"Education is Your Weapon": Retired IFS Officer Poluri Rajeswari’s Powerful Message at School Centenary
Guntur: The historic KC (Kondaveeti Committee) School in Kotha Reddypalem, Chebrolu Mandal, marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its centenary (100th year) anniversary with grandeur. Organized by the Vidya Abhivardhani Sangham, the event served as a confluence of nostalgia and inspiration, attended by Ponnur MLA Dhulipalla Narendra as the Chief Guest.
The spotlight of the celebrations was the Guest of Honor, Poluri Rajeshwari, a distinguished alumnus and retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, known for her fearless tenure in Tamil Nadu. She inaugurated the festivities by lighting the lamp at the Saraswati statue.
A Nostalgic Walk Down Memory Lane
Addressing the gathering, Poluri Rajeswari delivered an emotionally resonant speech, attributing her illustrious career to the foundation laid by KC School. She recalled spending ten formative years at the institution, which she described as the place that taught her to stand tall in the journey of life.
"The primary school teachers taught us with immense patience and creativity before sending us to the high school, where stalwarts of education paved the path for our development," Rajeswari stated. She emphasized that the school taught students to look beyond textbooks and observe the world, instilling a progressive mindset that was rare for rural schools at the time.
She highlighted the school’s strong emphasis on extracurricular excellence, noting that even compared to larger institutions of the time, KC School encouraged students to express themselves confidently through essay writing and elocution competitions. She recalled the role played by her father, Prasad Rao, the then Headmaster, along with renowned educators such as Srisaila Rao, Anjaneyulu, Rami Reddy and others. Teachers including Dushyanth Reddy and Sambasiva Rao would personally identify talented students for science fairs, a practice that consistently resulted in top prizes. So strong was the school’s reputation, she recalled, that judges would actively seek out exhibits from KC High School.
A Call to the Future Generation
Rajeswari utilized the platform to inspire the current generation of students and educators. She urged students to view education as a weapon to change the world and to dream big without fatigue.
"Believe in yourself; there is immense power within you," she advised. Addressing the teachers, she made a poignant appeal: "Please build self-confidence in students. Mould individuals who will not trade their character for money and who possess the courage to fight for the truth they believe in."
The ‘Iron Lady’ of the Forests
Rajeshwari’s professional journey remains a legend in the forestry circles. Born in Kotha Reddypalem to a headmaster father, she pursued MSc Botany before joining the IFS, driven by a passion for the environment. Her career began with a sensational record: on just her second day of duty in the Gudiyatham Range, Vellore district, she led a daring operation that resulted in the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of sandalwood and the arrest of 89 smugglers—a feat unprecedented in Tamil Nadu’s history.
Throughout her service, she faced life-threatening challenges, including confrontations with smuggling mafias. She played a key role in invoking the Goonda Act against smuggling rings, significantly curbing illegal activities. She famously prioritized duty over personal comfort, once rushing to a crime scene at midnight while leaving her six-month-old infant at home.
Rajeshwari later implemented poverty alleviation strategies in Tamil Nadu modeled after studies she conducted in Ghana under a World Bank project. She retired as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation.
Her husband, Bandlamudi Singaiah, also served the nation as an IRS officer, retiring as the Additional Director General at the Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM).
The centenary celebrations served as a reminder that institutions like KC School are national assets. As Rajeswari’s journey proves, a village school with dedicated teachers can produce leaders who protect the nation’s forests, represent the country globally, and return home to inspire the next generation of girls to conquer the world.
The spotlight of the celebrations was the Guest of Honor, Poluri Rajeshwari, a distinguished alumnus and retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, known for her fearless tenure in Tamil Nadu. She inaugurated the festivities by lighting the lamp at the Saraswati statue.
A Nostalgic Walk Down Memory Lane
Addressing the gathering, Poluri Rajeswari delivered an emotionally resonant speech, attributing her illustrious career to the foundation laid by KC School. She recalled spending ten formative years at the institution, which she described as the place that taught her to stand tall in the journey of life.
"The primary school teachers taught us with immense patience and creativity before sending us to the high school, where stalwarts of education paved the path for our development," Rajeswari stated. She emphasized that the school taught students to look beyond textbooks and observe the world, instilling a progressive mindset that was rare for rural schools at the time.
She highlighted the school’s strong emphasis on extracurricular excellence, noting that even compared to larger institutions of the time, KC School encouraged students to express themselves confidently through essay writing and elocution competitions. She recalled the role played by her father, Prasad Rao, the then Headmaster, along with renowned educators such as Srisaila Rao, Anjaneyulu, Rami Reddy and others. Teachers including Dushyanth Reddy and Sambasiva Rao would personally identify talented students for science fairs, a practice that consistently resulted in top prizes. So strong was the school’s reputation, she recalled, that judges would actively seek out exhibits from KC High School.
A Call to the Future Generation
Rajeswari utilized the platform to inspire the current generation of students and educators. She urged students to view education as a weapon to change the world and to dream big without fatigue.
"Believe in yourself; there is immense power within you," she advised. Addressing the teachers, she made a poignant appeal: "Please build self-confidence in students. Mould individuals who will not trade their character for money and who possess the courage to fight for the truth they believe in."
The ‘Iron Lady’ of the Forests
Rajeshwari’s professional journey remains a legend in the forestry circles. Born in Kotha Reddypalem to a headmaster father, she pursued MSc Botany before joining the IFS, driven by a passion for the environment. Her career began with a sensational record: on just her second day of duty in the Gudiyatham Range, Vellore district, she led a daring operation that resulted in the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of sandalwood and the arrest of 89 smugglers—a feat unprecedented in Tamil Nadu’s history.
Throughout her service, she faced life-threatening challenges, including confrontations with smuggling mafias. She played a key role in invoking the Goonda Act against smuggling rings, significantly curbing illegal activities. She famously prioritized duty over personal comfort, once rushing to a crime scene at midnight while leaving her six-month-old infant at home.
Rajeshwari later implemented poverty alleviation strategies in Tamil Nadu modeled after studies she conducted in Ghana under a World Bank project. She retired as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation.
Her husband, Bandlamudi Singaiah, also served the nation as an IRS officer, retiring as the Additional Director General at the Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM).
The centenary celebrations served as a reminder that institutions like KC School are national assets. As Rajeswari’s journey proves, a village school with dedicated teachers can produce leaders who protect the nation’s forests, represent the country globally, and return home to inspire the next generation of girls to conquer the world.