తెలుగు పీఠానికి సాయం చేయండి!

"అమెరికా ప్రపంచంలో చాలా రాజ్యాలను ప్రభావితం చేయగలుగుతుంది.. అక్కడ మనగలిగి ప్రచారంలోకి వస్తే ఆ భాష విశ్వవ్యాప్తం కావటం సులభం అవుతుంది'' అంటారు కాలిఫోర్నియా విశ్వవిద్యాలయం ప్రొఫెసర్‌ వేమూరి వెంకటేశ్వరరావు. ఆ పని జరగాలంటే అక్కడ తెలుగు పీఠాల అవసరం ఎంతైనా ఉందంటారు. ఆయన ప్రస్తుతం అమెరికాలోని విస్కాన్సిన్‌ విశ్వవిద్యాలయంలో మాత్రమే తెలుగు పీఠం ఉంది. అది మరికొన్నేళ్లలో మూతపడే అవకాశం ఉన్నందున కాలిఫోర్నియా విశ్వవిద్యాలయం బర్కిలీలో తెలుగు పీఠం ఏర్పాటుకు ప్రవాసాంధ్రులు గట్టి ప్రయత్నాలు ప్రారంభించారు. వీటిలో రావు విశేషమైన కృషి చేస్తున్నారు. ఈ ప్రయత్నాలలో భాగంగా హైదరాబాద్‌కు వచ్చిన వేమూరి రావును 'నవ్య' పలకరించింది. ఆ విశేషాలలోకి వెళ్తే..

నవ్య: బర్కిలీలో తెలుగు పీఠం ఏర్పాటు ఎక్కడిదాకా వచ్చింది?
రావు: విరామం లేకుండా ప్రయత్నాలు చేస్తున్నాం. అనేక మంది మిత్రులు- అమెరికాలోను, ఇక్కడా మద్దతు ఇస్తున్నారు. పీఠం ఏర్పాటుకు సంబంధించి ఏం చేస్తున్నామో స్థూలంగా చెబుతాను. ప్రస్తుతం విస్కాన్సిన్‌ విశ్వవిద్యాలయంలో వెల్చేరు నారాయణరావుగారి నేతృత్వంలో ఒక పీఠం ఉంది.

ఆయన పదవీ విరమణ చేసిన తరువాత ఆ పీఠాన్ని తెలుగుకు కాకుండా మరో భాషకు ఇవ్వాలని నిర్ణయించారు. అంటే అమెరికాలో ఉన్న ఏకైక తెలుగు పీఠం మూసేసే పరిస్థితులు ఏర్పడ్డాయి. అందువల్ల బర్కిలీలో తెలుగు పీఠం ఏర్పాటు చెయ్యాలని అమెరికాలోని తెలుగువారు ప్రయత్నిస్తున్నారు.

నవ్య: అమెరికాలో ప్రతి నలుగురు ప్రవాస భారతీయులలోను ఒకరు ఆంధ్రులు. అలాంటప్పుడు ఇలాంటి పరిస్థితి ఎందుకు ఏర్పడింది..?
రావు: ఇక్కడ మనం ఒక విషయాన్ని గుర్తుపెట్టుకోవాలి. విస్కాన్సిన్‌లో తెలుగు పీఠానికి కావాల్సిన సొమ్మును అమెరికా ప్రభుత్వమే ఇస్తూవచ్చింది కాని దాన్ని తెలుగువాళ్లు ఎక్కువగా ఉపయోగించుకోలేదు. అందువల్లనో మరెందువల్లనో ఆ పీఠాన్ని మరొక భాషకు ఇవ్వాలని నిర్ణయించారు.

ఎక్కువ మంది ఎందుకు చదువుకోవటం లేదని విశ్లేషిస్తే - విస్కాన్సిన్‌ విపరీతమైన చలి ప్రదేశం. అందువల్ల కాలిఫోర్నియా, జార్జియా, అట్లాంటా వంటి ప్రదేశాల్లో ఉన్నట్టుగా అక్కడ మనవాళ్లు ఉండలేరు. దాంతో అక్కడ తెలుగు ప్రజలు తక్కువ, విద్యార్థులు ఇంకా తక్కువ.

నవ్య: బర్కిలీలోనూ ఇలాంటి పరిస్థితి ఏర్పడదని ఎలా చెప్పగలం?
రావు: విస్కాన్సిన్‌లో పీఠం అమెరికా ప్రభుత్వ సొమ్ముతో నడుస్తోంది. కాని బర్కిలీలో పీఠం నిర్వహణకు ప్రత్యేక ఏర్పాట్లు చేస్తున్నాం. కాలిఫోర్నియా విశ్వవిద్యాలయం - పది లక్షల డాలర్లు ( నాలుగు కోట్ల డెబై ్బ లక్షల రూపాయలు ) మనం సేకరించి ఇస్తే తెలుగు పీఠాన్ని ఏర్పాటు చేయటానికి ఒప్పుకుంది. అంటే ఆ సొమ్ముతో పీఠానికి అవసరమైన ఏర్పాట్లు చేస్తారు.

ఒకసారి పది లక్షల డాలర్లను మూలధనంగా సమకూర్చుకోగలిగితే శాశ్వతంగా పీఠం ఏర్పడుతుంది. దీని కోసం గత రెండేళ్లుగా మేం ప్రయత్నాలు చేస్తున్నాం. అందరి సహకారంతో దాదాపు మూడు లక్షల యాభై వేల డాలర్లు ( ఒక కోటీ అరవై నాలుగు లక్షల రూపాయలు ) దాకా సేకరించాం. దీనిని విశ్వవిద్యాలయానికి అందించాం. అప్పుడు వారు తాత్కాలిక ప్రాతిపదికన- తెలుగును బోధించటానికి ఒక బోధకురాలిని నియమించారు. అంతవరకూ బానే ఉంది.

