‘Getting a PhD is dream come true’

Vasumathi Devera, who is first doctorate awardee from Yerukala category in ST communities in Andhra Pradesh. Photo: A Radhakrishna, The New Indian Express

Vasumathi Devara (36) was on cloud nine receiving applause from her friends, relatives and colleagues while her husband Siva Kumar Appisetty accepted flowers at the felicitation ceremony on Sunday to award Vasumathi a Doctorate (PhD) degree.One might wonder what is so special about getting a PhD degree. Well, she is first woman from the Yerukala tribe to receive such an award. “It is indeed a proud moment in my life to get a PhD degree. It is a culmination of my five-year long work at the JNTU-H, where I studied and am now working as an associate professor,” she said.Vasumathi Devera, who works as an associate professor, department of computer science and engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTU-H) was awarded the Doctorate of Philosophy for her work on 'Web mining using pattern discovery techniques'.After her wedding to Siva Kumar Appisetty, who is a faculty member at the Malla Reddy Engineering College, Vasumathi did her BTech and MTech in computer science and engineering. A native of Epurapalem village in Chirala mandal of Prakasam district, she was born into a poor family.But from the beginning she did not allow poverty to stand in her way education. “I knew from the beginning that life was not a bed of roses. I was born into a poor family and grew up in a community that is known for violence. Many members of my community were against my decision to go to school or college. But I never gave up my dream to excel in studies and today I have accomplished my dream of getting the doctorate degree,” Vasumathi said, with tears of joy in her eyes.Dr Vasumathi, who wants to be a role model for other ST students, said the main reason for low level of education among tribes were the socio-economic factors. “Lack of educational institutions in tribal areas, poverty, lack of nutritional and health care programmes, poor enrolment and high dropout rate from schools curtail development among scheduled tribes. Moreover, parents of tribal children being mostly illiterate, do not have the vision to send their children to school,” observed Vasumathi.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com