Prof Akella Ratnam retired after being Principal from 1986-92 followed by being Head of the PG Department of English from 1992 to 2001. During his long career he was associated with University academic bodies from 1970 to 2001. He edited:
1. Chiaroscuro: Critical essays on Indian Writing in English
2. Critical Essays on Indian Women Writing in English
3. Twilight Zones: A collection of Poems