Telanagan History Congress and Performance by Anupama Kailash

 The inauguration of the Telangana History Congress was done by Sri Sri Jagatguru Vidyaranya Bharati from Hamphi. Mr. and Mrs. Santosh Reddy the descendents of the Samsthan also attended. It was like a festival for all the people from neighbouring villages attended. Though Santosh Reddy and his wife do not stay here and live in Hyderabad, I could see how much the villagers respected them and all were coming to just speak to them. There were about a thousand and more people who attended and had lunch. The two days, congress was organized by Deccan Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute, Nadigudam,at Kalaprapurna Nayani Venkata Rangarao Bhawanam Nadigudam Village, Suryapet, Telengana some 250 Kms from Hyderabad. It was inaugurated by His Holiness Sri, Sri, Sri Jagadguru Vidyaranya Bharti Swamiji of Virupaksha Vidyaranya Mahasamsthanam Hampi on 18 January 2020: The congress is attended by several renowned historians and 200 delegates from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The historical venue "Kalaprapurna Nayani Venkata Bhawan " a 150 years old fort was recently taken over on lease and renovated using the same original plaster and natural colors by Mr. Jitendra Babu, lawer by profession and Historian by passion. He has more than 2.5 Lakhs books and 35 thousands manuscripts on bhojpatra in his personal library which he had donnated to the Deccan Archaeological Institute. For me as a passive Historian, it was a rare and learning opportunity to travel in the company of four accomplished historians, Drs Vankutam (VC retired Kakatiya university), Deepak Kumar (history of scienc JNU), Vijay Kumar (Osmania University) and Rekha Pande (Director women studies, central university). The three hour journey was cherry to a cake, as we passed through the miles and miled of green rice belt of Telangana sharing historical events of palaces and people. The renovated fort a solid granite structure and reminiscent of by gone days Jamidari system is a beautiful structure and monument of labour and art. Rekha shared the podium with Swamiji and distinguished key note speakers.

  

The Sectional Presidential address went well and I made a case for Women's history.The Telengana History Journal was released and I was very happy to see my article on the first girls school in Hyderabad at the beginning of 20th century being published in this. I had collected material for this article in the British library in London during my recent visit. The evening was really very well spent watching the cultural programme. First there were three artists who performed the folk song of Telangana. This was followed by Anupama Kailash giving a talk on Rasmanjari written by the 17th century Sufi poet Ahmad Shah of Deccan and explain the different kinds of Nayikas and how the Nayika yerns for their lover and goes to meet him in the moon lit night. An amazing performance and Anupama brought out the bhavs so beautifully. After this Natraj Ramakrishna students performed. We had left the hotel in the morning at seven and by the time we returned it was ninethirty. A very long but enjoyable day.