TS govt to celebrate Kaloji centenary fete

• Kaloji Narayana Rao, popularly known as Kaloji or Kalanna, is a poet, freedom fighter, anti-fascist and political activist.
• Composed first poem in reaction to execution of Bhagat Singh

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government has bestowed honour on acclaimed poet and freedom fighter Kaloji Narayan Rao on the eve of his hundredth birth anniversary, which falls on September 9. Besides celebrating his birth anniversary as a State function in all districts, it has decided to include his life history and writings in school syllabus. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will also lay a foundation stone for Kaloji Cultural Centre in Warangal during his forthcoming birth anniversary.

Members of Kaloji Foundation, Warangal met KCR at Secretariat on Thursday. They discussed about upcoming centenary anniversary of the celebrated poet and the need to give him due honour in Telangana State. Agreeing with them, the Chief Minister immediately took the decisions to declare celebrations as the State function. He said programmes would be held in each village on September 9. He also directed the Chief Secretary to conduct essay and elocution competitions in schools to celebrate the occasion. Pointing out that school syllabus would be slightly modified from next year, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said the life history and achievements of noted personalities would be included in it. Kaloji Narayana Rao, more popularly known as Kaloji or Kalann,a was a poet, freedom fighter, anti-fascist and political activist of Telangana. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1992.

Warangal to be TS cultural capital Meanwhile, KCR said Warangal would be transformed as the cultural capital of Telangana State. Hyderabad and Warangal cities have historic significance but the latter was not given its due, he lamented.