Banaras Hindu University has signed a memorandum of understanding with “Kalipatnapu Foundation” to institute forty scholarships for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Chemistry in the Institute of Science. The Foundation will donate a sum of Rs One Crore for the purpose to the university to institute these scholarships in honour of late Shri Kalipatnapu Kondiah, a former student and teacher of BHU. Shri Kondiah obtained his BSc and MSc at BHU, and then became a faculty member in Chemistry in the University (1922-1941) and rose to be Head of the Chemistry Department. He left the university in 1941 to join the Freedom Movement and remained in jail for 5 years. Upon release from jail, he set up a chemical factory in Andhra Pradesh to help the country become self-reliant.

The Kalipatnapu Foundation has been set up by his family, including his son Dr Indusekhar Rao Kalipatnapu, his daughter late Smt Indira Devi, and grandson Mr Chaitanya Kalipatnapu. Dr Indusekhar did his MBBS studies at AFMC Pune and worked for the Andhra Pradesh Medical & Health Services. Smt Indira Devi was born in Varanasi and lived in the city till she was eight. Mr. Chaitanya Kalipatnapu, grandson of Shri Kondiah, is an engineering graduate from BITS Pilani and has studied his MBA in INSEAD in France. He is now settled in France and is founder of a highly successful unicorn company.

BHU Registrar Prof Arun Singh and Shri Indushekhar Rao signed the MOU in the presence of Vice Chancellor Prof Sudhir Jain, and other family members of Kalipanapu family including wife of Shri Indushekhar Rao, Sri Chaitanya Kalipatnapu and his niece. Shri Chaitanya mentioned that the best way for a student to show gratitude to his university for providing a good education is through “Pay Forward,” that is, pay for the future generation of students. He mentioned that through this donation, the family wishes to acknowledge the impact BHU education made to the life of his grandfather and therefore to the generations. 

Vice Chancellor Prof Sudhir Jain lauded the Foundation and the family for the generous contribution aimed at supporting students in their pursuit of knowledge. He said that such donations enable BHU to serve its purpose more vigorously by providing good education to deserving students from financially-deprived families.