Nurturing Telugu culture, language in Tamil Nadu

Andhra Social & Cultural Association is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in Chennai today & tomorrow

SV Suryaprakash Rao

Chennai: The Vijaya Raghavachari Road at T Nagar, Chennai, right now wears a festive look as elaborate arrangements are being finalised for the Andhra Social and Cultural Association’s two-day Diamond Jubilee celebrations beginning on Saturday. Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Magunta Srinivasa Reddy, Union Minister Panabaka Lakshmi and TTD Chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju are among the special guests. Among other dignitaries, matinee idol Karthi will grace the function.

Rosaiah will inaugurate two-day meet.

Popular known as Andhra Club, in its 75 years history, ASCA (Andhra Social Cultural Association) has added many feathers to its cap since its inception in 1952. “It is a place that every Telugu person living in Channai can be proud of,” says K Subba Reddy, its president, who is steering the jubilee celebrations. If one looks back on its growth over the years, one can feel proud as, due to the efforts of each and every member, it has become a destination for promotion and preservation Telugu language and Telugu culture and customs.

The ASCA took birth on April 24, 1952 with just 21 members. Though this association began its activities humbly to cater to the needs of Telugus living in Chennai, with the support of Tamil brothers, gradually it became the hub of Telugu activities, ranging from cultural programmes like dance, drama festivals and music concerts to literature, sports, competitions for students, youth and women in academic and cultural subjects.

The founding members, GSV Prasad, DS Sastry, JV Somayajulu, VK Jayanthi, M Rajagopal Naidu, Koteswara Rao of Britania, MR Prathap, Ch Sehsagiri Rao, DG Sharma, SV Jagga Rao, Pamarthi Venkateswara Rao, K Krishna Murthy, G Rama Sharma, Gadde Rama Rao, PSN Raju, G RamakrishnaRao, MM Jaya Rao, T Nagabhushana Rao, Ramakrsihna Shetty, P Gangadhara Rao and Niranjana Rao, can be counted as pioneers of a movement to preserve Telugu culture in Chennai.

Besides these stalwarts, popular cine actors SV Ranga Rao and Nagabhushanam of yesteryear and Chiranjeevi, Jayasudha, SP Balasubramanyam, Sridevi, P Susheela who sang prayer song at the inaugural function in 1952, D Ramanaidu, Krishnam Raju, and many others contributed significantly to the growth of the organization. Often SP Balasubramanyam recalls a music competition conducted in Andhra Club in the mid-sixties which provided him an opportunity to meet his mentor SP Kodandapani who spotted his talent in singing competition. It was adjudged by Ghantasala, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Susalra Dakshna Murthy, then famous cine composers.

“Inaugurated by VV Giri, former President of India, it started with a vision to develop into a mighty organization,” said M Audiseshaiah, under whose tenure, the association began to witness phenomenal growth and later the same pace was continued by K Subba Reddy and Narasa Reddy, who redefined its objectives by introducing several service-oriented activities aimed at benefiting poor and talented Telugus living Chennai.

“At the starting of the academic year, ASCA Trust made arrangements to distribute 12,000 note books to students of select schools where Telugu is taught prominently in addition to other languages. We are also distributing scholarships to nearly 100 deserving students in select schools as per the recommendations of the Heads of Schools. Our gesture was welcomed by the managements of schools, students, and also the general public as we have made this as an annual event. We also planned to increase funds in our corpus in order to take up welfare schemes to help families and children of ASCA employees,” said Subba Reddy, who is also chairman of Pallava Granites.

Secretary Sambasiva Rao, giving an account of developmental works undertaken in ASCA building complex, says: “We are continuously taking steps for the betterment of services in the guest rooms,roof top restaurants and ground floor restaurant as more and more members are regularly visiting the premises to entertain their guests and families in large numbers. Now the strength of members has risen to more than 3,700.”

Past president Audiseshiah said that the association acquired land and during the presidentship of D Ramanaidu and the foundation stone was laid by then President of India Dr Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy for auditorium and new building complex.

On the cultural front, ASCA has its own style and approach that is aimed at encouraging arts, drama, dance, music --lite and classical as well, says Ratnakumar Ghantasala, cultural secretary of ASCA. “On 9th January 2000, we had a rare privilege of felicitating Dr Mangalampalli Bala Muralikrishna, Veena Gayatri, Tadepalli Lokanatha Sarma and many others. The sprawling lawns of the building and its big halls have been hosting many musical concerts, poet meets, singing competitions, drama competitions and literary meets heralding Telugu culture and traditions, he said. After the Golden Jubilee celebrations, State-level drama competitions were organized. Similarly, poetry reading meets also evoked a good response even from Andhra Pradesh and we are continuing both the programmes as a annual events,” he adds.