From a Farmer Family to International Professor - A Case of a Telangana person who reached the zenith

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad: This is the story of an academician who reached the zenith through dedication and hard work. Professor Ravinder Rena was born September 18, 1969, at Errabelly, Hanamkonda District, Telangana, in a farmers’ family. His father, Chandramouli Rena, was a farmer with little agricultural land for subsistence, and his mother, Rajamma Rena (86 years still alive), had to struggle as Dr Rena’s parents were blessed with a daughter also so Dr. Rena is the only son and has one sister. 

Prof Rena completed his schooling in his native village and college in Karimnagar district of Telangana. He was awarded a Ph.D. in Economics from Osmania University, Hyderabad, with a Gold Medal (for the Best Ph.D. candidate). He obtained his M.A., B.Ed., and M.Phil. From Osmania University and B.A. and L.L.B. from Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana. Prof Rena is presently working as a Professor of Economics at DUT Business School, Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa.

He is a Visiting Professor of Economics at Saint Petersburg State University, Russia. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Economics for Master’s and Doctorate Programmes at Monarch Business School, Monarch University, Switzerland. Further, he delivered talks and keynote addresses at many Universities in India.  He acts as a President – of South Africa for the Yes You Can International (YCCI), UK. He is also the Global President of Economic Affairs of the All-India Sustainable Development Council (AISDC).

Earlier, he worked as a Professor of Economics and Internationalization Project Leader at the NWU Business School, North-West University, South Africa. He served as a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He also served as a Professor and the Coordinator of the Joint African Master's Programme (JAMP) at Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School of Business at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

He also worked as the Head of Economics in the Department of Business Studies at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Papua New Guinea. He also worked as a Professor at the Eritrea Institute of Technology, Asmara, Eritrea.