The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Osmania University marked a major moment in its history with the inauguration of the Sarwat Hussain Digital Media Centre.
The centre was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Kumar Molugaram at the University College of Arts and Social Sciences. The state-of-the-art Digital Media Centre has been established with cutting-edge equipment for digital content creation, including two high-end professional cameras and a customised Apple Studio computer system.
The equipment, worth nearly ₹20 lakh, was donated by Vidya Bhandarker in memory of her late spouse, Sarwat Hussain, an alumnus of the department. Sarwat Hussain pursued his Bachelor of Communication and Journalism (BCJ) and Master of Communication and Journalism (MCJ) at OU during 1987-89.
He began his professional career at ICRISAT, where he worked for 16 years, before joining the World Bank in 1992. Over the next 25 years, he rose steadily in the organisation, eventually retiring in 2017 from the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., as head of Communications for the Agricultural Global Practice.
Recalling her husband’s journey, Ms. Bhandarker noted that access to quality education enabled him to grow professionally at ICRISAT and that the BCJ and MCJ degrees from Osmania University gave him the foundation to enter the World Bank and fuel his meteoric rise over the next two-and-a-half decades.
“The spirit of giving back by alumni in the U.S. is something we both admired deeply. We felt this was something we must do for Osmania University as well,” she said, calling upon OU alumni to reconnect with their departments and contribute to their growth.
Satish Thalladi, Head of the Department of Journalism, said the Centre represents the Department’s commitment to evolving with the times and embracing digital storytelling.
Faculty members and students hailed the initiative as a timely and meaningful contribution that strengthens Osmania University’s journalism education while honouring the enduring legacy of a distinguished alumni.
Published – January 27, 2026 12:22 am IST
