Minister Dr Vivek Pays Tribute to PR Pioneer; National Awards Presented
Hyderabad : The 19th National Public Relations Education Day, jointly organised by the CVN PR Foundation and the Hyderabad Chapter of the Public Relations Society of India, was celebrated with great enthusiasm on Thursday at the Surana Auditorium, FTCCI, Red Hills, Hyderabad. The programme, held on the 93rd birth anniversary of PR pioneer Dr C. V. Narasimha Reddi, centred on the theme “Trust, Truth & Transparency – The Core of PR Education.”
Dr Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy, Hon’ble Minister for Labour, Employment, Training & Factories and Mines & Geology, Government of Telangana, was the Chief Guest. Dr Ajit Pathak, National President of PRSI attended as Guest of Honour, while Dr Sriram Birudavolu, CEO, Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, delivered the keynote address. Y Babji, Editor, Public Relations Voice and Smt C Rama Devi, Chairperson of CVNPR Foundation attended as Distinguished Guests. The programme was hosted by Dr Kambhampati Yadagiri, Chairman, PRSI Hyderabad Chapter and C. Ravinder Reddy, Secretary, CVN PR Foundation.
In his inaugural remarks, C. Ravinder Reddy recalled Dr C. V. Narasimha Reddi’s lifelong emphasis on continuous learning, professional development and skill enhancement. He also referred to Dr Reddi’s dream of establishing a Public Relations and Communication Academy in Hyderabad dedicated to education, research, innovation and professional excellence.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr Kambhampati Yadagiri said that the Hyderabad Chapter takes pride in partnering with the CVN PR Foundation every year to celebrate National PR Education Day and honour the lasting contributions of Dr Narasimha Reddi to both PRSI and Public Relations education in India.
Also Read-
Speaking on behalf of the family, Smt C. Rama Devi, Chairperson of the CVN PR Foundation, remembered her father as a visionary educator and institution builder who dedicated his life to developing ethical and socially responsible Public Relations professionals. She said Dr Reddi believed that while technology transforms communication, it is education that transforms communicators.
Explaining the significance of the day, Y. Babji, Editor of Public Relations Voice, stressed the need for a multidisciplinary approach to Public Relations, drawing upon journalism, sociology, psychology, political science and management. He said the annual observance aims to draw the attention of the University Grants Commission, State Councils of Higher Education and Universities to introduce more Public Relations courses to produce qualified professionals for the future.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Ajit Pathak described Dr C. V. Narasimha Reddi as one of the greatest contributors to PR education in India and a role model for generations of practitioners. He highlighted PRSI’s youth initiatives, including the Nalanda PRSI Student Forum and “Public Relations: From Boardrooms to Classrooms,” aimed at nurturing communication values among college and school students. He appreciated the Hyderabad Chapter and the CVN PR Foundation for sustaining the annual celebration, which has now become a national event.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Sriram Birudavolu observed that the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence, automation and digital technologies has made Public Relations more important than ever in building trust, truth and transparency. Referring to cybersecurity’s “Zero Trust – Never Trust, Always Verify” principle, he said PR professionals have a vital role in countering deepfakes, fake news and misinformation while safeguarding organisational reputation and effectively communicating complex technologies to stakeholders.
In his address, Dr Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy paid rich tributes to Dr C. V. Narasimha Reddi, stating that the annual celebration was a fitting tribute to a personality who dedicated his life to the promotion of Public Relations and PR education. He said that although traditional and social media often focus on negative news, Public Relations professionals, by adhering to the principles of truth, trust and transparency, can effectively communicate government policies and developmental initiatives. The Minister also informed that the Telangana Government under A Revanth Reddy is committed to strengthening its Public Relations machinery to ensure effective dissemination of information to the people.
The programme, attended by around 150 participants, including PR professionals, teachers, students, award recipients and media representatives, witnessed the presentation of several prestigious awards and recognitions.
Saikat Chakraborty, Chief Manager (Corporate Communications), GAIL (India) Ltd., Delhi received the Dr C. V. Narasimha Reddi–PRSI Best PR Manager of the Year 2026 National Award. Dr V. Palaniappan, Sr Manager (PR & CC), CPCL, Chennai received the Jury Special Recognition, while Vikram Kharvi, CEO of Bloomingdale PR of Mumbai was honoured with the PR Voice Literary Excellence Recognition.
Awards were also presented to outstanding PR Teachers – Prof Upendra Padhi of Bhubaneswar & Prof Ritu Dubey Tiwari of Gaziabad; PR Academic counsellors – Dr Suzan Spurthi & Dr K Rakesh; Conveners of Committees on PRSI educational initiatives Krishna Baji, Lion K Govindaraj & Dr Fatima Raheem and 22 students from 18 educational institutions who secured the highest marks in Public Relations.
The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by P. Mohan Rao, Coordinator of the programme.
