A good beginning is half the job done. One look at the tastefully decorated office of the World Telugu Conference, reflecting the quintessence of Telugu culture, it is evident that the organising team is putting its heart and soul into making the conference in December, a memorable event.
Being organised in the State after a gap of 37 years -- after the first World Telugu Conference held in 1975 at Hyderabad, the fourth World Telugu Conference to celebrate Telugu language, art, culture and literature, will be held at Tirupati from December 27 to 29.
The second conference was held in 1981 at Kuala Lumpur and third in 1990 at Mauritius.
Minister for Tourism and Culture Vatti Vasantha Kumar inaugurated the office in Ravindra Bharathi amid festive ambience on Monday. Done aesthetically with ‘traditional rangoli’, floral decorations, emblem of the conference, replicas of traditional musical instruments, the office would be the epicentre for the preparations for the event during the next three months.
In the wake of globalisation, organising the conference is an attempt to rejuvenate the Telugu language, culture and traditions and popularise it across the world. The goal is to rekindle cultural awareness and pride among Telugu people, particularly young generation, residing in different countries, Mr.Vasantha Kumar said.
Rs. 25 crore sanctioned
The government has sanctioned Rs.25 crore for the conference, he added.
The presence of veteran Congress leader Bhattam Srirama Murthy, who played a key role in organising the first world Telugu conference, came as a morale booster, he said. Mr. Sriramamurthy said all Telugu people, wherever they reside should be united. Appreciating the State government for reviving the conference, he said it would propagate Telugu culture and language.
K. V. Ramanachari, Advisor, Culture, said from next month onwards, cultural awareness programmes would be taken up from mandal to district level. About 5,000 to 6,000 delegates would participate in the conference from Singapore, Australia, London, Kuala Lumpur and Telugu people residing in other States.
Several eminent artistes, litterateurs, were present along with Cultural Council Chairman R. V. Ramana Murthy, Director R. Kavitha Prasad, Telugu Varsity Vice Chancellor A.Shiva Reddy and others.