కాని ఇటీవల నెలకొన్న ఆర్థిక మాంద్యం కారణంగా కాలిఫోర్నియా విశ్వవిద్యాలయం కొన్ని కోట్ల డాలర్లు నష్టపోయింది. అదృష్టవశాత్తు మనం ఇచ్చిన సొమ్మును వారు ఎక్కడా పెట్టుబడి పెట్టలేదు. ఆ విధంగా మనం సేకరించిన సొమ్ముకు నష్టం రాకుండా బయటపడ్డాం. కాని వీలైనంత త్వరలో మిగిలిన సొమ్మును వారికి అందించాల్సిన అవసరం ఉంది.

నవ్య: మన రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వం నుంచి, ఇక్కడివారి నుంచి సాయం అడిగారా?
రావు: గతంలో మన రాష్ట్రంలోని తెలుగు విశ్వవిద్యాలయంతో కాలిఫోర్నియా విశ్వవిద్యాలయం ఈ పీఠానికి సంబంధించి ఒక అవగాహన ఒప్పందం కుదుర్చుకుంది. తెలుగు విశ్వవిద్యాలయం కొంత సొమ్మును కూడా అందించింది. ఆ తర్వాత నిధుల కొరత వల్ల కాబోలు.. దానిపై కూడా కోత పడింది.

తెలుగు విశ్వవిద్యాలయం ఇవ్వాల్సిన సొమ్మును ఇచ్చి, ప్రభుత్వమూ సహకరిస్తే - తెలుగు పీఠం ఏర్పాటు పెద్ద కష్టం కాదు. ఈ పరిణామాలను వివరించి రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వ సహకారం కోరడానికి ముఖ్యమంత్రిగారిని కలిసి సాయం అర్థించాల్సి ఉంది. ప్రభుత్వమే కాదు.. తెలుగు భాష మీద మమకారం ఉన్నవారందరూ మాకు సహకరించాలి. అప్పుడే ఈ ప్రయత్నాలు విజయవంతమవుతాయి.

నవ్య: తెలుగు భాషాభిమానుల నుంచి స్పందన ఎలా ఉంది?
రావు: అందరికీ ఈ ప్రయత్నం సఫలమవ్వాలనే ఉంది. కాని పది లక్షల డాలర్లు సేకరించటం అంత సులభమైన పని కాదు. ఇది మాకు ముందే తెలుసు. అయినా పట్టువీడకుండా ప్రయత్నిస్తున్నం లేదు. తెలుగుభాష అమెరికాలో కలకాలం నిలిచిపోవాలంటే ఇదొక మంచి అవకాశం. దీనిని వదిలేసుకుంటే మళ్లీ ఇలాంటి అవకాశం ఎప్పుడు వస్తుందో తెలియదు. అంతేకాకుండా ఈ ప్రయత్నంలో కొంత వరకూ విజయం సాధించాం కాబట్టి మరింత ముందుకు వెళ్తేనే మంచిది.

నవ్య: మీరు తెలుగులో అనేక సైన్స్‌ పుస్తకాలు రాశారు. ప్రస్తుతం తెలుగులో సైన్స్‌ పరిభాష మీద మీ అభిప్రాయమేమిటి?
రావు: సైన్స్‌కు సంబంధించిన మరిన్ని తెలుగు పదాలు రావాల్సిన అవసరం ఉంది. కేవలం వీటిని పుట్టిస్తే చాలదు. వాటిని ప్రచారంలోకి కూడా తేవాలి. ఇక్కడ మీకో ఉదాహరణ చెబుతా. వికీపీడియా అనేది మన కళ్ల ముందు పుట్టింది. పీడియా అంటే విజ్ఞాన సర్వస్వం అని మనకు తెలుసు. హవాయ్‌లో వికీ వికీ అంటే చకచక అని అర్థం. వేగంగా వెళ్లే బస్సులను వికీ అని పిలుస్తారు.

ఏ సమాచారాన్నైనా వేగంగా అందించటం వికీపీడియా ప్రధాన లక్షణం. వికీపీడియా రూపకర్త దీనిని స్ఫూర్తిగా తీసుకొని ఆ పేరును పెట్టాడు. హవాయ్‌ భాషలో ఉన్న ఒక పదం ఇంత విస్తృతంగా ప్రచారంలోకి వచ్చినప్పుడు..తెలుగు పదాలను మనం ఎందుకు ప్రచారంలోకి తేలేకపోతున్నాం? తెలుగులో గబగబ..చకచక..లాంటి పదాలు ఉన్నాయి. మన ఎక్స్‌ప్రెస్‌ బస్సులకు గబగబ అనో చకచక అనో ఎందుకు పేరు పెట్టుకోకూడదు? కొందరికి నా వాదన మొండిగా అనిపించవచ్చు.

కాని హవాయ్‌ భాషకు సాధ్యమైనది తెలుగుకి ఎందుకు కాదు? దీనికి నా దృష్టిలో ప్రధాన కారణం- ఇంగ్లీషు భాషపై మనకున్న మోజు. బ్రిటిష్‌వారికి ఫ్రెంచ్‌ అంటే మోజు. దానిలో మాట్లాడితే గొప్ప అని వారు భావిస్తారు. మనకి ఇంగ్లీషు.. అంతే తప్ప తెలుగు పదాలను ప్రచారంలోకి తేవటానికి భారీగా ప్రయత్నాలు జరగటం లేదు.

నవ్య: ఇంగ్లిషు విశ్వజనీనమైన భాష అయినప్పుడు దానిలోనే నేర్చుకోవటం వల్ల అనేక ఉపయోగాలు ఉంటాయి కదా..
రావు: నేను ఇంగ్లీషు నేర్చుకోవద్దనటం లేదు. అది తిండి పెట్టే భాష. దానితో పాటుగా తెలుగును కూడా నేర్చుకోమంటున్నా. పరిపుష్ఠం చేయమంటున్నా. మీరు పుట్టకముందు సంగతి ఒకటి చెబుతా.

