"Yatra Naryastu Pujyante Ramante Tatra Devata Yatraitaastuna pujyante sarvaastatra falaahkriyaah."
Where women are honoured,divinity blossoms;where women are dishonoured, allaction, no matter how noble it may be, remains unfruitful. Manusmriti3:56
Srimathi Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi (05-11-1851 to 11-08-1910) was the wife of late Kandukuri Veeresilingam Panthulu Garu (16-04-1848 -to 27-05-1919) the forerunner of social reformers inthe Godavari region of Madras Presidency. Though he was decorated with the civilian honour of RAO BAHADUR, people used to address him Panthulu Garu (Teacher Renowned).
Pita Rakshati Kaumare Bharta Rakshati Yauvane RakshantiSthavirePutranaStreeSvaatantryamarhati
According to the cited chant, the father guards her during virginity, the husband guards her in youth,and the sons guard her in old age; the woman is never fit for independence Manusmriti9:3
But the noble couple—Veeresalingam and Rajyalakshmi—ignored this sloka and championed the cause of WOMENEDUCATION.Theyfoughtagainstchildmarriagesandthesystemofdowry.In1874,theyinstituted a school in Dowlaiswaram to encourage education for girls. Subsequently, they started Hitakarini School in 1908 in Rajamahendravaram. To promote women’s education, they started a journal, namely VIVEKA VARDHINI, in 1876, which was published in Chennai (Madras) in its formative days.
The emblem of the college is studded with Yatra Naryastu Pujyante Ramanthe Tatra Devata.
Tocommemoratetheservice,particularlyinthefieldofeducation,renderedbythenoblecoupleSmt.Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi College for women was established on 2nd September 1968.
As per the UGC act of 1956, the college is included under section 2(f) and 12(b).
Sincethen,thecollegehasbecomesynonymousforitsservicetothegirlsoferstwhileEastandWestGodavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. At present, the college offers a postgraduate program in Zoology and several UG programs in Arts, Commerce, and Science.
As per the GO Ms.no. 28 dated 10th of August, 2022 the college underwent a transfer of ownership to the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Now the name of the college has been changed as Smt. Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi Government Degree College (Women).