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Smt. Nyayapathi Kameswari (Akkayya)

Smt.N. Kameswari was born in Vijayanagaram in 1908 into a family of learned scholars and pundits. She had her high school education at Queen Mary’s Girl’s high school, Vishakhapatnam. Later when the college education was opened to women, she took the opportunity and joined Maharaja College at Vijayanagaram. She was the first female graduate from that college.

She met Sri. Nyayapathi Raghava Rao who was her classmate at Maharaja College and they married in 1934. She proceeded to gain additional qualification in teaching and did her Teacher’s Training at Lady Willington College, Madras . She worked for some time as a teacher at the National Girl’s High School, Mylapore, Madras.

Akkayya was highly respected for her organizational qualities. She also encouraged women to be part of society and get involved in the development of their children's cultural activities.

Achievements of Smt. Nyayapathi Kameswari (Akkayya)

  • Joint editor of “Bala” the first children’s magazine in Telugu. She ran a popular column called “ Akka tho eidu nimushalu” for a long time.
  • Along with her husband, she was the first to conduct children’s programmes in All India Radio in Telugu on a regular basis. This was greatly popular and appreciated by all telugu speaking people for many years as that was the only form of entertainment available to them till early 70’s.
  • Served as a Producer for women’s radio programmes. She conducted women’s programmes for many years and retired from service in 1969.
  • Cofounder of Andhra Balananda Sangham which was established in 1940.
  • Wrote numerous story books and plays for children.
  • Organized many "Radio Mahila Mandals" in the state, mostly in rural areas. She formed the "Federation of Radio Mahila Mandals" and constantly worked for the betterment of women especially from the under privileged sections. This won her a lot of appreciation from Smt. Indira Gandhi who was then the Minister for Broadcasting.
  • Organized many rural welfare centres in districts as "Convenor", Welfare Extension Projects of State Social Welfare Advisory Board.
  • Organized many holiday camps for children and women.
  • Worked along with her husband Sri. N. Raghava Rao in organizing state level children's conferences. She was known for her organizational abilities.
  • Associated with the production of the first children’s film “Balanandam”
  • Along with her husband, she was the first to release twelve children’s gramophone records with the help of HMV Records. These songs are popular even today!
  • Conducted educational programmes for children on SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment) TV.
  • Instrumental in bringing "Jawahar Balbhavan" to Hyderabad.
  • Honoured by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Mahila Mandals and many other cultural organizations for her work with children and women.