Telugu Language Day: Minister Mutamsetti Srinivasa Rao pays tributes to Gidugu

Visakhapatnam: Tourism minister Mutamsetti Srinivasa Rao, local political leaders and officials paid rich tributes to Telugu litterateur Gidugu Venkata Rama Murthy Pantulu marking his 158 birth anniversary on Sunday. The day is also celebrated as Telugu Language Day.

Addressing a gathering, the minister said Telugu, a classical language, is also the second largest-spoken language for the nation. Great writers and poets popularised the language in different times and Gidugu Rama Murthy Pantulu was one of them.

He urged the people to learn other languages too along with the mother tongue Telugu so that the new generation would stay ahead in the present competitive world.

“Chief minister Jaganmohan Reddy launched English medium for classes from first standard to Class X in government schools, which would help these students hone their skills and get a window opened to the outside world. Telugu language will also be taught in these schools,’’ the minister said.

Telugu Academy chairman Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad said it was Gidugu Rama Murthy Panthulu who simplified the Telugu language in ways that it is now spoken with ease in rural areas.

The day saw the release of a book Telugu Sahityam-Samajam-Charitra’ jointly written by Yarlagadda Laksmi Prasad and Chandu Subba Rao. Anakapalle Lok Sabha member Dr Satyavathi, MLAs Karanam Dharmasri and Tippala Nagireddy were present.