Kurunji Venkatramana Gowda Law College, Sullia

Kurunji Venkatramana Gowda Law College, Sullia is part of the Academy of Liberal Education (AOLE), an educational network established in 1976 under the vision of Indian educationist and philanthropist Kurunji Venkataramana Gowda. Gowda, born on 26 December 1928 in an agrarian family in Sullia taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, discontinued his formal education early due to financial hardship but went on to found AOLE with the aim of using education as a tool for rural transformation and social upliftment. The first institution under AOLE was Nehru Memorial College, Sullia, located at Kurunjibag. Over time, the academy expanded to include a range of professional and educational institutions—covering fields such as engineering, medicine, dentistry, ayurveda, nursing, polytechnic studies, ITI training, law, and teacher education—turning Sullia and its surrounding areas into a recognized hub for education and healthcare. Gowda's philosophy emphasized hard work, integrity, discipline, and service to marginalized communities, including Dalits, women, and the rural poor, through access to education and healthcare. He received several honours for his contributions, including an Honorary Doctorate from Florida University, USA, and the Rajiv Gandhi Ekta Award, among others.