1968లో కంప్యూటర్‌కు సంబంధించిన అంశాలను అచ్చమైన తెలుగులో వివరిస్తూ వ్యాసాలు రాశాను. అవి పత్రికల్లో ప్రచురితమయ్యాయి కూడా. పుస్తకంగా వేద్దామనుకున్నాం కాని కుదరలేదు. అప్పుడే మనం కంప్యూటర్‌కు సంబంధించిన కొన్ని పదాలను ప్రచారంలోకి తెస్తే- ఇప్పుడు ఇంగ్లీషుపై ఆధారపడాల్సిన అవసరం ఉండేది కాదు కదా..?

నవ్య: మీ వంతు ప్రయత్నాలు ఇంకా ఏం చేస్తున్నారు?
రావు: నేను ఇండియా వదిలేసి చాలాకాలమయి పోయింది. నెట్‌లో సైన్స్‌కు సంబంధించి అనేక వ్యాసాలు రాస్తున్నా. ప్రస్తుతం మాత్రం తెలుగు పీఠంపైనే ప్రధానంగా దృష్టి కేంద్రీకరించా. మీ ద్వారా పాఠకులకు నా విన్నపం ఒకటే. తెలుగును బతికించుకోవాలంటే అందరం కలిసి సంఘటితంగా ముందుకు వెళ్లాలి.

అందరూ తలో చేయి వేయాలి. ఒక రూపాయా.. పది రూపాయలా అనేది ప్రశ్న కాదు. తెలుగు పీఠానికి సంబంధించి మరిన్ని వివరాలు తెలుసుకోవాలనే ఆసక్తి ఉన్నవారు ఈ కింది ఫోన్‌ నెంబర్‌ను సంప్రదించవచ్చు 9491822218.

కాలిఫోర్నియా విశ్వవిద్యాలయం - పది లక్షల డాలర్లు ( నాలుగు కోట్ల డెబై ్బ లక్షల రూపాయలు ) మనం సేకరించి ఇస్తే తెలుగు పీఠాన్ని ఏర్పాటు చేయటానికి ఒప్పుకుంది. అంటే ఆ సొమ్ముతో పీఠానికి అవసరమైన ఏర్పాట్లు చేస్తారు. ఒకసారి పది లక్షల డాలర్లను మూలధనంగా సమకూర్చుకోగలిగితే శాశ్వతంగా పీఠం ఏర్పడుతుంది. దీని కోసం గత రెండేళ్లుగా మేం ప్రయత్నాలు చేస్తున్నాం. అందరి సహకారంతో దాదాపు మూడు లక్షల యాభై వేల డాలర్లు ( ఒక కోటీ అరవై నాలుగు లక్షల రూపాయలు ) దాకా సేకరించాం.

-సివిఎల్‌ఎన్‌

Courtesy: ఆంధ్ర జ్యోతి

Prof Vemuri Rao UC Davis university california Berkeley Andhra USA America united states classical

Seminar on Telugu short story

TIRUPATI: A two-day seminar on ‘Peasant Life as Depicted in Telugu Short Story’ began here today by Sahitya Akademi in association with the Telugu Department of Sri Venkateswara University (SVU).

The seminar coincides with the 20th death anniversary of G N Reddy, former vice-chancellor and founder-professor of Telugu department of the university.

Vice-Chancellor N Prabhakar Rao paid tribute to the former vice-chancellor and lauded his contribution to the university, especially the Telugu department.

‘’It is noteworthy that a programme on Peasant Life in Telugu literature was organised on the occasion of GK Reddy’s death anniversary.

Reddy himself was from an agricultural family,’’ Rao said and explained briefly about farmers’ themes in Telugu short stories.

In his keynote address, short story writer and critic Singamaneni Narayana expressed concern that the present-day crisis in the agriculture sector might make farming extinct.

Noted writer Kethu Viswanath Reddy explained about depiction of farmers and their life in Telugu short stories.

AS Ilangovan and Maduranthakam Narendra also spoke.

Courtesy: ExpressBuzz

పాప్ కింగ్" మైకెల్ జాక్సన్ మృతి

పాప్ కింగ్ మైకెల్ జాక్సల్ గుండెపోటుతో శుక్రవారం మృతి చెందారు.

పాప్ సంగీత ప్రపంచాన్ని కొన్నేళ్లపాటు శాసించిన మైకెల్ జాక్సన్ (50) శుక్రవారం వేకువజామున స్థానిక కాలమానం ప్రకారం 2.26 గంటలకు మృతి చెందారని అధికారిక వర్గాలు వెల్లడించాయి.

రాత్రి గుండెపోటు రావడంతో లాస్ ఏంజెలెస్‌లోని ఓ ఆస్పత్రికి జాక్సన్‌ను తీసుకెళ్లారు.

అయితే ఆస్పత్రికి తీసుకెళ్లే సమయానికే ఆయనలో చలనం లేదని లాస్ ఏంజెలెస్ కౌంటీ కార్నర్స్ కార్యాలయ ప్రతినిధి ఫ్రెడ్ కారల్ సీఎన్ఎన్ ఛానల్‌తో చెప్పారు. రాత్రి 12.30 గంటల సమయంలోనే జాక్సన్‌కు గుండెపోటు వచ్చినట్లు లాస్ ఏంజెలెస్ అగ్నిమాపక శాఖ వైద్య సిబ్బందికి సమాచారం అందించారు.

