Telugu medium to global stage: Dr. K Saroja Devi on language, learning & literature
Nellore: For many students, shifting from Telugu medium to English is daunting. For Dr. Komatla Saroja Devi, it became the launchpad for a 25-year career in higher education, research and poetry.
She has held leadership roles as Professor of English, Head of Humanities and Sciences, Dean for Training and Placements, and Principal across reputed institutions. Her master’s in English Literature defined her intellectual path, while a PhD at Sri Padmavathi Mahila University led to her first poem, ‘An Orphan’, published in 2006 in Odisha journal Replica.
Recognition followed quickly. She presented at the SAARC Festival of Literature, Agra, in 2009, and in 2008 addressed the 42nd IATEFL International Conference at Exeter University, UK — among the few Indian voices there.
From 2000-2017 at Narayana Engineering College, Nellore and 2017-2022 at RISE Engineering College, Ongole, she focused on curriculum redesign for industry needs and communication skills. She also worked on UGC, AICTE and NAAC accreditation processes to strengthen institutional quality.
Since July 2025, she serves as Professor and HOD of English at NBKR Institute of Science and Technology.
As an author, her poetry appears in INKLINKS, Women Hold Up Half the Sky and Amaravati Poetic Prism. Her collection A Myriad of Musings (2022) and books like Ethical Intimations in Select Interwar American Fiction showcase her dual strength in literature and pedagogy.
Honours include Visishta Seva Puraskar, Sahitya Sri Award, Sthree Sakthi Puraskar, Best Teacher Award, and recognition from the International Academy of Ethics as a Distinguished Scholar. Her poem ‘Freedom for Tolerance’, translated into Spanish, was broadcast on Uruguay media networks during Independence Day.
“Language becomes a bridge when we dare to learn. Determination and continuous learning can transform every challenge into opportunity,” she said, crediting parents late K Jayarami Reddy and K Vijayalakshmi for her academic drive.
