Koneru Ramakrishna Rao
Encyclopedia
Professor Koneru Ramakrishna Rao (Telugu
: కోనేరు రామకృష్ణారావు) is a philosopher, psychologist, parapsychologist, educationist, teacher, researcher and administrator. Rao was born on October 4, 1932, in India
. He did his college and graduate work at Andhra University
, Waltair, India (B.A. hons., philosophy 1953; M.A. hons., psychology 1955; Ph.D., 1962). He was a lecturer in the Departments of Philosophy and Psychology at Andhra University from 1953-58 under the tutelage of professors Saileswar Sen and Satchidananda Murthy . He left in 1958 to come to the United States as a Fulbright scholar
. His stay at the University of Chicago was extended a year with a Rockefeller Fellowship with Richard McKeon
at the University of Chicago
and received Ph.D.
and D.Litt. degrees. He returned to India in 1960 as chief librarian at Andhra University (1960–61), but then moved on to North Carolina to work with J. B. Rhine at the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University
, North Carolina and later headed his famous Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man as its Executive Director.
He returned to Andhra University in the mid-1960s and in 1967 established the Department of Parapsychology, the only such university department of its kind in the world. In the meantime he had become a charter member of the Parapsychology Association and was elected as its secretary in 1963 and its president in 1965. (He was again elected president in 1978). In 1977 he became the director of the Institute for Parapsychology, but again in 1984 went back to Andhra to become the university's vice-chancellor. The following year he established the Institute for Yoga and Consciousness at Andhra and became its director. In 1987 he again became head of the Institute for Parapsychology, where he has remained to the present. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research for the Indian Government.
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
: కోనేరు రామకృష్ణారావు) is a philosopher, psychologist, parapsychologist, educationist, teacher, researcher and administrator. Rao was born on October 4, 1932, in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He did his college and graduate work at Andhra University
Andhra University
Andhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
, Waltair, India (B.A. hons., philosophy 1953; M.A. hons., psychology 1955; Ph.D., 1962). He was a lecturer in the Departments of Philosophy and Psychology at Andhra University from 1953-58 under the tutelage of professors Saileswar Sen and Satchidananda Murthy . He left in 1958 to come to the United States as a Fulbright scholar
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
. His stay at the University of Chicago was extended a year with a Rockefeller Fellowship with Richard McKeon
Richard McKeon
Richard McKeon was an American philosopher.-Life, times, and influences:McKeon obtained his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in 1920, graduating at the early age of 20 despite serving briefly in the U.S. Navy during the First World War...
at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and received Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
and D.Litt. degrees. He returned to India in 1960 as chief librarian at Andhra University (1960–61), but then moved on to North Carolina to work with J. B. Rhine at the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, North Carolina and later headed his famous Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man as its Executive Director.
He returned to Andhra University in the mid-1960s and in 1967 established the Department of Parapsychology, the only such university department of its kind in the world. In the meantime he had become a charter member of the Parapsychology Association and was elected as its secretary in 1963 and its president in 1965. (He was again elected president in 1978). In 1977 he became the director of the Institute for Parapsychology, but again in 1984 went back to Andhra to become the university's vice-chancellor. The following year he established the Institute for Yoga and Consciousness at Andhra and became its director. In 1987 he again became head of the Institute for Parapsychology, where he has remained to the present. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research for the Indian Government.
Awards
Awards received by Rao include Padma Shri (Literature and Education category) from Indian Government in 2011, Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degrees from Andhra and Kakatiya Universities, and a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree from Acharya Nagarjuna University.Books (sole author)
- K. Ramakrishna Rao. Consciousness studies: Cross-cultural perspectives. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2002. ISBN 0786413824
- K. Ramakrishna Rao. The Basic Experiments in Parapsychology. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1984.
- K. Ramakrishna Rao. Mystic Awareness. Mysore, India, 1972.
- K. Ramakrishna Rao. Gandhi and Pragmatism. Calcutta & Oxford, N.p., 1968.
- K. Ramakrishna Rao. Experimental Parapsychology. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1966.
- K. Ramakrishna Rao. Psi Cognition. India: Tagore Publishing House, 1957.>
Books (jointly authored or edited)
- K. Ramakrishna Rao, Anand C. Paranjpe, & Ajit K. Dalal (Eds.). Handbook of Indian psychology. New Delhi, India: Cambridge University Press India/Foundation Books, 2008. ISBN 9788175966024
- K. Ramakrishna Rao. J. B. Rhine: On the Frontiers of Science. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1982. ISBN 0899500536
- K. Ramakrishna Rao and K. S. Murty. Current Trends in Indian Thought. New Delhi, 1972.
- K. Ramakrishna Rao and P. Sailaja. Experimental Studies of the Differential Effect in Life Setting. N.p., 1972.
Journal Articles
- K. Ramakrishna Rao (2005). "Perception, cognition and consciousness in classical Hindu psychology." Journal of Consciousness StudiesJournal of Consciousness StudiesThe Journal of Consciousness Studies is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated entirely to the field of consciousness studies. It was previously edited by Joseph Goguen. It has been co-edited by the philosopher of mysticism, Robert K.C...
, 12, 3-30. (abstract) - K. Ramakrishna Rao (1961). "A Consideration of Some Theories in Parapsychology." Journal of ParapsychologyJournal of ParapsychologyThe Journal of Parapsychology is a semi-annual peer-reviewed publication "devoted primarily to the original publication of experimental results and other research findings in extrasensory perception and psychokinesis." It also contains reviews of "literature relevant to parapsychology, criticisms...
, 25, 32-54. - K. Ramakrishna Rao (1955). "Vedanta and the Modus Operandi of Paranormal Cognition." The Philosophical QuarterlyThe Philosophical QuarterlyThe Philosophical Quarterly is a quarterly academic journal of philosophy established in 1950. It is published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Scots Philosophical Club and the University of St Andrews. The current editor-in-chief is Tim Mulgan. Every year the journal holds an Essay...
, Vol. 5.