Telangana pays tribute to poet Andesri at grand memorial meeting

A grand memorial meeting was held on Saturday at Ravindra Bharathi to honor the renowned Telangana poet and writer Andesri, famously recognized as the natural poet of Telangana society. The Chief Guest at the event, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, paid homage to the late poet and praised his lasting impact on Telangana.

The Chief Minister lauded poet Andesri as an indelible mark on Telangana society, comparing him to a Kohinoor diamond among the jewels of Telangana’s cultural heritage. He emphasized that no matter how much one talks about diamonds, none can rival the brilliance of the Kohinoor, just as in the history of Telangana, Andesri holds the foremost place. He assured full support and care for Andesri’s family in all respects.

CM Revanth Reddy highlighted the extraordinary influence of Andesri, who never had formal schooling yet composed the iconic song “Jaya Jayahe Telangana,” which touched the hearts of the entire Telangana community. The Chief Minister emotionally remarked that it was this song that united voices of millions, fueling the statehood movement and ultimately making the dream of Telangana a reality.

The Chief Minister noted that the song "Jaya Jayahe Telangana" is sung not only in Osmania and Kakatiya Universities but has reached every corner of the world, inspiring the spirit of the movement. Despite expectations of official recognition, previous governments did not formalize this song’s status, but the current government fulfilled the long-held hope of over 40 million people by declaring it the state anthem. The government also decided to incorporate the song as the first chapter in school textbooks, instilling its spirit among students.

Revanth Reddy praised Andesri for turning slogans into reality, using his poetic voice to grow a movement symbolized by the chant "If you nurture the seed, it will sprout and flourish." Recognizing the sacrifices of movement leaders like Gaddar, Gudd Anjan, Andesri, and Gorati Venkanna, the Chief Minister committed to supporting Andesri’s family, including providing government jobs and establishing a memorial park in his name.

As part of honoring Andesri’s legacy, the Chief Minister promised to ensure that his book Nippula Vaagu is available in every library across Telangana. He also announced plans to create a Folk University named after Andesri. A special meeting will be convened to decide on the recommendations made by speakers at the memorial about preserving and promoting Telangana’s folk heritage.

On the occasion marking one year of the current public government, Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha was advised to allocate 300 square yards of housing land to nine notable statehood movement poets and artists, to build their homes in Bharat Future City. The condolence meeting attracted ministers, parliamentarians, representatives, poets, writers, artists, and intellectuals who gathered to pay their respects to Andesri and his wife Mallubai.

During the memorial, Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha expressed his grief over the loss of Andesri, calling him an irreplaceable treasure for Telangana society. He highlighted Andesri’s remarkable ability to touch lives through his words and songs, awakening the Telangana community with his revolutionary spirit. The Minister pointed out that the poet’s works reflected deep concerns about humanity, nature, and service, with songs like “Mayamaipotundamma Manishannavadu” revealing societal truths and human conditions.

He described Andesri as a man who transformed life's pain into poetry that resonated with every heart. Rajanarsimha noted that despite lacking formal education, Andesri was a natural poet deeply connected to humanity and the people of Telangana. He thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for officially recognizing "Jaya Jayahe Telangana" as the state anthem and for continuing Andesri’s legacy by honoring the values of humanity beyond caste or religion.

Born into poverty and overcoming hardships, Andesri embraced humanity and nature as life’s guiding principles. Although he is no longer physically present, his compositions, songs, and the state anthem remain eternal symbols of his spirit and contribution.