Eminent Telugu scholars from around the world are scheduled to discuss varied facets of history and culture of the land, its people, and the language at the first World Congress of Telugu History in London on July 14 and 15, according to the event’s organisers. The experts will also deliberate on different issues to “fill the voids” in the long line of Telugu history to strengthen its case as a classical language, and for better understanding of the history and culture of Telugu-speaking people.
In the run-up to the programme, a small group of scholars from Andhra Pradesh will study palm leaflets (talapatralu) that are more than 1,000 years old and Telugu literary works of the early 19th century, preserved at the British Library, London. The findings of this group will be debated and discussed by about 350 experts at the Congress. The final report prepared at the Congress will be submitted to the state government, Mr Prabhakar Kaza, president of the organising committee of the World Telugu History Congress, said.
The palm leaflet and books at the London library, not available anywhere else, hold several “missing links” that will throw light on unknown aspects of the history of Telugu-speaking people, evolution of the language, their contribution to human intellectual growth, their kingdoms and civil societies, arts and crafts, coins and trade, costumes and traditions, and living standards. The literary works preserved at the museum include palm leaflets on the Adiparvam of Mahabharata, and those penned by Nannayya, the first Telugu poet,dating back to 1120 CE. Mr Kaza told this newspaper that the participating scholars would prepare an “action plan to review and revise the existing history of Telugu people.