: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s long-awaited visit to Amaravati heritage town brought cheer to the pilgrims and locals here on Tuesday. The visit meant a world, especially to people who had been toiling away in hot and humid conditions for past few weeks, the champions of the Krishna Pushkarams who include the engineers, priests, architects, carvers, contractors, onsite workers, volunteers, and local civil society members.
“Pilgrims and visitors alike were surprised and taken by the sheer size of the work completed within a short period. Quality, relevance and user friendliness have been much appreciated. Free transportation from the Pushkaram camps and clean ghats were complemented by the free meals provided by various charitable organisations. The Brahmin and Vaisya communities are providing tens of thousands of free meals every day to everyone, irrespective of their caste or social and religious background,” said Amareswar Galla, Curator of Amaravati heritage town and International advisor to the AP government. Prof. Galla is an active member of the on-site ‘fingers in the dirt’ group.
Prof. Galla said the Chief Minister’s visit to the zamindar’s bungalow assumes significance as the elaborate building of 1945 contains the tangible family legacies of the past 220 years. “It is a private property that is a part of the significant layers of the history of Amaravati. An understanding and appreciation of the zamindar’s legacy is critical to respect the visible manifestations of yesteryear across the landscapes of Amaravati, from the Amaralingeswara temple to the Balusulamma gudi on the outskirts of Dharanikota,” said Prof. Galla.
Quoting the late Professor M. N. Srinivas who had said:“Waters of sacred rivers in India have a levelling effect; Irrespective of caste, colour or creed when Indians take a holy dip in the rivers, they are able to do so side by side.”