ఆ సమయంలోనే జాక్సన్ శ్వాస తీసుకోవడం లేదు. అనంతరం ఆయనను వైద్య సిబ్బంది రోనాల్డ్ రీగన్ యూసీఎల్ఏ మెడికల్ సెంటర్‌కు తీసుకెళ్లారు. అయితే ఆస్పత్రికి తీసుకెళ్లిన తరువాత వైద్యులు ఆయన మృతి చెందినట్లు ధృవీకరించారు. మైకెల్ జాక్సన్‌కు అంతిమ నివాళులు అర్పించేందుకు పెద్ద సంఖ్యలో అభిమానులు ఆస్పత్రి వద్ద, ఆయన నివాసం వద్ద గుమిగూడారు.

Courtesy: వెబ్‌దునియా

Jefferson Goblet Award for Telugu boy’s thesis

HYDERABAD: Here is a boy who has taken Telugu pride to sky high, literally. A Doctoral Candidate in University of Michigan శివ శంకర్ రుద్రరాజు (Siva Shankar Rudraraju) beat out over 90 competitors to win the prestigious Jefferson Goblet Best Student Paper Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for the year 2009.

The award, constituted under the name of former American President Thomas Jefferson, is given by the AIAA to a strong piece of writing by the student in support of the continued research and development of flight engineering. Siva is doing his PhD thesis under the direction of Associate Professor Krishna Garikipati, and Anthony Waas, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Felix Pawlowski Collegiate Professor of Aerospace Engineering. His winning paper was co-authored by Professors Garikipati and Waas along with Amit Salvi from Aerospace Engineering.

A native of Konaseema Godilanka, Siva’s parents RVVSN Subba Raju and Padmavathi are currently residing in Alwal of Hyderabad.

Courtesy: ExpressBuzz

The dynamic music of poetry

- Mrunalini

It is quite heartening to see that Telugu cultural meets these days are concentrating on music and literature. Not exclusively, but as one art. Whether it’s Carnatic classical or film music, or non-film music called Lalitha sangeetham, lyrics seem to have suddenly gained status as a very important aspect of music.

One always knew music without literature i would appeal only to a connoisseur and literature without music to a select few. Only when they come together does it become a wholesome art. They complement each other and enhance each other’s value. In fact, a good poet has something of a musician in him. As T S Eliot said in The Music of Poetry, “I think that a poet may gain much from the study of music… the properties in which music concerns the poet…are the sense of rhythm and the sense of structure…the use of recurrent themes is as natural to poetry as to music.” In one sense, maybe music is mass art, while literature is elite art. Many times literature becomes a mass art when it takes the help of music.

For instance, from the Bhakti movement to the Dalit movement, literature related to social movements was communicated to the common man only through music. We have scores of examples from all Indian languages about the effect of musical literature on the masses.

The Pashuram of Tamil, Padakavitha of Telugu, Vachana Sahitya of Kannada, Vaishnava Geeth of Bengali, Ashtapadi of Sanskrit or Bhajans of Meera and many more such literary creations are great examples of musical literature.

Some of the best poetry in Telugu is in the Padakavitha of Annamayya, which emerged in the Bhakti movement all over India (15th, 16th centuries) and the Kritis of Thyagaraja (19th century). Both these Vaggeyakaras (those who write, compose and sing) are the greatest gifts of the Telugus to Indian music.

Recently there has been a spurt of publications in Telugu on Annamayya, which try to understand his poetry in greater depth. These books attempt to show the reader that Carnatic music has great literary value and only when one understands these nuances can a singer do justice to the rendition. This presupposes that the singer should be a Telugu-speaking person, which may not be totally acceptable in the case of Carnatic music. There are scores of Tamil singers who render Thyagaraja day in and day out. And we have the most famous example of M S Subbulakshmi singing Annamacharya to great effect.

So you don’t actually need to be a natural speaker of the language but, it goes without saying, you render better if you know what you are rendering. This month, which celebrates the birth anniversaries of both Annamayya and Thyagaraja calls for a small comparison of these two masters of music, especially with regard to the literary values in their creations. Thyagaraja has been easier for the singer to learn, for the simple reason that his lyrics are less complicated and his ideas less complex. His language is also closer to modern Telugu. One does not need a Telugu pundit to explain him. One only needs to know the language. Moreover, for Thyagayya, music was the be-all and end-all. Lyrics were complimentary to his musical genius.

But Annamayya’s language is 500 years old, his lyrics are closer to the local Rayalaseema idiom and he sang quite often in the colloquial manner of the common folk. At the same time, he was also a great poet, who could turn words in innumerable ways, keeping the reader guessing as to its meaning. The search for better and deeper interpretations of Annamayya’s Sankeertanas is going on in Telugu right now, on the occasion of his 601st birth anniversary. But the search is a long one; like the proverbial Mahabharata, which means different things to different people, Annamayya too is being interpreted and explained in myriad ways. His raagas are often tampered with, since we do not exactly know in which ragas they were set, unlike Tyagaraja, whose kritis have to be rendered in the ragas he meant them to be.

It appears as if Thyagaraja is more fortunate; both his lyrics and the ragas are quite clearly known since he is more recent in history and his disciples have been very successful in carrying out his tradition. But Annamacharya’s case is different. He is open to all.

And every musician worth his salt is composing him according to his talent. Maybe, looking at the brighter side, we could say, Annamayya is dynamic.

Courtesy: ExpressBuzz

State 2nd in Telugu, no thanks to teacher

HOSUR: Nothing could prevent sincere students from victory. This was proved by a student from a backward hill hamlet in Denkanikotta taluk in Krishnagiri district.

ప్రశాంత్ కుమార్ (Prasanth Kumar) (15), attached to Government Higher Secondary School in Javalagiri near Denkanikotta, has bagged second rank at State level in Telugu subject in SSLC examinations.

What is special in this? He achieved the milestone when there was no teacher in the school to teach Telugu subject.

