institute
Professor, also served as Director, Contractors Development Institute, A constituent unit of National Academy of Construction, During his tenure oriented itself to actively promote Green Building Technologies. He served at CDI till August 2012. He was instrumental in various initiatives including an Academic association between CDI and NALSAR University. He is playing an active role in promoting alternatives which minimize environmental foot print and also green practices and habits in the society.
As a Development Activist
The remarkable ability of understanding the issues, assessing the aspirations of masses, sensitizing the people for well being of society and exploring the solutions manifested in to successes of many complex social environmental, developmental issues. As an activist of sustainable development he carried out several movements. Following are few to mention….
Struggles for Water
Water Resources Development with a view to provide water to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of the people in the backward and drought prone regions of AP.
As Advisor, Veligonda Sadhana Samithi, sensitized the people of Prakasam District for the speedy implementation of this project.
As Secretary, Forum for Utilization of Godavari Waters, to meet the drinking water needs and to irrigate the parched lands in AP.
As Advisor, Jala Sadhana Movement in Nalgonda, since 1992 worked for the implementation of Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) now Madhav Reddy Canal and Sri Ram Sagar flood Flow Canal.
As Advisor, Jala Sadhana Movement in Mahabubnagar District, since 1994 worked for the implementation of Kalwakurthy, Bhima Phase I & II and Nettampadu Lift Irrigation Schemes over river Krishna. This effort will go a long way in arresting the desertification process in this region.
Campaign against Flourosis in Nalgonda and other districts of AP since 1987.
As a keen observer, and able leader he had an empathetic listening to the woes of Gangavaram fisherman and explored a meaning full win-win solution which was quoted by the then government of Andhra Pradesh in its GO issued on the matter.
Contributions as Political Scientist
India freedom struggle has become his passionate topic as a student and teacher of political science. As a political scientist he constantly propagates the India’s inherent strengths and gandhian thoughts towards nation building process. Valuable Services of Professor have been utilized by Indian National Congress for professionalizing the cadres and in party building process. He was actively involved in Gandhipatham to spread the message of Gandhian principles for nation building.
Literary Contributions in Environment and Development
Professor Co-authored book entitled “Environmental Education” in 2002, Co-edited the “State of Environment in Andhra Pradesh- A Citizens’ Report” in 1990. He published more than 80 papers in National and International Journals. He is a regular Columnist in daily newspapers, contributing articles on various environmental and developmental issues.
Present activities
He is constantly motivating individuals and several organizations to work for green and social causes. Spreading massive awareness among the Youth to “Save the Planet “.
Currently working on Public Policies, which would aim at sustainable development of India, and on alternative development models on the lines of World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) Report?
He is organizing concerted struggles in order to build up pressure on the political system for evolving policies, which would make development more meaningful and sustainable. Following the dictum “Think Globally – Act Locally” conducting campaigns “Save Hyderabad” from the impending doom in terms of Environmental issues. In this regard, Area Action Committees are being set up to make the localities Clean and Green.
A restless soldier for social causes Professor Reddy is currently working on various nationwide forums and issues. Some of them are listed below
He is the President of National Forum for Protection of Natural Resources. This forum is promoted for the cause of protecting natural resources and biodiversity across India.
Struggle against sand mining
Very recently, Professor Reddy initiated a movement against greedy sand mining and also filed a writ seeking stay on illegal and unwise river sand. The efforts were successful as the AP High Court ordered a stay on sand mining activities. The same was upheld in the Supreme Court on the issue seeking further action by AP Government.
Advisor and Mentor- Council for Green Revolution (CGR)
Professor is Advisor and Mentor for Council for Green Revolution (CGR) a registered public charitable society working relentlessly for a variety of environmental causes in the state of Andhra Pradesh CGR is taking many initiatives in the area of environment and sustainable development. CGR has accomplished plantation of 2 million trees in drought ridden semiarid areas of Andhra Pradesh. in A brief on some of the CGR initiatives as follows
Ø Vanaprerana Udyamam
By educating and inculcating environmental consciousness in children they can be motivated to become the protectors of nature and its resources in the future.
