HYDERABAD: Describing Vijayanagara emperor Srikrishna Devaraya as one of the greatest monarchs of India, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil said today that Devaraya was such a great statesman and administrator that the king’s epoch had many lessons for modern-day leaders and policymakers.
Speaking after unveiling the bronze statue of Srikrishna Devaraya at Ravindra Bharathi here to mark the completion of the 500th year of the coronation of the great king, she said the lesson that could be drawn from the legacy of such a great ruler was that the existing delivery systms should be made more effective and non-corrupt in order to ensure that the welfare programmes reached the marginalised and disadvantaged. “Our endeavour should be that the progress reaches all segments of society. We have huge amounts for social welfare and other schemes for inclusive growth.’’ The great monarch was known for “winning battles without waging wars’’ through his potent weapon _ diplomacy. As for learning lessons from the legacy of the king, it was important to work for people’s welfare by ensuring that there was all-round progress and prosperity. Skills should be imparted to the people to make them become empowered citizens and participate in various nation building activities.
Besides, there was a need to undertake rural development in a manner that villages became progressive economic units and increase in agricultural productivity. There was a need to address problems faced by farmers in dryland areas in a multi-pronged strategies and by having effective water utilization practices, she added. The President, in her concluding remarks, said that Andhra Pradesh had contributed immensely to India’s progress, and Telugu language and culture enriched the nation’s landscape. “We must remember that to create a strong nation, all strands have to bind together as one unit,’’ she said.
Governor ESL Narasimhan said the successive Vijayanagara rulers had brought about political consolidation by bringing all Telugu-speaking dominions under one umbrella and ushered in a stable as well as welfare administration centred on people’s needs.
The Vijayanagara empire had taken roots in response to the profound yearnings of the people for peace and progress when the Deccan region had witnessed untold sufferings and hardships due to constant strife and political vacuum. ``By honouring his reign and memory, we honour what is the best and noblest of our past. It is these remembrances which would inspire us to scale greater heights of excellence,’’ he remarked.
Chief minister K Rosaiah said the state government had intended to celebrate the 500th coronation anniversary of Srikrishna Devaraya not only to propagate the greatness of the king but also to make the people get inspired by his achievements.
Minister for information & public relations and culture J Geeta Reddy said the government decided to set up a national museum in memory of Srikrishna Devaraya at Penukonda in Anantapur district.
The month-long state-wide celebrations would conclude in Penukonda, she announced.
Alll the dignitaries present at the event recalled the contribution of Srikrishna Devaraya to the country, particularly his empire which extended from Cuttack in the east to Goa in the west and from Raichur Doab in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south covering modern-day Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu as well as many parts of Orissa and Goa.
They praised the king for being a man of rare accomplishments - an erudite scholar of literature and philosophy, musician and adept Veena player, and for writing the celebrated mahakaavya (magnum opus) in Telugu titled `Amukta Maalyada’.
Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, state ministers G Venkat Reddy and N Raghuveera Reddy, TTD chairman DK Adikeshavulu Naidu and others were also present.