Vijayawada: Dr Sivanagi Reddy conferred Silpa Bandhu title

Vijayawada: Dr E Shivanagi Reddy, noted historian and CEO of the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati (CCVA) was honored with a title 'Shilpa Bandhu' by Viswajyothi Foundation at the CCVA here on Friday. He was honored in recognition to his services rendered in documenting the glorious history of the sculptures of Andhra Pradesh.

Shivasri on the occasion re-launched the book 'Telugu Silpula Vaibhavam' written by Dr E Sivanagi Reddy and edited by Dr K Srinivasulu said that Sivanagi Reddy, trained in traditional sculpture and architecture who has built and renovated many temples and successfully documented the history of the sculptors from 3rd century BC to the 18th century AD, based on inscriptions.

The Foundation has also felicitated Dr Konda Srinivasulu, the editor of the book and Tamada Mohan Rao, sculptor on the occasion.

Dr Gumma Sambasiva Rao, while reviewing the book said that the book encapsulates the categories of sculptors both Buddhist and Brahmanical, their qualifications, proficiency, titles, insignia, gods and goddesses of the silpins, social status, honors they received and finally the remuneration they were paid in cash and kind. He also enumerated a long list of silpins viz., scribes, quarrymen stone dressers, sculptors of the idols and architects of the temples, town and country planners in time and space.

Later, the members of the Viswakarma community and office-bearers of the state-level Viswakarma Federation, Somasekarachari, B Venkateswarlu, Seshacharyulu, Subhash Chandra Bose, Kurmachari, Somachari, Kameswara Rao and PNVS Prasad, APBC Sangham State general secretary spoke on the occasion.