Rich tributes paid to Kaloji

Warangal: Rich tributes were paid to people’s poet Kaloji Narayana Rao across the district on Tuesday marking the poet’s birth centenary celebrations. Political parties, cultural organizations, people’s organizations and government offices organised various programmes marking the event on the day, besides the official programme attended by the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at NIT auditorium at Kazipet.

Assembly Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary, MPs K Keshava Rao and Kadiam Srihari and MLA D Vinay Bhaskar, who spoke at the programme heaped praises on Kaloji and described him as great personality.

Kaloji has inspired many generations of Telangana activists and Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao was one among them. The poet has strongly condemned suppression of human rights and has always promoted free thinking, they said.

Many have questioned the need of according statehood to Telangana region. For all those the official ceremony conducted on the day marking the poet’s birth centenary was a fitting answer. “It allowed us to honour our people and celebrate occasions like this officially,” the leaders pointed out.

Vinay Bhaksar said that he along with members of the Kaloji Foundation had submitted repeated applications to the successive governments in united Andhra Pradesh for many years after the demise of Kaloji seeking 500 square yards of land to build a memorial for the poet.

But none had cared and the applications thrown into dust bins. Now, the Chief Minister has allocated three and half acres land to build Kaloji Kala Kendram with Rs 15 crore. “This is the advantage of self rule,” the MLA said and thanked the CM for his gesture.

“It is a happy coincidence that birth centenary of Kaloji and completion of 100 days rule of CM Chandrasekhar Rao has occurred on a same day today. The people in the state were happy in the rule of the TRS government,” said Vinay Bhaskar and Assembly Speaker Madhusudhna Chary.

At district police headquarters, the rural superintendent of police LKV Ranga Rao has offered floral tributes to Kaloji. He said the poet has succeeded in attaining recognition to Telangana dialect.

All his life Kaloji who stood by what he believed in and never craved for power and positions. Despite reaching great heights in his life, he lived a simple and inspiring life. The present generation should emulate him, the SP said.

Similar programmes were also held at Pingle Government Women’s College where the college principal K Prameela, Telugu department head V Krishna Rao, KU Prof Kamesham, PLN Prasad and others paid tributes to the poet.

An event was held at Palakurthy by Somanatha Kalapeetham. The Kalapeetham office-bearers R Satyanarayana, V Venkateshwara Rao, R Ramesh, J Ravinder, local ZPHS school head master P Narasaiah and others celebrated the birth anniversary.

Kaloji was a successor to Somanatha Mahakavi in terms of poetic skills and rebellion against suppression. Both the poets have made the common man as their focal point in writing the poetry, the speakers at the meeting said.

A programme was held at Kakatiya University where professors N Rama Swamy, Katyayani Vidmahe, Banna Iaiah, M V Ranga Rao, writer D Srinivasacharya, University College vice-principal K Damodar Rao, public relations officer V Krishnamacharya and others lauded the life and works of Kaloji.