KVG as he was fondly known, is most remembered for his significant contribution to the world of amateur theatre in India and more so in the south. It is due to his efforts entirely that the Department of Theatre Arts was established in AU and later on he gave the impetus to construct a modern open-air theatre that was subsequently named after him. His efforts brought Kendal's Shakespeare all the way from the UK to perform regularly at the Open Air Theatre during the Andhra Week celebrations that were usually held in the last week of December during those times.

Born on the 19th of Dec, 1903, Prof. K.V. Gopalaswamy had the privilege of getting the best available education at the Oxford Balliol College where he did his Masters. He was later called to the Bar of the Inner temple of UK.

In 1930-01 he was the Private Secretary to the Agent General of India in South Africa. He chose to serve in Andhra University and was appointed as the Registrar, a post he held till his retirement 21 years later. He was also the Professor of Law in AU and the first Honorary Professor of Theatre Arts and Chairman of the Faculty of Arts.

He was awarded an honorary D.Litt by Andhra University in recognition of his services and intellectual contributions on the occasion of the fiftieth convocations  of Andhra University in 1977.

He was also an author and sportsman par excellence - he has brought out many stories and plays that have been published as well as several critiques on English and Telugu writers. His interest in theatre led him to write authoritative treatises on diverse aspects of theatre.

He played hockey and tennis and was the Captain of the Madras Christian College Lawn Tennis Association. and  played hockey for Balliol college, Oxford. He played hockey against many international teams and had the proud privilege of partnering the late Shri Fakrudhin Ali Ahmed in an international tennis tournament in France.

(Excerpts taken from the writings of Prof. A. Prasanna Kumar)