Through this program, the school children, especially in rural areas are focused, sensitized and assisted to greening the ecosystem by enhancing the green cover in degraded dry lands. By planting trees, the child will see it grow along with him/her, meet their immediate needs (for fruits or shade) at the local level, and also fulfill their global environmental responsibility.
CGR has planted 3,82,929 saplings under Vanaprerana Udyamam program during 2010 & 2011 involving 88,989 students belonging to 394 Govt. Schools in 4 drought prone districts of Andhra Pradesh namely Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Warangal and RangaReddy.
Ø Green Village Programme
The main objective of Green Village program is to transform the villages which are reduced to deserts into landscapes of unfading greenery. Before their inhabitants started cutting down trees and turning their villages in to barren spaces, a typical village used to bloom with green trees, provide shelter to myriad kinds of birds, meet the cultural and social necessities of the people and present a picture of striking diversity. Through this program, we intend to green the villages by planting appropriate (culturally and economically significant) trees in all available vacant space and transform it into a green village.
CGR planted 16,310 saplings under Green Village concept in 10 villages of Nalgonda, Rangareddy and Mahabubnagar districts.
Advisor, Greens Alliance for Conservation of Eastern Ghats
Recently, he was instrumental in launching of Greens Alliance for Conservation of Easternghats, a National Level Peoples movement for the protection the hill ranges which has great, environmental, economic, socio-cultural significance in south India. Series of regional conventions are being organized from the guidance and support of Professor Reddy.
unleash a national level peoples movement for Eastern Ghats conservation through networking and creating synergies among all stakeholders and other objectives of GRACE are to raise the present status of Eastern Ghats to one of the Global Biodiversity Hotspots,
To highlight the significance, issues, challenges and conservation options,
To ensure its conservation by placing it on our national agenda
To work for Eastern Ghats Protection Authority, To work on Policy, advocacy for the sustainability of the ranges
To play a sentinel role in the protection of serene hills from destruction and degradation, its invaluable recourses, biodiversity, tribals, socio-economic, cultural and
spiritual values of mountains.
To highlight the significance, issues, challenges and conservation options,
To ensure its conservation by placing it on our national agenda
To work for Eastern Ghats Protection Authority, To work on Policy, advocacy for the sustainability of the ranges
To play a sentinel role in the protection of serene hills from destruction and degradation, its invaluable recourses, biodiversity, tribals, socio-economic, cultural and
spiritual values of mountains.
Director of Board-Geo Ecology Energy Organization (GEO)
Professor guiding GEO, the organization involved in Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change (Mitigation and Adaptation), and Energy and Development aspects. The organization has launched million stoves programme and it caught the attention of policy makers and global intellectuals on environment and development.
Honors, Awards and Recognition
He made an outstanding service for people and environment all the way of his life. As an activist he traversed length and breadth of the state of Andhra Pradesh and India. Professor addressed more than 3000 meetings on various issues which span from environmentalism to development.
As earlier mentioned a staunch fallowed of Gandhian philosophy and true patriot he applied resilient tools and technologies of protest while he was leading the people for many common causes of society. He believes in inclusiveness, ecological harmony, simplicity, dialogue and education as tools of nation building.
His simplicity can be described by the fact, though, he has made outstanding movements and great victories for the people and environment he attributes all his success to the kindness of god.
His multiple crusades for environment and development won him international attention. American Telugu Association (ATA) in 1992 has felicitated him at New York, for his monumental work of environmental activism and deep sense of concern and commitment for the sustainable development of the society.
He was invited as a State Guest by the Turkish Government. Apart from New York Times he was widely lauded in many platforms, forums, and in the media.
Address
H.No. 1-9-633, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad, A.P, India. 500 044, Phone: 040 – 27616115, (Mobile) 984-890-2727, kprgeo@gmail.com, www.profkpurushothamreddy.com
