The 30th Narla Venkateswara Rao Memorial Endowment Lecture was held at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) on Monday, celebrating his lasting contributions to Telugu literature, journalism, and theatre.

Prof. C. Mrunalini, head of the Telugu Department at Arya University, USA, and retired professor of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, delivered the lecture, highlighting Narla’s realistic one-act plays such as Sita Josyam, Narakamlo Harischandra, Jabali, and Paatha Kotha. She noted how his works champion human values, rational thought, and social justice.

Presiding over the event, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani lauded Narla’s integrity and vision, emphasizing the need for such role models in contemporary journalism. Narla’s family donated a valuable set of books to the university library. Registrar Dr. L. Vijaya Krishna Reddy, Prof. N. Rajani, and other officials paid floral tributes to his portrait, marking the occasion with respect and remembrance.