Dr. B.R. Arnbedkar Open University, BRAOU (formerly known as Andhra Pradesh Open University) completes its first decennium in August 1992. The University, the first of its kind in the country, was established in August 1982 in Andhra Pradesh. The completion of a decade of existence is a critical and memorable event in the history of any institution more so when it has been a path setter in an important area of national uplift. Such events should be occasions to review the expectations and contributions, the strengths and limitations of the system. As an insider the author presents a point of view on the system and offers a critical appreciation of it. The paper has two sections. In Section-I the origin of the University and its development over a decade are discussed. In Section41 the author's reflections on the experiences are presented.