Eminent personalities commemorated the literary and social contributions of great poet Gurajada Apparao during his birth anniversary celebrations held on Wednesday at Sri Thyagaraya Gana Sabha in Hyderabad.
Organized in collaboration with the Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana, the event took place on the Kala Subba Rao stage under the banner of the 'Endaro Mahanubhavu – Madhura Smrutulu' program. Dr. Enugu Narasimha Reddy, IAS, Director of the Telangana Department of Language and Culture, attended as the chief guest. Sri Thyagaraya Gana Sabha President Kala V.S. Janardhan Murthy presided over the meeting. Poet and literary figure Smt. Shailaja Mitra and Brindavanam Organization President Y. Subramanyam participated as distinguished guests.
On this occasion, dignitaries garlanded the portrait of Gurajada Apparao and paid rich tributes. Speakers elaborated on his invaluable services to Telugu literature, his efforts toward social awakening, and his progressive ideology. They noted that Gurajada, who questioned superstitions, inequalities, and social evils through his writings, remains immortal in the history of Telugu literature.
Speakers recalled that Gurajada's message—"Desamante mattikadoy... desamante manushuloy" (A country is not just soil... a country is its people)—continues to guide society today. His writings fostered social responsibility, humanism, and a sense of equality among the people. Particularly through works like *Kanyasulkam*, he vividly reflected societal problems and underscored the need for reforms.
Prominent figures called upon everyone to introduce Gurajada's literary heritage to future generations and to uphold his ideals. Held under the auspices of Sri Thyagaraya Gana Sabha, the event concluded successfully in the presence of literature enthusiasts, artists, and prominent citizens.
