Dr. Ramineni Foundation, at a glittering function on Wednesday, honoured four distinguished personalities in their respective fields -- J.A. Chowdary, founder director of STPI, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, Chatla Sreeramulu, eminent stage actor and director, G. Geetanjali, veteran film artiste, and Laxman Aelay, a noted painter.
State Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao felicitated all of them at the Hotel Gateway with cash prize, a citation, and a memento.
This is the 11th year of organising such a function. One of the key persons in the Ramineni Foundation and film actor and director AVS compered the programme.
Padmasri award winning ‘mrudanga samrat' Yella Venkateswara Rao enthralled the gathering with his Indian classical fusion.
Minister for Excise and Prohibition Venkataramana Rao was joined by Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development M. Maheedhar Reddy, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam Chairman K. Bapi Raju, CPI State secretary Narayana, Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu, Andhra Cricket Association secretary G. Ganga Raju and others in the colourful function being organised outside Hyderabad for the first time.
Architect of IT
Mr. Chowdary, known as JA, was considered as one of the chief architects of the information technology in India and he developed the IT industry in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu in his capacity of founding director of STPI.
He was one of the prime persons who toiled for establishing IT industry in Hyderabad and Vizag and he is one of the key architects of the Hi-Tech City and Cyberabad.
Chatla Sreeramulu, who trained actors such as Akkineni Nagarjuna and Venkatesh, started his career as an actor in 1950 and directed more than 100 plays.
He was also awarded best actor by Andhra Kala Parishad and the prestigious ‘Kala Sagar' award for best director was conferred on him in 1972-75 and 1978-1981. Ms. G. Geetanajali, who acted in more than 350 films, thanked the organising committee of the foundation for bestowing the honour on her.
Mr. Laxman Aelay, a well known painter, contributed several cover designs and illustration for hundreds of poetry, fiction and non-fiction books and staged several shows all over the world.
Dr. Ramineni Foundation, founded in memory of Dr. Ramineni Ayyanna Chowdary in 1999 in India, has been honouring eminent Indians in the field of arts, science, and humanities with ‘Visishta and Visesha Puraskaarams' on every October 12, the birthday of Dr. Chowdary.
