Festive scenes prevailed in the premises of the 100-year-old Maharajah Government Music and Dance College where various literary and cultural organisations, government officials and lovers of Harikatha gathered to celebrate the 153rd birth anniversary of ‘Harikatha Pithamaha’ Srimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu on Thursday.
Zilla Parishad Chairperson Sobha Swati Rani, Municipal Chairperson P. Ramakrishna and Collector Vivek Yadav unveiled the bronze statue sculpted by Ravi Sankar Patnaik, Professor, Department of Sculpture, Andhra University, at an estimated cost of ₹6 lakh.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Swati Rani called upon people, particularly literary and cultural organisations, to continue to carry forward the legacy of the Harikatha exponent.
State’s celebration
Mr. Vivek Yadav said the Government had declared Adibhatla’s birthday as a state celebration. Adibhatla had served as the first principal of the college from 1919-1936. He was able to rendition ‘Harikatha with ease in five or six Indian languages, the Collector said, adding, the government had released grants for renovation of the college, the Collector said. Principal of the college B. Anuradha Parasuram said the government had sanctioned five new courses, including harikatha, sculpture and painting.
Grand-daughter of Adibhatla Kameswaramma and Prof. Ravi Sankar Patnaik were felicitated on the occasion.
Rally taken out
Earlier, various cultural and literary organisations took out a procession with Adibhatla’s portrait from the college to Adibhatla’s House in Kaanukurthi Vaari Veedhi in the town via Sankar Matham. Harikatha Bhavatharini and founder of Sri Kala Peetham Padala Kalyani, former member of Official Language Commission A. Gopala Rao participated in it.
Jayanti Savitri Bhagavatar of Tirupati accompanied of M. Ramgopal (violin) and Padala Ramadasu, Hyderabad (mrudangam ), both alumni of the college, rendered ‘Savitri Charitra’.
