No end to curiosity: 72-year-old doctor masters IIT courses
RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Age is no barrier to learning, and veteran psychiatrist Dr Karri Ramareddy has proved it. At 72, when most people look take retirement, he continues to pursue academic excellence. He has earned 61 degrees, including three PhDs and 11 certifications through the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), offered by premier institutions such as IIT Mumbai and IIT Kharagpur.
He has topped eight of the NPTEL courses among thousands of learners across the country, securing Elite Plus Silver or Gold grades in each, which is his latest achievement.
Born in Rajamahendravaram, on August 1, 1954, and raised in the small town of Anaparthi in East Godavari district, his journey has been one of relentless learning. He completed his early education at the Government Zilla Parishad High School in Anaparthi, his PUC at PR College in Kakinada, and his MBBS at Rangaraya Medical College in 1970. He later joined the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, where he completed his MD in Psychiatry.
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New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- New Indian Express
No end to curiosity: 72-year-old doctor masters IIT courses
RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Age is no barrier to learning, and veteran psychiatrist Dr Karri Ramareddy has proved it. At 72, when most people look take retirement, he continues to pursue academic excellence. He has earned 61 degrees, including three PhDs and 11 certifications through the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), offered by premier institutions such as IIT Mumbai and IIT Kharagpur. He has topped eight of the NPTEL courses among thousands of learners across the country, securing Elite Plus Silver or Gold grades in each, which is his latest achievement. Born in Rajamahendravaram, on August 1, 1954, and raised in the small town of Anaparthi in East Godavari district, his journey has been one of relentless learning. He completed his early education at the Government Zilla Parishad High School in Anaparthi, his PUC at PR College in Kakinada, and his MBBS at Rangaraya Medical College in 1970. He later joined the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, where he completed his MD in Psychiatry.
Hans India
21-05-2025
- Hans India
Dr Rama Reddy earns 11 more degrees, takes tally to 61
Rajamahendravaram: Renowned psychiatrist and Dr BC Roy Award recipient Dr Karri Rama Reddy has added 11 more degrees to his name, taking his total academic achievements to a remarkable 61. Addressing the media at Manasa Hospital here on Tuesday, Dr Rama Reddy shared that the latest 11 courses were completed through NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) between January and June this year. He said most of these courses were passed with 'Elite Plus Silver' and 'Elite Plus Gold' grades (Distinction equivalent), awarded for scoring above 90%. He stated that he ranked among the top in eight of the 11 courses. In the previous semester, he topped six courses, which earned him the prestigious NPTEL 'Mega Star' recognition, a feat he has now achieved again. He said that these are not honorary degrees or fellowships and he earned each of them by studying and appearing for examinations. His academic journey includes three doctorates, five LLMs, MBA, MCA, MTech, MA, MCom, and more. Dr Rama Reddy, who is in his 70s, said he completes two to three degrees every year till 2024 and, afterward, plans to take up certificate courses as well. He said that he enjoys the process of education and he believes age should never be a barrier to learning. GSL Medical College Chairman Dr Ganni Bhaskar Rao praised Dr Rama Reddy's commitment, stating that earning 61 degrees at the age of 70 is extraordinary and deserving of national recognition, such as the Padma Shri award. RSS State leader Oleti Satyanarayana opined that Dr Rama Reddy, while serving as a district Sanghchalak in RSS and continuing his medical practice, has achieved this rare academic feat. IMA City Chapter Secretary Dr Datla Satish and social worker PVS Krishnarao also lauded Dr Rama Reddy's achievements during the event.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
24/7 help to QR codes: IIT Kharagpur rolls out measures to curb deaths by suicide
Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has announced a series of measures—including the formation of an expert committee, round-the-clock access to in-person counsellors, QR codes in hostel rooms, and a structured counselling calendar—to help prevent deaths by suicide among students. After a third-year civil engineering student was found dead in his hostel room on May 4, the third death by suicide on IIT Kharagpur campus this year and the ninth in the last five years, dean of students Bhargab Maitra said that a committee comprising psychiatrists, psychologists, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, ex-IITians from Kharagpur, and retired professors who were in charge of student affairs during their tenure had been formed. 'One of the present associate deans of students' affairs has been made the convenor of the committee. The committee has been asked to submit a report within three months to the director,' Maitra, who is also a professor in the civil engineering department, said. The committee has been directed to assess the factors affecting the mental health of students, take stock of initiatives that are already in place, identify gaps, and recommend further measures that can bolster the mental health ecosystem for students after speaking to all stakeholders, including students, faculty, and other staff. Maitra said that currently, online counselling is available 24x7, while in-person counselling facilities on campus are available only from 10 am to 6 pm every day. The authorities are now planning to introduce round-the-clock in-person counselling facilities. 'Many students have said that since classes often continue till 6 pm and sometimes beyond. So, we have decided to extend this till 8 pm. And from 8 pm to 10 am we have planned to introduce a facility where a counsellor will be made available on-call for students,' said Maitra. The authorities also plan to introduce a second platform for online counselling with a different set of therapists. 'In case a student is not be satisfied with the existing list of therapists in the current counselling platform, there is no other choice. The second platform will give students a choice to talk to a completely different batch of counsellors with whom he may feel free,' Maitra explained. Also, a 'counselling calendar' will be introduced in line with the academic calendar from the next semester. 'The calendar will mention specific dates on which counselling sessions will be held and which halls so that they may remain present there is needed. This calendar will be given to them at the start of the session,' said Maitra. On May 4, an IIT staff member informed the police that a woman from Delhi had called the campus office to alert them regarding the deceased, a resident of Bihar. The student had apparently spoken to the caller over the phone shortly before dying by suicide. The deceased's brother had then written to the IIT Kharagpur director seeking a probe. Two more students have died by suicide on the campus, including a fourth-year student on April 20 and a third-year undergraduate student who was found dead in his hostel room on January 12. Following the April 20 incident, IIT Kharagpur authorities had introduced barcodes on every hostel room door. Students can scan the code to seek help from on-campus counsellors. 'If a student is distressed or for any kind of emergency, he will just have to scan the QR codes printed on stickers on his mobile and to get important numbers of IIT,' he said. According to data compiled by the Global IIT alumni support group, a network of over 1,000 IIT alumni, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Chennai saw nine deaths by suicide each in five years, the highest among all the IITs in India. 'IIT Delhi recorded seven deaths and IIT Kanpur registered six deaths during the same period,' said Dheeraj Singh, an IIT Kanpur alumnus, who founded the support group in 2023 after three SC/ST students died by suicide in two IITs across India.
