Andhra-Christian College, popularly known as AC College, is one of the oldest colleges in India. AC College is part of the educational enterprise of the Protestant churches. The College admits intermediate, under-graduate and graduate students and awards degrees through the Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjunanagar to which it is affiliated.

Saint George is the patron saint of this College. At the entrance of the college itself, the patron saint's image slaying the dragon is found.

Priests of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church administer the College.

Motto

In Latin, the college motto is ET COGNOSCETIS VERITATEM ET VERITAS LIBERABIT VOS which translates into English as ...And you shall know the truth: and the truth shall make you free.

History

It was established in 1885 in Guntur City, one of the first colleges in India to offer graduate programs. Missionaries of the Protestant traditions established the College as part of their educational endeavour.

The then United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) through Rev. Fr. John Christian Frederick Heyer (known as Father Heyer) established the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church on July 31, 1842

Administration

Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) through its Board of Education administers the College.

The College consists of three entities, viz.,

• Day College
• Evening College
• College of Law

Courses offered

Intermediate

Pre-University or Intermediate courses are offered by the College. The College is affiliated to the Board of Intermediate Education, Hyderabad, a regulatory authority for pre-university courses in Andhra Pradesh.

The following are the course combinations available:

• Biology, Physics, Chemistry
• Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry
• History, Economics, Commerce
• Civics, Economics, Commerce

Graduate programmes

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Post-Graduate programmes

• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Notable Alumni

A few of the notable alumni include:

Business

• Dr. K. Anji Reddy

Education

• Dewan Bahadur T. S. Paulus

Film

• Sobhan Babu

Literature

• Jandhyala Papayya Sastry, a famous poet who wrote Pushpa Vilapam

Politics

• Sri Bhavanam Venkataram
• Sri Kasu Brahmananda Reddy
• Sri N. G. Ranga
• Sri NT Rama Rao

Theology

• Rev. Dr. P. Victor Premasagar
• Rev. Dr. B. V. Subbamma
• Rev. Dr. Dass Babu
• Rev. Dr. N. V. Luther Paul

References

NotesFurther reading

• Luther Richardson, Kolluri, Rev. (2003). "Towards Self-Reliance : A historical survey of the programmes and efforts of Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1927-1969, Published by Christopher and Kanakaiah, Vijayawada".
• Senftleben, Martin (1992). "Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati". I
• _______________, (1992). "Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati". II