There is a great respect for Telugu language and culture in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the tradition is spreading fast out there, said a faculty and resident of the islands M. Kondaiah.
Delivering a guest lecture on ‘Telugu Language and Culture in Andaman Nicobar Islands,’ organised by the Telugu Department at Kakaraparti Bhavanarayana (KBN) College here on Friday, Dr. Kondaiah said over 80,000 Telugu people settled in the islands.
Kondaiah, a native of Varikuntapadu village of Nellore district, completed his schooling and college education in Andhra Pradesh. He joined as faculty in the Jawaharlal Nehru Rajakeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM) College, Port Blair, in 1998.
“The first elementary school in Telugu language was established in 1963 in Andaman. When I joined the job, the government started a few more schools for Telugus. Now, nine primary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, one junior college and two degree colleges are functioning,” the assistant professor explained to the students.
Speaking about the dress code and food habits, he said some thousands of families from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari and other districts were living on the islands and they follow the same food habits like those in Andhra Pradesh.
They wear sarees, trousers, T-shirts and traditional ‘langa-Vonis.’ An Andhra Association was also formed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he said.
KBN College principal P. Krishna Murthy, Head of Telugu Department V. Narayana Rao, faculty J.V. Chalapathi Rao, K. Chiranjeevi, K. Srinivas Rao and G. Nagaraju and IQAC convenor V. Subashini felicitated Kondaiah on the occasion.
