The birth centenaries of three writers -- B.V. Narasimha Rao, Tirumala Ramachandra and Divakarla Venkata Avadhani will be celebrated at the 24th Vijayawada Book Festival that will be organised from January 1 to 11 at Swaraj Maidan (PWD Grounds) here.
Addressing a press conference, Vijayawada Book Festival Society (VBFS) president D. Ashok Kumar said that writer Velaga Venkatappaiah will preside over the birth centenary of B.V. Narasimha Rao. Writer D. Sujata Devi and columnist Andavilli Satyanarayana will speak about his works.
Tirumala Neeraja, journalist and daughter of Tirumala Ramachandra, will preside over the birth centenary of her father. Doordharshan employee P. Naga Padmini and Ramachandra’s second daughter Tirumala Amuktamalyada will also speak about the writer.
Retired lecturer and writer Jandhyala Mahatisankar will preside over the birth centenary of Divakarla Venkataavadhani and Telugu scholar Tirumala Srinivasacharya speak about the writer, Mr. Ashok Kumar said.
The life and works of Andhra Jyothi editor and writer Nanduri Rama Mohan Rao and publisher Komarraju Venkata Lakshman Rao will also be highlighted during the festival. Journalist and writer Sri Ramana will preside over the meeting on Rama Mohana Rao. Writer Nanduri Parthasarathi and journalist Nanduri Phani Raj have been invited to speak on Rama Mohan Rao’s work. Andhra University Political Science professor Komarraju Ravi will preside over this meeting and former principal Nagalla Guruprasada Rao will be speaking on the life and works of Venkata Lakshman Rao.
According to the tradition the venue of the book festival has been named after publisher and writer Venkata Lakshman Rao. The main dais has been named after journalist and writer Rama Mohan Rao. The second dais where all the talent and student programmes will be conducted has been named after mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, Mr. Ashok Kumar said.
Society secretary I. Rama Kumar, vice-president S.Rama Rao, joint secretary Jampa Krishna Kishore and treasurer J Prasad were present.
