- Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao

           The Telugu speaking people form the second largest language group in India after the Hindi speaking people. Nearly 5 crores of them live in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu people have a glorious past of 2500 years. During the regimes of Andhra Satavahanas, Kakatiya emperors and even that of Golconda, the Telugus were under one administration. And once again after the formation of Andhra Pradesh, the Telugus have come to live together. In fact the Andhra movement started by the Telugus has been the starting point for the formation of the linguistic states in India. It was envisaged that the coming together of the Telugus would herald a new era in their history. But the 1969 Telangana Movement and the later separate Andhra Movement shatteredour hopes. It has also been proved that language alone cannot keep people united. Though the language has been one, those that were under the Nizam's rule for a long time came to be called Telanganites, those under British rule, Circar and Rayalaseema people. In their life styles also differences crept in. Even after the formation of Andhjra Pradesh no serious efforts were made to eliminate these differences. Though the Teluigus have come to live under one government, culturally they could not come together. The two movements mentioned above were only the result of such cultural differences. So it was felt that the Telugus should be brought together emotionally and culturally. The First World Telugu Conference was the out come of such feeling.

           The idea of holding the World Telugu Conference was first mooted during Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao's Chief ministership. But the efforts could not succeed because of the two movements. Afterwards Sri Jalagam Vengal Rao's ministry came into power. The government decided to hold the All India Telugu cultural conference to achieve the desired cultural unity. The All India Telugu cultural conference was held for a period of one week after the Ugadi Festival in 1974. Taking into account the enthusiasm that was manifest during the conference, it was decided to hold the First World Telugu Conference during the Ugadi Festival of 1975. Immediately the reception committee and various sub-committees were constituted and the work had fbeen started in right earnest in the month of July 1974. Officials and non-officials, the ruling party and the opposition parties extended their unstinted cooperation in organizing the conference.

           The office of the reception committreed started functioning under the guidance of the General Secretary in the Ravindra Bharathi auditorium in July 1974 itself. The Reception Committee was registered under Societies Registration Act. It was also decided to hold programmes like the following: processions, seminars, symposia, felicitations, cultural programmes, book publication, special postal stamp release, Telugus through the ages exhibition. Various sub-committees were asked to look after the planning and execution of these programmes.

           The expenditure was expected to be Rs. 30 lakhs. The state Government released a special grant of Rs. Ten lakhs. It was decided to collect the rest of the money through advertisements, donations and cultural programmes by cine artistes.

           The Government constituted the reception committees, the executive committee, 25 sub-committees and one coordination committee. To get the cooperations of Teluigus in other states regional committees were also constituted. These regional committees were of great help in selecting the delegates to the conference, in organizing cultural programmes in those areas and in publishing souvenirs.

           The year 1975 was declared as the "Telugu Cultural Year" by the state government. Cultural festivals were conducted colourfully and enthusiastically at different places with the assistance of the Academies in the state to arouse enthusiasm among the people towards the ensuing First World Telugu Conference. The State Government had issued orders to sing the song "Ma Telugu Talliki Malle Poodanda" composed by Sri Sankarambadi Sundaracharlyulu, compulsorily, after "Vandem Mataram" at all the public meetings from November 1.

           The publicity wing of the conference had published a number of articles of introducing the aims of the conference and the efforts being made for the success of the event. In this connection eight issues of "Telugu Vani", a roneoed publication, were released once in ten days. Special supplements were broughtout by many journals during the conference.

           Cine Artistes from Madras conducted cultural programmes at eight centres in aid of the conference fund. They, thus, not only raised a net fund of Rs. 13.76 lakhs, but also widely publicized the objectives of the conference among the people.

           About 80 monographs on the Telugu language, literature, history and culture were published in connection with the conference. A majority of these publications were issued by the Sahitya Akademi and the rest by the other Akademis. On thousand copies of each of the monographs, supplied by the Akademis free of cost, were distributed among the delegates as complimentaries. Souvenirs in Telugu, English, Hindi and Urdu were published by the Reception Committee, which were released on the first day of the conference.