Many parts of Krishnagiri district comprise mixed multi-lingual population.

In several government schools in Hosur and Thally panchayat unions, the government has arranged for students to study Telugu and Kannada as their second language but there were no adequate teaching staff in most of the schools.

Even in Javalagiri Government School, there was no teacher. The teachers, with the help of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), used to teach students, but not regularly. Prasanth Kumar, hailing from backward T Sulagundam hill hamlet in Anchetty forest range, studied without any guidance from the teachers and secured 96 marks in Telugu.

Kumar’s father died when he was born and it was his mother Rathinamma struggling alone with daily labour works to survive the family. Poverty is hindering my studies, but I want to become an IAS officer, said Kumar. He said he is working hard to secure higher marks in Plus Two examinations to achieve his ambition.

Courtesy: ExpressBuzz

160,000 singers in Hyderabad set new world record

A whopping 160,000 people sang in chorus seven keerthanas, or hymns in praise of god, of Telugu saint-poet Thallapaka Annamacharya in Hyderabad on Sunday evening, and broke a 70-year-old world record.

A representative of the Guinness Book of World Records announced that the previous record is broken at the grand spiritual musical event, organised to mark the 601st birth anniversary of Annamacharya.

"I have great pleasure in announcing that more than 70 years later the record has been broken," said Guinness Book representative Raymond Marshal amid thunderous applause at the sprawling Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, Hyderabad's twin city.

He also presented the certificate from Guinness Book of World Records to state Minister for Finance K. Rosaiah.

It was on Aug 2, 1937, that 60,000 people sang the national anthem in Germany to set the world record.

The programme, లక్షగళసంకీర్తనార్చన (Laksha Gala Sankirthanarchana), was organised jointly by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the Andhra Pradesh state cultural council and Andhra Silicon.

The organisers said 160,000 people sang the keerthanas in one voice.

Renowned Carnatic musician M. Balamurali Krishna, singer Kavitha Krishnamurthy and her husband L. Subramanyam and Garimella Balakrishna Prasad led 160,000 singers, both professionals and amateurs. Telugu actor Nagarjuna, who acted in film "Annamayya", was also present.

Annamacharya, who was born in 1408, composed 32,000 Sankeerthans eulogising Lord Venkateswara.

The TTD, which manages the affairs of the Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala, is organising Annamacharya's 601st birth anniversary celebrations on a grand scale.

TTD chairman D.K. Audikesavulu Naidu announced that Tallapaka, the birthplace of Annamacharya in Kadapa district, will be developed as a major spiritual centre.

The TTD is also making efforts to propagate Keerthanas of the first Telugu lyric poet worldwide by organising spiritual programmes, including group rendering of Sankeerthans and lectures on his literary works.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times

ABK approaches SC over Telugu's classical status

HYDERABAD: Aggrieved over the way the issue of classical status to Telugu language has been held up in a legal tussle, chairman of the AP

official language commission ABK Prasad approached the Supreme Court praying it to resolve the matter. It can be recalled, following a petition by a Chennai based lawyer that the Madras High Court had earlier said that granting of classical status to Telugu and Kannada shall be subject to the outcome of the writ in Madras High Court.

"This order of the Madras High Court is coming in the way of release of assistance and grants by the central government to universities and academicians who are keen to pursue greater research into the richness of Telugu language," ABK said in his petition to the apex court. KV Dhanunjaya, the advocate for the commission in the Supreme Court told TOI that Madras High Court has no jurisdiction to hear this case and the grant of classical status to Telugu language is a bonafide decision taken by the Government of India and it cannot invite any objection by a resident of Tamil Nadu at all.

Incidentally, ABK, whose term as chairman of the official language commission has come to an end on Saturday, is leaving the office with this special leave petition in the apex court.

During his two terms in office, ABK had relentlessly worked for the usage of Telugu language in the administration and could succeed in bringing tangible progress in at least 7 districts.

Courtesy: TOI

స్లమ్‌డాగ్‌ మిలియనీర్‌కు 8 ఆస్కర్‌లు

Courtesy: ఈనాడు

Grim translation scenario not helping Classical Telugu

HYDERABAD: Telugu may have attained classical language status, but very few people will get to read any of its literary texts, if current 

translation trends continue. At present, translation of Telugu literary works is taken up sporadically, and that too only into English and not Indian vernacular languages. 

In view of the recently accorded classical language status for Telugu and Kannada languages as well as the establishment of a Translation Mission of India, a ninth CLAI (Comparative Literature Association of India) biennial international conference being held at the University of Hyderabad acquires significance. 

Speaking of the grim Telugu translation scenario, M Sridhar, a Telugu translator and professor of English in the University says, "Given a choice, people would prefer reading Adiga or Chomsky novels rather than Chaya Devi or Raavi Shastry. Texts and literature sourced from English are still perceived as windows to the world." Most other Indian languages face a similar situation, he added. 

Market dynamics go against cross vernacular translations, so publishers and authors are also drawn to higher sales and wider exposure that English provides. Then there is the problem of publishers playing favourites when selecting the recipient language, with Kannada, Oriya and Bengali being popular languages. 

"Translation can be an important medium of networking the country and also gives an insight into the linguistic heritage and shared values of different regions," says Tutun Mukherjee, head, department of Comparative Literature in the University of Hyderabad adding that the conference will also take up travel writing, literature of the marginalised, tribal literature, philosophy, religion and women's writing. 

However, recent Central government grant of Rs 90 crores to the Mission towards translation of knowledge-based texts into 23 vernacular languages is raising hopes of translators. 

