Telangana Asthitva Vedika launched to protect state’s identity

The Telangana Asthitva Vedika (TAV), a non-political think tank, was formally launched at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad to protect and promote Telangana’s cultural identity. Eminent personalities including advocate V Prakash, journalist Pittala Ravinder, and irrigation expert Sridhar Rao Deshpande are leading the forum.

Hyderabad: The “Telangana Asthitva Vedika” (TAV), a non-political organisation and a think tank to highlight Telangana’s culture and striving to protect its identity, was formally launched at Ravindra Bharathi here on Sunday.

The Vedika serves as a forum to engage intellectuals and professionals from diverse fields to examine the issues of protecting Telangana’s identity and promoting its culture, besides suggesting measures for addressing the same.

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Advocate and writer V Prakash is the Chairman of TAV, while senior journalist Pittala Ravinder and retired irrigation expert Sridhar Rao Deshpande serve as Convenor and Coordinator respectively.

People from different fields, including academicians, journalists, advocates, writers and others participated in the inaugural ceremony. Internationally recognised journalist S Venkat Narayan was felicitated and presented with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Dr BR Ambedkar Open University Vice-Chancellor Ghanta Chakrapani, who was the chief guest.

Born in Kamalapur village in Telangana, S Venkat Narayan has been in the field of journalism for over 50 years. During his stint with national and international media organisations, he has interviewed numerous Presidents, Prime Ministers and global dignitaries.

“No matter where I live, my roots remain firmly in Telangana. Distance changes location, not identity. If I speak Telugu anywhere, people instantly recognise where I belong. That connection is instinctive, not learned,” Venkat Narayan said, while replying to the felicitation.

Addressing the gathering, BR Ambedkar Open University Vice-Chancellor Ghanta Chakrapani reminded that by claiming Telangana as his brainchild, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had made unwarranted remarks.

Even after 12 years of State bifurcation, comments were being made to damage Telangana’s identity. Attempts were made to loot its resources in the guise of mining and demolish historical structures in the name of beautification, he fumed.

“Cutting across sections, intellectuals should join hands and put up a united fight to protect Telangana’s rich culture and identity,” Chakrapani stressed.

“The Kakatiya Dynasty laid a foundational framework for Telangana’s distinct identity, through its “Chain of Tanks” irrigation system. The Asaf Jahi dynasty, along with predecessors like the Qutb Shahi dynasty, contributed to the evolution of a composite “Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb,” Chakrapani stated.

Senior journalist Allam Narayana charged that Andhra leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and others were still hatching conspiracies to damage Telangana’s identity even after bifurcation. The BJP continued to spew its venom on Telangana. The comments made by its MP Tejasvi Surya in the Parliament by comparing the State formation with India- Pakistan division were highly condemnable and uncalled for, he stressed.

TAV Coordinator Sridhar Rao Deshpande found fault with the changes made to Telangana Talli’s image and removal of Bathukamma.

Despite objections from different sections, a statue of late singer SP Balasubrahmanyam was erected at Ravindra Bharathi premises. It would not be strange if efforts were made to establish statues of former and late Chief Ministers NT Rama Rao and K Rosaiah, he pointed out.

As part of the inaugural ceremony, three books including a compilation of fifteen essays in Telugu on Telangana’s identity, “Maro Sri Krishna Committee Report” referring to the PC Ghose Commission’s report authored by Sridhar Rao Deshpande were released. The Vedika convenor V Prakash spoke, highlighting the role Vedika would play in the future.