Judge of Supreme Court Jasti Chelameshwar urged the Telugu-speaking communities in Tamil Nadu to stay united. He was addressing a jam-packed audience at the Nehru Stadium on Sunday at the Tamizhaga Telungar Mupperum Vizh.
“Be proud to have been born in the Telugu speaking community. Take pride in it and don’t feel inferior. The Tamil-Telugu connection goes back to several centuries to the Krishnadevaraya period. So realise that Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu are not aliens, but very much part of this land,” he said to a crowd, who roared in pride, expressing their unity.
The objective of the All Indian Telugu Foundation was achieved when thousands of people came forward, keeping aside their differences, to show their unity.
More than 25,000 people attended the event, which focused on uniting various Telugu speaking communities. According to the Association, nearly 25 per cent of the people in Tamil Nadu are Telugu speaking.
It is the first time an event of such scale happened in Tamil Nadu, as heads of Telugu Communities here thought that unless they all unite, it would be difficult to fight for their rights. “There are issues and legitimate rights that we have to demand from the Tamil Nadu Government. This would be possible only if we are united,” said C M K Reddy, chairman of All Indian Telugu Association.
The event also felicitated various members of Telugu Community and families like Thirumala Naicker, Kattabomman family, Pitti Thyagaraja family, Aadhiyandhara Community and freedom fighters.
Justice Jasti Chelameshwar and Governor Rosaiah appreciated the efforts by the Association to bring in Telugu speaking people together. Rosaiah said this event was more special and happier than the Ugadi festival.
There were many eminent Telugu speaking guests like singer S Pte Balasubramanian, Nalli Kuppusamy Chetty, Kutty Padmini, A Kanakaraj, chairman of Jaya group, Prathap C Reddy, chairman of Appollo Group of Hospitals, who also graced the occasion.