Courtesy: TOI

First Telugu Bloggers' Meet in America : 1st Feb '09, Bay Area, California

"TELUGU...from palm manuscripts of ancient times...to palm OSes, laptops of today...that is our aim" - vee tel, telugublog, Feb 2006

From the starting of the Telugublog group, leading to the nascent bloggers' meets in Hyderabad, India, to the wide-spread attention garnered by the e-Telugu meetings in the National and Regional media, the Telugu Computing Movement has indeed come a long way.

The future of this mellifluous, Classical language indeed lies in the adoption of new technology and making people aware of the new medium to take their ideas and thoughts to the world.

This Movement is now going to take on a new chapter with the first ever Telugu bloggers' meet going to be organized outside the shores of India. We aim to bring the Telugu Computing Movement to America and invite you to be part of this historical event. The Telugus in North America have been among the highly skilled and successful communities present here, and are a reservoir of talent which is still untapped. The Silicon Valley will the starting point for this movement in the United States.

The first Telugu Bloggers' Meet in North America is going to be organized in the Bay Area, California on Feb 1st, 2009.

Venue: 4251 Escudo Ct, Dublin, CA 94568

Date: 1st Feb 2009

Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm

ALL Telugu bhAshAbhimAnyulu are invited !

Agenda

• How can we , as a team contribute to create more awareness of our language in this new wave of Telugu blogging
• Use upcoming BATA / SiliconAndhra / ATA, TANA functions to be a launch pad for expanding Telugu Blogs and popularizing the Telugu Computing Movement
• How can we share Dr Vemuri gaari untiring effort at University of California, Berkeley
• See if Koumudi would be interested in promoting/conducting a "kathA" competition, TOPIC focussed on creating awareness / promoting the telugu language.
• How can we try to improve the pathetic state of "nATakam" and folk arts
• How efficiently can we use local Telugu Associations from different states in our effort
• Making the national, regional and international media, include Telugu Magazines/ webzines like Koumudi, Telugunaadi, eeMaata a medium to propagate Telugu Computing Movement globally

Amaravati to take leaf out of Vietnam

HYDERABAD: The sustainable development framework of the ‘Hoi An’ heritage site in Vietnam would be implemented to develop Amaravati in the State.

Delivering a lecture at the Archaeology and Museums Department here today, Prof. Amareswar Galla pointed out that critical aspects of the development of ‘Hoi An’ could be proposed as possibilities in the development of the Buddhist heritage site in Andhra Pradesh. ‘’For any society, heritage values are of utmost importance in order to ensure cultural rights of the people as they are pivotal to their sense of identity or belonging to a place in this multi-cultural world,’’ said Prof. Galla, who is a faculty member in Museum Studies in Queensland University and is also UNESCO chair in Museums and Sustainable Heritage Development. During the course of his lecture, Prof. Galla lamented the lack of community participation and collaborative initiatives in heritage conservation, which was precisely why the ‘Hoi An’ model was relevant for the development of Amaravati.

Prof Galla added that the model, through capacity building, brought together cultural heritage, voluntarism and community participation.

Speaking on the occasion, Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission (APOLC) Chairman ABK Prasad stressed the need to develop the Amaravati site in the wake of Telugu getting classical language status.

“There is a dire need to preserve the rich Telugu heritage and culture,’’ said Prasad, the guest of honour.

Tourism and Culture Department Special Secretary GN Rao also attended the lecture, which was presided over by Department of Archaeology and Museums director P Channa Reddy. On the occasion, the Archaeology and Museums Department felicitated Prof Amareswar Galla and ABK Prasad for their contributions to Telugu culture.

Courtesy: ExpressBuzz

World Telugu Federation meet from today

VIJAYAWADA: The 8th biennial meet of the World Telugu Federation (WTF) will begin on Friday amid impressive preparations being made at VR Siddhartha Engineering College (VR SEC) to make it a grand success. The three-day event is expected to attract 3,000 delegates from across five countries.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy is not attending the meet in view of his busy schedule. WTF representatives say that efforts are being made to seek the Chief Minister’s participation just like he attended an alumni meeting in Andhra Loyola College. Now, finance Minister K. Rosaiah will participate in the inaugural function of the WTF meet.

WTF president V.L. Indira Dutt, industrialists Gokaraju Ganga Raju and Malineni Rajaiah and VR SEC convener P. Lakshmana Rao said that various events were being organised to attract participation of people in cultural, literary, entertainment and business sessions. Addressing a press conference held at VR SEC, they said that this was the first time that the WTF meet was being organised in Vijayawada in its 16 years of existence.

Earlier, such meets were organised in Hyderabad, Chennai, Singapore and many other cities.

“Now we are happy that this meet is being held here though it is delayed. From industry side, we are giving all support possible.

We are ready to seize this opportunity after four years again,” said Mr. Rajaiah, who is president of Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Culture and tourism minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy will inaugurate the cultural programmes on the first day.

On January 10, the WTF women wing meet will be held when Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development Daggubati Purandeswari will be chief guest. Ms. Indira Dutt will preside over the programme. Throughout the day, there will be cultural programmes.

There will be a literary meet on January 11 morning when animal husbandry minister Mandali Buddha Prasad will be chief guest. The valedictory meeting will be held at 4 p.m. when transport minister Kanna Laxminarayana will be chief guest. A youth meet will be held at 5.30 p.m. in which many Tollywood artists are expected to participate.

Courtesy: The Hindu

మేటాస్ మెట్రో ఒప్పందం రద్దు?

