History, politics, and a vision for the future
Osmania University has always been more than just an academic institution. It has been the nerve centre of student politics, the crucible of Telangana’s statehood struggle, and the cradle of national leaders who went on to shape India. Yet for nearly two decades, successive chief ministers gave it the cold shoulder, wary of its volatile symbolism and fierce student protests.
On August 25, 2025, that long silence was broken. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy became the first sitting CM in 20 years to walk the corridors of OU, not just as a visitor but as someone who came with a vision: to restore the university’s past glory, build it on a par with world-class institutions, and lift it onto the global stage alongside Stanford and Oxford.
A landmark visit after two decades
For OU’s students and faculty, Revanth’s visit was far from ceremonial. He inaugurated hostel buildings and a digital library worth Rs. 90 crore, and, more importantly, announced a Rs. 1,000 crore revival package. With Telangana’s Rs. 3 lakh crore State budget, he insisted, investing in OU was not a burden but a priority. “Osmania University and Telangana are conjoined twins,” he declared, reminding everyone of the institution’s inseparable bond with the State’s history.
The reception was telling. Students welcomed him not as a politician, but as an alumnus returning home. “Our stand has always been that leaders should come as representatives, not politicians. We welcome him in that spirit,” said Dr. S. Nageshwar Rao of the George Reddy PDSU.
Breaking from the past
The contrast with the previous regime could not have been sharper. Former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao kept away from the campus, even attending OU’s centenary in 2017 from its grounds rather than its halls. Student groups often accused him of eyeing university lands for housing projects. Revanth, by contrast, faced the students directly. “Let protests happen,” he said. “I will return in December to the Arts College without police. I am ready to answer anyone who questions me.”
Remembering OU’s legacy
Revanth Reddy anchored his vision in the university’s legacy. OU was central to the 1938 Vandemataram struggle, and has produced towering figures like former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Union ministers S. Jaipal Reddy and Shivraj Patil. It was also the epicentre of the Telangana movement, when students carried forward the cause even as politicians backed away.
Paying tribute to martyrs like Srikantha Chary, Yadaiah, Ishan Reddy and Venugopal Reddy, he accused the BRS of deliberately weakening OU over the past decade. His government, he said, was reversing that slide, appointing a Dalit Vice-Chancellor to lead its transformation.
Dreaming big: Elevating OU to global standards
Revanth Reddy has also announced the formation of a committee of professors, engineers, and officials to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for OU’s transformation. From infrastructure to academic recruitment, the plan will set milestones for elevating OU to international standards. “We have no treasure to distribute, but we can provide education that changes destinies. Education alone will eradicate poverty,” he said.
“Education is the real treasure we can give our people. It alone can eradicate poverty,” he said. He pointed to the government’s Rs. 40,000 crore expenditure on education in the past year, and the Rs. 20,000 crore allocated for 100 Young India Integrated Residential Schools. On jobs, a persistent student demand, Revanth listed 60,000 government posts already notified, another 40,000 on the way, and 1.5 lakh opportunities created in the private sector.
Scholarships and student concerns
Two new scholarships marked the occasion: the Chief Minister’s PhD Scholarship for non-fellowship scholars and an overseas scholarship scheme for postgraduate and PhD students. He also launched the CM Research Fellowship and promised financial assistance for international study tours.
Still, students pressed their demands: rollback of fee hikes, improved health insurance, and free mess facilities. “PhD fees went up from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 25,000 a year. Many aspirants dropped out. This must be rolled back,” said one philosophy student.
Warnings and swipes at Opposition
Revanth did not hold back on political jabs. He accused the BRS of misleading students, spreading propaganda with AI-generated fake news, and even trying to sabotage his visit. “They circulated lies about “lions and elephants” being killed at Hyderabad University. There are no lions in Telangana – the only beasts are those resting in farmhouses,” he said to loud laughter.
Taking a swipe at KCR, he added: “While he told people to graze cattle and sheep, I am asking them to become IAS and IPS officers, doctors and engineers.” He also promised to renominate Prof. M. Kodandaram to the Legislative Council within 15 days, after recalling how the Opposition had ousted him.
Anti-drug stance: Youth, the Future of Telangana
One of the most urgent concerns raised by the Chief Minister was the rising menace of drug abuse among youth. He stressed the need for vibrant discussions in educational institutions and vowed that the government’s EAGLE initiative would tackle the crisis head-on. “India’s strength lies in its youth, 60% of whom are under 35. If IAS officers can begin their careers at 21, why not allow 21-year-olds to contest elections too?” he asked, pushing for younger leadership.
Reigniting hope
For many students, the visit was welcome and crucial: It broke a 20-year political taboo, and showcased clear financial and academic commitments. Whether Osmania University can truly rise to the level of Oxford or Stanford remains to be seen. But for now, the Chief Minister’s words have reignited hope that OU – the soul of Telangana – will once again become a global centre of learning, leadership, and ideas.