           Ninety two delegates and observers from 16 countries attended the conference. One representative each from Mauritius and UNESCO and two from Russia attended the conference as the nominees of their respective governments and organization. 921 delegates from other states and 4489 delegates from all the districts of Andhra Pradesh participated in the conference. They were provided free board and lodging facilities. Immediately after the conference, the foreign delegates were taken Warangal, Bhadrachalam, Vijayawada, Srikakulam, Kuchipudi, Amaravati, Guntur and other places for sightseeing. River waters and samples of the soil from all the districts were also gifted to the foreign delegates.

           The Railway Board and the A.P.S.R.T.C. authorities had offered concessions in fare to the delegates. Particularly the help and cooperation extended by the A.P>S.R.T.C. was appreciated by one and all.

           The conference was held at Fateh Maidan Stadium. The venue was named as "Kakatiya Nagar" and the gates were named after the eminent Telugu personalities. Kakatiya Nagar was colorfully and artistically decorated with the life size portraits of Telugu stalwarts, handloom clothes, and television sets. The Foot ball ground adjacent to the stadium was anmed "Nagarjuna Nagar", where seminars were held. The Exhibition on the cultural heritage of the Telugu people through the ages was held in the Exhibition grounds, which was named "Satavahana Nagar". The conference and cultural programmes were conducted at "Sri Krishna Devaraya's Darbar" in "Kakatiya Nagar".

           From April 11 to 17, forty seven best Telugu films were screened in two theatres in the city for the benefit of the delegates and observers from the other states and countries. Admission was free. The films were very much enjoyed by them.

           The First World Telugu Conference was held in a grand manner with much gaity and very successfully far beyond all expectations from 12th to 18th April, 1975. On the morning of 12th April, being "Ugadi Festival" day, the delegates were welcomed with the "Ugadi Pachadi". Flag hoisting was the first programme, followed by the release of a special postal stamp issued by the Central Government in connection with the conference. The stamp contained the 12th century Idol of Goddess Saraswathi, besides the following three sayings in Telugu script, "Desa Bhashalandu Telugu Lessa", "Endaro Mahanubhavulu", "Panchadara kanna, Panasatonal kanna, Kammatena Kanna Telug minna".

           There after the scene was shifted to "Sathavahana Nagar", where an Exhibition on the cultural heritage of the Telugus was inaugurated. The exhibition wa an epitome of 2,500 years long history of the Telugu people. In all, 53 oil paintings, 247 photographs of prominent Telugu persons, 29 charts, 40 pictures from Nagarjuna Konda, 10 maps, 6 drawings, 8 ancient royal seals, replica of Amaravathi pillar, and a; number of ancient palm-leaf manuscripts were exhibited in the pavilion. A rare specimen of the stem of a tree, found in Warangal district was also among them. The Exhibition was continued for 40 days upto May 19.

           The procession lead by the Chief Minister commenced from historical Charminar in the afternoon of 12th April and reached "Kakatiya Nagar" just at the time of the inauguration of Conference. Ministers, M.Ps., M.L.As., representatives of several organizations, officials, non- officials, ladies, children, youth and delegates from the districts took part to the procession. It enhanced the grandeur of the inaugural function. Air dropping of flowers on the procession by a helicopter was pleasant sight to witness.

           The conference was inaugurated after the procession reached "Kakatiya Nagar". The Vice President of India Sri B. D. Jetti delivered hjis inaugural address in Telugu, which was an added attraction.

           In the Sri Krishna Devaraya Darbar of Kakatiya Nagar cultural programmes were presented for about 10 hours from 6 P.M to 4 or 5 A. M., everyday.

           On the whole one hundred items were presented 12 to 15 each day. About 1500 artistes participated in various cultural programmes, which were witnessed and enjoyed by two lakhs of people every day. The common people had the unique and rare opportunity of viewing the dance performance by Kumari Yamini Krishna Murthy, drama and music performances by film actors and actresses, Veena recital by Sri Emani Sankara Sastry and several such other items, because of the conference.

