Pranab Mukherjee invited to launch Telugu meet

[1]

An assortment of Telugu literature, culture, dance, drama and music besides lip-smacking cuisine is being laid for the fourth World Telugu Conference to be held at Tirupati from December 27 to 29.

President Pranab Mukherjee has been invited to inaugurate the mega Telugu meet on December 27 while several top dignitaries would grace the occasion.

About 3000 delegates, including 1,000 NRIs, are expected to attend the mega meet to be held on a 99 acre site in Tirupati. About 200 NRIs have already registered their names so far and more are expected to do so in the next couple of days.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is personally supervising the arrangements, has asked the department of culture to ensure foolproof arrangements for the meet. The state government has earmarked Rs 25 crore for the meet.

Culture secretary G. Balaramaiah said the department has sought entries for the theme song for the WTC from poets and others and the selected song would be given a cash prize of Rs 25,000.

Similarly, entries have also been invited for dozen more songs wherein the best ones will get Rs 5,000 each. The department has set November 15 as the deadline for all entries.

Noted Telugu scholars from India and abroad, besides all the 23 districts in the state, besides Telugus living in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, New Delhi and Maharashtra and other places would be invited for the WTC. Some of the non-Telugus who have made a mark in Telugu literature from United States, Russia, Japan and other countries are also being invited, Mr Balaramaiah said.

“It will be one of the best conferences to be held in the state. We are leaving nothing to chance,” the culture secretary said.

Culture director Kavitha Prasad, AP State Cultural Council chairman Ramanamurthy and adviser to state government on culture K.V. Ramanachary were present.

Dr Kavitha Prasad said the WTC would focus on promotion of Telugu language, literature, and culture in the state, India and abroad, usage of Telugu in internet, communication in government offices and other places, protection of Telugu arts and culture among others.