Warangal Urban: The ‘Pothana Vignana Peetham’ (digital museum), which was established in 1980 with the efforts of then External Affairs Minister PV Narasimha Rao to promote art and literature besides preserving saint poet ‘Bammera’ Pothana’s legacy, is all set for inauguration after renovation, thanks to the efforts of the State government.
As a part of the renovation, digitisation of all the available literature including the manuscripts of Pothana was completed. The renovation was taken up at a cost of Rs one crore by the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA).
Speaking to Telangana Today, KUDA Project Officer (PO) E Ajit Reddy said they had spent Rs 60 lakh on digitisation of literature, while the remaining Rs 40 lakh was spent on the renovation of the building. “12 LED screens and four big screens have been set up at the Peetham. These screens will display the life of Pothana, his literary works and personal information for visitors,” he added.
“If a visitor presses on an icon on the screen, audio and video will be played about that particular subject,” the official said. An auditorium with a capacity of 30 seats was also developed as part of the renovation project. Besides a lotus pond was also developed on the premises of the Peetham. Since Pothana eked out a living as a farmer, a bullock cart was also set up at the Peetham.
The renovation project was announced in September 2017 following the efforts of INTACH convenor and former professor of NIT M Panduranga Rao and the members of the Kakatiya Heritage Trust (KHT). The KHT in association with the State government is also developing a memorial at Pothana’s native place is Bammera village in Palakurthy mandal in Jangaon district. The State government will be installing a 20-foot statue of Pothana as part of the development of memorial taken up at a cost of Rs 7.50 crore.
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