           The daily programmes of the conference also included felicitations. Two hundred and thirty nine persons, who were known for their eminence in their respective fields, at the State, National or International level were honoured during the conference. Indeed it was a good fortune to see so many great Telugu men at one place. Really it was a unique event to witness the greatness, loved by the people, being honoured by the People's Government in the presence of lakhs of people.

           Seminars were inaugurated on 13th April, morning, at Nagarjuna Peetham, Meritorious scholars, actively engaged in their respective spheres of activity, poets, writers, thinkers, artists from several parts of the Statre, country and world participated in the seminars and enriched the deliberations. These were held for about 40 hours, 8 hours per day, from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. and again from 2 P.M. to 6 P.M. daily. Twenty eight topics pertaining to language, literature, history, culture, scientific development, technological progress etc., were thoroughly discussed. About 100 papers were presented. Approximately 1500 persons participated in the seminars.

           Those who attended were able to see the cultural programmes and participate in the seminars. But there are innumerable persons who did not have such an opportunity. With a view to enable such people to have a glimpse of the happenings at the Conference, a colour film was produced in a masterly way and the prints of the same were released all over the State on 1st November 1975, being the State formation day. Some of the prints of the film were gifted to the Telugu Associations in the other Statres and abroad.

           It is a matter of great rejoice to note that not a single untoward incident has takewn place through out the Conerence, held for so many days on a mass scale. There was no power break down. Hundreds of volunteers worked to keep the programmes going , as scheduled. It is not an exaggeration to say that the twin cities too wore a festive look, along with Kakatiya Nagar.

           Valedictory address by the President of India, Sri Fakruddin Ali Ahmed on 18th April was the highlight of the Conference programmes. Kakatiya Nagar echoed with the clappings of the audience when the President commenced his speech with a sentence in Telugu. Thus, the First World Telugu Conference, which will be written in golden lettersin the history of the Telugu people, concluded with the valedictory address by the President of India after having been held for one week.

Achievements

           The main aim of the First World Telugu Conference was to achieve emotional integration among the six crores of Telugu people living in Andhra Pradesh and all over the world.

           It is beyond any doubt that his aim has been fully realised. The Conference has enabled the Telugu people, living all over the world, to come together. Their mutual understanding has together. Their mutual understanding has improved. A firm desire to preserve their culture has taken firm roots. This can be termed as the very first achievement of the Conference.

           Inspired by the impressive manner in which the first Conference was conducted, as an effective means of emotional integration, the delegates from Malaysia came forward to hold the Second World Telugu Conference at Kuala Lampur.

           Telugu people living in different countries are now anxious to have close relations with their mother land and with other Telugus. Aware of their aspirations, the State Government has established a special cell in the Secretariat, through which help and assistance are being extended to the Telugu people, in other States and countries.

           In the inaugural session of the Seminars, a resolution was passed, unanimously, urging the State Government to establish an Institution to help foster the cultural and educational relations among the Telugu people, scattered all over the world. In pursuance of this resolution the State Government has established the International Telugu Institute, which was inaugurated by the Presidetn of India Sri Fakruddin Ali Ahmed on 8 September, 1975. The primary objective of the institute are: to cater to the cultural and educational needs of Telugus living in other states and other countries; to provide opportunities to scholars of national and repute for study of and research in Telugu language and culture; to present the merits of Telugu language and culture on the international academic platform. The establishement of this institution is the third achievement of the Conference. The Institutehas developed cordial relations with the Telugu associations, out side the state and helping them in all the possible ways.

           With a view to permanently establishing the Exhibition on the cultural heritage of the Telugu people through the ages, which was continuously held for 40 days at Sathavahana Nagar, the citizens of the twin cities donated a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs. The State Government has agreed to make available the balance of expenditure as a grant and construct a cultural Museum. Foundation stone to this Museum was laid by the President, Sri Fakruddin Ali Ahmed on 13 September, 1975 at Saru Bagh in the Public Gardens. This was the fourth achievement of the Conerence.

           Let us hope that the Second World Telugu Conference will give impetus and fillip to the efforts made so far and the Telugu people come to further prominence in the world.