VIJAYAWADA: The 142nd birth anniversary of the first chief minister of Andhra State ‘Andhra Kesari’ Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was celebrated in a grand manner at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram here Saturday.
On the occasion, district collector M Raghunandhan Rao said that Prakasam Pantulu was a great freedom fighter and asked the youth to get inspired and imbibe the qualities of the freedom fighter.
He recalled the bravery and fierce courage of Prakasam Pantulu during the freedom struggle. “He was the person who wanted to construct the barrage across the Krishna river. It was named as Prakasam barrage in his memory,” Raghunandhan Rao added.
City police commissioner AB Venkateswara Rao said that Prakasam Pantulu was a real inspiration for many and asked the students to emulate him.
Senior journalist Turlapati Kutumbarao recalled his association with Prakasam Pantulu, when he worked as his secretary and praised him as a great human being.
Later prizes were distributed among the winners in the competitions.
Freedom fighter Vamana Rao, sub-collector Hari Chandana, VMC commissioner C Hari Kiran, senior journalist C Raghavachari, VGTM-VUDA vice-chairman P Usha Kumari and students participated in the programme.