TIRUPATI: Amid temple honours, the remains of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officer on special duty Pala Seshadri, popular as Dollar Seshadri, got consigned to flames at Satya Harishchandra Cremation Grounds in Tirupati on Tuesday evening.
Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana came all the way from New Delhi for the last rites attended by scores, including public representatives, political leaders, AP and TTD officials and former bureaucrats.
The 73-year-old veteran had been serving Lord Venkateswara since 1978. He died of cardiac arrest in Visakhapatnam during early hours of Monday. His body was brought to Tirupati for final rites. Dollar Seshadri is credited with documenting every minute detail of all rituals, festivals and religious events at the Srivari temple in Tirumala.
The CJI paid floral tributes to the mortal remains at Seshadri’s residence in Tirupati on Tuesday and consoled the grieving family members. “I have known Pala Seshadri for more than 25 years. His demise has disturbed many, including me. His death is a great loss to me and my family,” Ramana said speaking to media persons. Chittoor district judges Y.V.S.B.G. Parthasarathi and III Additional District Judge Veerraju accompanied the Chief Justice.
Recalling his association with Dollar Seshadri, the CJI said Seshadri had never cared for his health while on duty at the temple from dawn to night. “As Seshadri had wished, he breathed his last while in the service of the Lord,” Ramana observed.
TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy praised Seshadri Swamy for dedicating his entire life to the service of Lord Venkateswara. “He remained in the service of Lord continuously, even though he had just recovered from Covid-19. Despite being advised not to travel long distances due to his age, he travelled all the way to Visakhapatnam for participating in Karthika Maha Deepotsavam organised by TTD,” Subba Reddy underlined.
Among those who paid homage to Seshadri are Deputy Chief Minister K. Narayanaswamy, minister Ch. Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna, MLAs Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, TTD executive officer K.S. Jawahar Reddy, additional EO A.V. Dharma Reddy, board member P. Ashok Kumar, Tamil Nadu LAC chairman A.J. Sekhar Reddy, advisor to state government Ajeya Kallam, former chief secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam, former joint executive officers P. Balasubramanyam and K.S. Srinivasa Raju, present TTD JEO Sada Bhargavi and CVSO Gopinath Jetti.
MLAs Karunakar Reddy and Bhaskar Reddy, additional EO Dharma Reddy and former TTD JEO P.S. Srinivasa Raju carried the body of Seshadri on a bamboo bier from his residence to Harishchandra cemetery, where the veteran’s body was cremated.
