Anantapur: Demands are rising to set up the Telugu University in Anantapur district to pay tribute to Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya, who used to work for the development and spread of the Telugu language at his summer capital Penukonda.
Activists of various organisations want the university to be set up at Penukonda or Lepakshi after teh Telangana government cut connections with the study centres of AP.
Ghanagiri Trust chairman J. Prathap Reddy observed that the Karnataka government had established the Kannada University at Hampi, capital of the Vijayanagara empire. The Kannada varsity offers traditional courses connected to language research and cultural wings.
“The Kannada varsity located near Kamalapur of Hampi in Bellary district has poor access to other parts of Karna-taka but is well established with its activities. Similarly, Telugu University should be established at Sri Krishnadevaraya’s summer capital Penukonda,” Mr Reddy said.
He added taht Sri Krishnadevaraya had great affection for Telugu and the Amuktha Malyada at Penukonda, where the astadiggaja kavulu were stationed.
The committee has represented the matter to the district collector. “We will meet the Chief Minister,” he said. There was no university established at Penukonda or southern parts of Anantapur district.
Mr B. Ramu, a teacher from Madakasira, obser-ved that Hemavathi was the location of the No-lamba Palla University during the time of the Pallava kings. “Our tribute in the form of Telugu varsity is needed in the district,” he said.
Mr L. Rameswar Rao, a senior citizen from Lepakshi, said the historic village was the most suitable location for the varsity. Its location in the town would revitalise interest in the culture of arts, paintings and sculpture of Vijayanagara.