హైదరాబాద్: సత్యం కంప్యూటర్స్‌ పతనావస్థకు చేరిన నేపథ్యంలో మేటాస్‌ కూడా ఆర్థికంగా బలహీనపడిందని రాష్ట్రప్రభుత్వం భావిస్తోంది. మేటాస్‌కు అప్పగించిన హైదరాబాద్‌ మెట్రో రైలు, కృష్ణా జిల్లా బందరులో ఓడరేవు పథకాలను రద్దుచేసుకోవాలని యోచిస్తున్నట్లు తెలిసింది. మెట్రో రైలు ఒప్పందానికి సంబంధించి గతంలో ఢిల్లీ మెట్రో రైలు ఎండీ శ్రీధరన్‌ సంచలన వ్యాఖ్యలుచేశారు. ఎన్నికలు తరుముకొస్తున్న సమయంలో విమర్శలు మళ్లీ చెలరేగితే రాజకీయంగా దెబ్బతింటామన్నది వైఎస్‌ సర్కారు ఆందోళనగా కనిపిస్తోంది. సత్యం కంప్యూటర్స్ లో వేల కోట్ల అక్రమాలు జరిగిన మాట వాస్తవమేనని రామలింగరాజు ఒప్పకోవడంతో ఈ ప్రాజెక్టుల సందిగ్ధంలో పడిపోయాయి. మెట్రో ప్రాజెక్టుతో పాటు, విశాఖపట్నం వద్ద సత్యంకు కేటాయించిన యాభై ఎకరాల విషయంలోనే ఇదే వైఖరిని అవలంభించవచ్చని తెలుస్తోంది. నాలుగు కంపెనీలతో కూడిన మేటాస్ కన్సార్టియం మెట్రో ప్రాజెక్టును దక్కించుకుంది. ఇందులో 52 శాతం కన్సార్టియం భాగస్వామ్యం కాగా, 11 శాతం రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వానిది. అంతర్జాతీయంగా సత్యం ప్రతిష్ట దెబ్బతినడంతో మెటాస్‌ సంస్థలతో ఉన్న ఒప్పందాన్ని రద్దు చేసుకోవాలనుకుంటున్నట్లు సమాచారం.

Courtesy: TeluguOne
hyderabad metro rail maytas satyam

ఈ-తెలుగు : Online Telugu forum comes of age

HYDERABAD: None would have imagined that an insignificant Google group created by a software engineer could position the Italian of the East as the second most used language on the cyber world.

www.etelugu.org, an association of the linguistic compatriots on the virtual world, boasts of over 80,000 pages created for Telugu Wikipedia, the modified storehouse of information.

“From the stage of merely translating the existing text, we have matured into creating our own content. Our Wikipedia has basic information about almost every place in Andhra Pradesh, contributed by people hailing from the respective locations,” says Thummala Sirish Kumar, one among the founder-members.

Over 3000 members are now working gratis to create and translate content for it. Publishing and selling the information is also free of cost, albeit after due credit.

The initial Google group of 70 members was the brainchild of Chava Kiran Kumar, a software engineer working with Microsoft.

With augmented membership, it was transformed into an online association that brought together all the individual blogs in Telugu.

“Telugu blogs have increased from 100 to 1500 after etelugu came. Even now, very few know that languages other than English could be enabled on computer.

One does not need technical expertise to do this,” says Mr.Thummala.

Chat room

A simple change in the system’s configuration is all one has to do , he says and adds that it will greatly benefit elders wishing to chat with children abroad. Whoever has a doubt can access the site’s help centre or the chat-room of www.computerera.co.in, a webzine actively generating content.

“To help the not-so-tech-savvy, we have the know-how to remotely access the system and change the configuration,” explains Nallamothu Sridhar, the man behind the webzine. The association also proposes to offer free technical help for those who want their websites in Telugu.

Many of the etelugu members worked to create the Telugu versions of Google, Yahoo and Mozilla Firefox.

They are also eager to change the State government websites to Telugu.

“Online local dailies offer no provision of feedback in Telugu, because most of them use customised fonts. We are trying to persuade them to use Unicode, a common font,” says Mr. Sridhar.

The association will give a presentation about using Telugu on internet on Saturday at the ongoing Hyderabad Book Fair on Necklace Road from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Historical పళనాడు valour celebrated

Weapon used by Brahmanaidu in war still being preserved at Chennakesava temple

Weaponry show: A temple priest displaying ‘Konathalu’ used by Palnadu warriors at the Chennakesava temple in Karampudi on Friday.

KARAMPUDI (GUNTUR DT): A century-old tradition of celebrating the valour of Palnadu warriors, ‘Palnadu Veeraradhana Utsavalu,’ is still in vogue here at the dilapidated Veeralamma temple.

A ‘trishul’-like weapon used by Brahmanaidu in the Palnadu war is still kept at the Chennekesava temple here. It is now worshipped as ‘Narasimhavataram’ and taken out in procession during these festivities.

“The festivities were also part of the Brahmanaidu’s mission to preserve Vaishnavism. Since Lord Chennakesava was the presiding deity during the reign of Palnadu kings, we are continuing the tradition,” says temple priest Simhadri Chari.

Beginning with the new moon (Amavasya) in the month of Karthika, the colourful ritual goes on for five days led by seer of Veeramalla temple, the 10-year-old Tarun Chennakesav. The festivities ended last month, but the local MLA Janga Krishna Murthy and a few others insist on a full-fledged ‘Palnadu Utsavalu’ from last year. Its second edition kicked off on Friday at Piduguralla.

Carnival

The descendants of Brahmanaidu, called Acharavanthulu, arrive in the town from twelve districts and take part in the ritual providing a carnival-like ambience. The highlight of these rituals is the colourful procession, in which various weapons used by warriors, called ‘Konathalu’, were paraded.

The legend has is that the mighty warriors, who died in the famous Palnadu war turned into stones and then into ‘linga’.

The pool used to be called as ‘Veerulagutta’ and the descendants used to hold an annual celebration in memory of the dead. During the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb, two military commanders, Jaffar and Farid were supposed to have rested at the place and while cooking food made use of the stones.

Realising their mistake later, they constructed a temple honouring the 66 soldiers. Two tombs have also been built for the two commanders later.

