Hans News Service Rajamahendravaram

PottiSreeramulu Telugu University is preparing comprehensive research volumes on the history of the Godavari, Telugu language and literature, arts, culture, and the heritage of the Godavari basin, which the university will release during the Godavari Pushkarams in 2027, university Vice-Chancellor Prof D Muniratnam Naidu said. He spoke at a one-day national seminar on Rajamahendravaram Sahiti Vaibhavam organised at the university campus in Bommuru on Tuesday. Prof Muniratnam Naidu said a series of special seminars would be conducted every month for five months as part of preparations for the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams. The seminars would help collect research material on the history, literature, arts and cultural traditions of the Godavari region.

He said 25 researchers had registered to present papers at the day’s seminar and arrangements were made for presentations in two parallel sessions. The research papers presented at the seminars would be examined by an expert committee and selected papers would be compiled into authentic research volumes. The volumes would be released during the 2027 Pushkarams, he said. He said university courses were being successfully conducted at its main Rajamahendravaram centre as well as the Srisailam and Kuchipudi campuses. He said the university had completed syllabus preparation and submitted proposals to the government to introduce several important courses from 26 departments currently popular in Hyderabad at the Rajamahendravaram centre. He called upon researchers, academicians and students to participate extensively in programmes aimed at promoting Telugu language and culture. University Registrar Munugu Srinivasa Rao said a series of national seminars were being organised to encourage extensive research into Godavari culture, Telugu language and literature in the run-up to the 2027 Pushkarams. He said Rajamahendravaram had played a foundational role in the development of Telugu culture. He observed that river valleys had played a major role in the growth of human civilization from ancient times, when people communicated through sounds and gestures, to the present technological age.

The seminar featured papers on several prominent figures and themes associated with Telugu literature and the Godavari region. Dr N Sujatha spoke on Kandukuri Veeresalingam and his contribution to social reform, including women’s education, widow remarriage, opposition to child marriage and social awareness. Pepakayala Prasad spoke on Adikavi Nannaya and his contribution to Telugu language and literature, particularly his translation of the Mahabharata into Telugu. Jandhyala Sarath Babu spoke on Srinatha and his distinctive contribution to Prabandha literature, while Dronavajjhala Mukteshwar discussed Kandukuri Rajyalakshmamma and her contribution to literary and social causes. In the second session, Dr Talari Vasu spoke on Madhunapantula Satyanarayana Sastry and his place in the literary tradition of East Godavari. Sheikh Zareenabegum discussed the presence of the Godavari in the works of Telugu poets, while Dr A Venkateswarlu spoke on Gudipati Venkatachalam and themes of individual freedom, women’s awareness and social questioning in his writings. Dr Gootam Swamy spoke on Kavikondala Venkata Rao and Kusuma Dharmanna and their contribution to the literary development of the Godavari region. The third session covered the literary contributions of Sripada Krishnamurthy Sastry and Sripada Subrahmanya Sastry. Dr Josyula Krishnababu spoke on Sripada Krishnamurthy Sastry’s scholarship and literary contribution, while Avadhanula Manibabu discussed the narrative style and literary work of Sripada.

Dr Bhusurapalli Venkateswarlu spoke on Telugu vaggeyakaras and their role in bringing together literature and music. Bhamidipati Gourishankar discussed Bhamidipati Kameswara Rao and his contribution to humour writing, while Dr Maddala Peddiraju spoke on humour and the positive role of a smile in human life. The fourth session featured papers on Betavolu Ramabrahmam, Nedunuri Gangadharam, Endluri Sudhakar, poets of the Godavari districts and Adavi Bapiraju. The speakers highlighted their literary contributions, social awareness and influence on Telugu literature. Dr Musugu Srinivasa Rao spoke on the literary glory of the Godavari and stressed the need to preserve and introduce the region’s rich literary and cultural heritage to future generations. He said the Godavari had remained a source of inspiration for generations of poets and writers.