Telangana Sahitya Yuddhabheri organised by the Telangana Rachayathala Vedika (Telangana Writers Forum) has called for a more proactive role for writers, poets and singers in the Telangana movement with more emphasis on protecting the self-respect of the artistes of the region here on Sunday.
Speakers including poet C Narayana Reddy, educationists Chukka Ramaiah, N Gopi, Jayadher Tirumala Rao, N Sidda Reddy, balladeer Gadar, poet Andesri condemned the disrespect shown by the government to Telangana martyrs and commended Telangana writers and poets for boycotting the World Telugu Conference held at Tirupati recently.
Addressing the morning session of the day-long event, Gadar said writers, poets and singers have an important task ahead of them in the movement. “We should be the catalysts of the change during this war for protecting self- identity,’’ he said.
Vimalakka of Arunodaya said that whether Telangana is announced on Jan 28 or not, artistes have to play a vital role in reconstruction of Telangana. “Now, that we have moved forward to achieve the goal of separate state, let there be no step backward,’’ she said.
Andesri, Rasamaya Balakrishna of Telangana Dhoomdham entertained the gathering with their songs.
In the afternoon session, different facets of literature, folk songs and the oral tradition of passing information and safeguarding the culture and language among common folk in Telangana region were discussed.
In the concluding session, Prof Jayadheer Tirumala Rao condemned the insult meted out to the folk artistes of Telangana region at the World Telugu Conference.
Educationist Chukka Ramaiah said though he had his education in Urdu medium in the Nizam state, he loved Telugu and for that very reason he had even carried the flag of Visalandhra after Independence. “However, I felt cheated and all these years, my back is wounded with the emotional lashes inflicted by the thoughtless governments of the state,” he said.