VISAKHAPATNAM: Being the home town of poet Gurajada Apparao, Vizianagaram celebrated his 152nd birth anniversary with gaiety here Sunday. Housing and rural development minister Kimidi Mrunalini paid floral tributes to the legendary poet at his residence in the town and went through the portraits, books and belongings of Gurajada.
The minister remembered the contributions of Gurajada towards the field of literature and said that the government would take steps to officially celebrate his birth anniversary across the state from the next year. She also unveiled a souvenir designed on Gurajada Apparao. “Gurajada was an inspiration for women, for abolishing the child marriage system,” she recalled.
Earlier, a rally with some memorabilia of the social reformer was taken out from his residence to Kshatriya Kalyanamandapam, in which hundreds of students from many schools took part and belted out ‘Desamunu Preminchumanna’, written by Gurajada.
A meeting was conducted at the Kshatriya Kalyanamandapam wherein district collector MM Nayak opined that Gurajada’s ‘Kanyasulakam’ was a valuable contribution to the society. “It is renowned till date and has no replacement,” he opined.
Nayak also said that they would set up a museum with the photographs and belongings of Gurajada in the coming days. The authorities concerned promised to take necessary action as regards acquiring the lost collections of the poet in the library, he added. Later, the play ‘Puthadibomma Poornamma’ was showcased by some artistes. ZP chairperson Sobha Swathirani, MLA M Geetha and joint collector B Ramarao were present.