Attempts by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and other leaders of the State to deride Andhra writers should be stopped, said leader of the Krishna District Writers’ Association and Telugu movement G.V. Purnachand.
Finding fault with the Telangana Chief Minister for commenting on Telugu writers from Andhra region, Dr. Purnachand said it was like deriding British lexicographer C.P. Brown because he was an Englishman. Brown’s contribution to Telugu language was known to all, he said.
“Is being born in Andhra a crime?” Dr. Purnachand asked.
‘Cultural antagonism’The people of Andhra Pradesh had nothing but respect for writers like Suravaram Pratap Reddy, Kaloji, C. Narayana Reddy and Dasaradhi who were born in Telangana. Many named their children after the leaders of Telangana area.
“A friend of mine named his daughter after Rudrama Devi.
“Are we going to lose the respect we have for her because of bifurcation? This is tantamount to cultural antagonism,” Dr. Purnachand said.
He urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to give a fitting reply to such statements made by Telangana leaders. “Silence can be construed as acceptance. The Chief Minister should therefore give a retort to these statements,” he said.
Dr. Purnachand said the Andhra Pradesh government should demand that it be given its share of Telugu University and Telugu Academy.
