Festival of World Peace in Warangal

This year, Zilla Purushotham and A Rehana Sultana were honored with Shanthidoota awards at district and state level respectively Ampasayya Naveen The World Peace Festival International Society celebrates Peace Festival every year in Warangal on 28th February. The uniqueness of this festival is all the people irrespective of their religions, castes, regions and ideologies will participate in it. The basic purpose of this festival is to unite all the peace lovers who strive for communal harmony and national integration. This peace festival takes place in all the schools and colleges in Warangal district. A A peace flag is hoisted and a peace pledge is taken. Pigeons, symbols of peace, are released into the air. The chief guest and other speakers explain the necessity of peace in society and in the development of nation and for a happy living. This unique festival is being celebrated every year in Warangal in the last week of February since 1997. A society was formed in 1997 with the blessings of Prajakavi Kaloji Narayana Rao and many other peace loving people of Warangal. Many writers, poets, Professors, advocates and intellectuals have taken membership in this society and actively participate in the celebrations of Peace Festival. Presently Dr Ampasayya Naveen is the President of this society while Mohd Sirajuddin is the founder Convener. K Prabhakar Reddy, IAS, Principal Secretary of the Government of Andhra Pradesh (retired) was the chief guest in this year's Peace festival. K Prabhakar Reddy endeared himself to the people of Warangal district. When he was the district collector, during 2000-2002, he was a people's collector who did exemplary service to the people of Warangal. He was instrumental in constructing an auditorium in the Public Gardens in Hanamkonda. It was named after the world renowned mimicry artist, Padmasri Nerella Venu Madhav. Prabhakar Reddy is also remembered for the bridge constructed on a war footing on Jampanna rivulet at Medaram, the abode of the deities Sammakka Sarakka. The completion of this bridge on Jampanna rivulet felicitated the smooth moving of lakhs of devotees of Sammakka Sarakka on the occasion of the mammoth Fair (Jatara) that takes place every two years at Medaram. These are only two examples of K Prabhakar Reddy's developmental and welfare programmes that he had completed during his tenure in Warangal as district collector. When Prabhakar Reddy visited Warangal on 28th February, the joy of people knew no bounds. They were simply excited when they have seen him after a period of nearly 10 years. (He was transferred from Warangal in 2002). They paid rich tributes to him and recited poems in his praise. Prabhakar Reddy became very nostalgic and remembered his close association with people of Warangal. Then he spoke about the sheer necessity of peace and communal harmony in a pluralistic nation like India. On the occasion of the celebration of Peace festival, two eminent persons who contributed something useful to society are given "Shanthidootha" awards every year. One Shanthidootha will be selected from the district and another from the State. Some well-known good Samaritans like Pothuri Venkateswar Rao, Chukka Ramaiah, K Ramachandra Murthy, Zahed Ali (Chief Editor, iasat), Nerella Venu Madhav, and Dr R Lakshmana Murthy were the recipients of Shanthidoota awards. This year, Zilla Purushotham and Mrs. Rehana Sultana were honored with Shanthidoota awards at district and state level respectively. Zilla Purushotham had started his career as a constable in the Police department and later he was promoted as a Sub Inspector. He received many awards for his selfless service as a Sub Inspector. He was greatly interested in sports and games and cultural activities. In 1961, he received first prize in Mono acting (as Thupaki Ramudu) in a Police Meet and received another prize in 10,000 meters running. He received the prizes from Jalagam Vengal Rao, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. In 1988, he had taken voluntary retirement and then joined Lions Club of Hanamkonda. He served it as Treasurer, Secretary, President, Zonal Chairman, Regional Chairman. He did excellent service, particularly in blood donations. He acted as the Chairman of the blood donations and his achievements in this field were recognised by international level blood collection organisations. He received more than 160 international awards. He received some of these awards f (gold medals) from K Rosaiah and N Chandrababu Naidu (ex Chief Ministers of AP). Through his motivation, he could collect 1, 10,200 units of blood and it was donated to the patients free of cost. The collection 1, 10,200 units of blood is unprecedented and it is a record. The other Shantidoota awardee is Rehana Sultana who is known as Iron Lady of Hyderabad. She has achieved the status of a legend. She is a great educationist, a double MA, did her MA in Urdu and Public Administration. She did M Phil and Ph D. She completed all these degrees from Osmania University. She was editor and compiler of such books as Prof Masud Hussain Khan and his literary works (her PhD thesis), Method of Teaching Urdu for D Ed, Elementary Education and School administration, Editor of "Sada � e- Nishan", etc., She was the Founder Secretary of Glorious Deccan Education Society, Vice President Maulana Azad Educational Memorial Society, Joint Secretary, AP Minority Development Forum, Member, Progressive Women's Welfare Organisation, Joint Secretary, Asmitha Women's Resource Centre, Member Executive Council, Maulana Azad National Urdu University etc., She lectured at many well known universities on Women Empowerment, Women's Legal rights and liberation, participated in many TV and radio discussions, Workshops, Symposium etc., She organised national seminar on Muslim Women and Personal Law, Women in development prospects. She was Founder of many institutions like Founder and General Secretary of Glorious Deccan Educational Society since 1980 with an experience of School Administration, Founder of Glorious Deccan High School and coaching and career Guidance for Distant Education, Regular courses and External Examiners pertaining to various universities and institutions and this list is unending. However, this Iron Lady of Hyderabad could not attend the Peace Festival function on 28th February due to ill health (she was undergoing dialysis treatment on every alternate day). Anyway, Peace Festival Society is proud for identifying these two great individuals for awarding 'Shantidootha'. www.ampashayyanaveen.com