The unique feature here is communal harmony. Many a Muslim elder still takes part in the festivities and Sk. Hasan keeps guard at the Chennakesava temple.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Steps to promote Telugu culture in Mauritius

Kakinada: The ఆంధ్ర లలిత కలా సమితి (Andhra Lalitha Kala Samithi) of Mauritius is making efforts to protect Telugu culture in the island nation and focussing on the need for every person in Andhra Pradesh to contribute his/her mite to enrich their State’s culture and heritage. Use of Telugu language played a crucial role in this endeavour, according to samithi president Sanjeeva Narasimha Appadu.

Speaking to reporters at Viswa Viznana Adhyatmika Peetham, Pithapuram, on Thursday in the presence of the peetham founder Umar Alisha, Mr. Appadu said the organisation was spreading awareness about the importance of protecting our culture and heritage through its quarterly magazine Andhra Lalitha Kala and conducting other events to promote the Telugu culture and its values throughout the world. Mr. Appadu said he keeps visiting Andhra Pradesh to coordinate the samithi’s activities and this was his second visit to Viswa Viznana Adhyatmika Peetham which was striving to spread the fragrance of Telugu culture and traditions.

Peetham founder Umar Alisha said his discourses were regularly broadcast by the Mauritius state radio which has Mr. Narasimha Appadu as its chief Telugu programmer. Mr. Alisha further opined that Telugu language should be promoted by every citizen of the State if it were to withstand the onslaught of Western influences.

Courtesy: The Hindu

'Telugu' is the focus of Hyderabad Book Fair this year

Focus this year to be on Telugu , post the classical status

HYDERABAD: For bookworms of the twin cities, here is good news.

It’s time for the 23rd Hyderabad Book Fair. Conducted by the Hyderabad Book Fair Society, this year’s fair will be held for ten days starting December 18 at People’s Plaza, Necklace Road.

With Telugu language having been given the classical language status, the focus this year would be on Telugu literature, said S. Srinivasa Rao, president, Hyderabad Book Fair Society.

Over 50 stalls will be exhibiting Telugu publications at the fair.

The fair will also include many competitions for visitors such as ‘Book Hunt’, talking in Telugu for three minutes non-stop etc.

Mr. Rao further added that other programmes to encourage Telugu language too would be held.

Free passes

This year, the fair sees the participation of Dravidian University for the first time.

Of the over 200 book stalls to be set up, more than 110 stalls will be exhibiting publications in English Language.

Ten stalls have also been earmarked for daily newspapers.

A 10 per cent discount will be offered on all books. According to Mr. Rao, the society distributed over one lakh free passes to various educational institutions.

The entry ticket is a nominal Rs. 5 and the entry is free for students, teachers, children and journalists.

Twenty-five experts in the field of Telugu literature who helped protect the language and culture will also be recognised felicitated at the fair.

Courtesy: The Hindu

'Telugu must in all offices'

95 p.c. implementation in Nizamabad: Language panel chief

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Srikakulam, Chittoor districts placed second and third respectively

A.B. K. Prasad for steps to implement Telugu in full by February-end

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KADAPA: Nizamabad district is ‘numero uno’ in the State with a 95 per cent record in implementation of Telugu in all official correspondence followed by Srikakulam and Chittoor districts in the second and third place, Official Language Commission Chairman A.B.K. Prasad, said on Wednesday.

Four districts were implementing Telugu in official correspondence, Mr. Prasad told newsmen here. Quoting official claims, he said implementation of Telugu as official language was 66 per cent in Kadapa district and exhorted the officials to strive for increasing it to over 80 per cent.

Lauding district Collector M.T. Krishna Babu’s directive two days ago, to mandatorily forward all note files to him in Telugu, he said the official concerned responded positively though belatedly. The Commission would forward a report to the government suggesting action on districts which fail to enforce the official language.

The commission chairman complimented the district panchayat office for ensuring 85 per cent implementation of Telugu in its official correspondence. He lauded the efforts of Khader Basha, administrative officer in district panchayat office, though Telugu was not his mother tongue.

He advised other government departments in the district to emulate the district panchayat office.

Mr. A.B.K. Prasad was chief guest at the ‘Telugu Vikasam’ programme, a competition conducted for junior and senior assistants and supervisory staff in drafting note file in Telugu at Kalakshetram here.

British days

Addressing a meeting in the evening, Mr. A.B.K. Prasad recalled that British officers such as Charles Phillip Brown, Thomas Munroe and MacKenzie ensured all official correspondence in Telugu one-and-a-half century ago, for the understanding of the common man, but the penchant to use English has increased in recent times.

Official language was being effectively implemented in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra, but not so vigorously in Andhra Pradesh, he lamented.

Cautioning that lack of frequent use would lead to diminishing influence of a language, he said IAS and IPS officers should follow the stipulation of adhering to all correspondence in native language of any State within an year of their posting.

He wanted steps to ensure improvement in the implementation of Telugu by end of February. District Revenue Officer K. Madhusudan, said in his report, that implementation of official language was 81 per cent in Kadapa Collectorate and 82 per cent in the SP’s office, and the district average was 66 per cent. Efforts were on to draft land acquisition notices in Telugu, he said.

Poor implementation

The chairman lamented poor implementation of Telugu at 25 per cent in the Social Welfare and School Education Departments, 12 per cent in Annamayya project and five per cent in Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi project.

The State government’s service rules, a dictionary and 10 other books would be released in Telugu soon, he said. He gave away prizes to winners of the note file drafting and elocution contests. Joint Collector M. Girijasankar, Zilla Parishad CEO Venkataswamy and DEO G.A. Hemanath, Yogi Vemana University Head of Telugu Department Rachapalem Chandrasekhar Reddy participated.

Courtesy: The Hindu

తెలుగు బ్లాగుల దినోత్సవ కవరేజ్

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