Nandyal, August 29, 2026: Telugu Language Day was celebrated grandly at Sri Ramakrishna Degree College (Autonomous), Nandyal, under the aegis of the Department of Telugu, to commemorate the birth anniversary of renowned linguist and pioneer of the Vyavaharika Bhasha Movement, Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy Pantulu.

College Chairman Dr. G. Ramakrishna Reddy presided over the programme, while noted advocate and Sahiti Sravanthi President Mr. M. Srinivasa Murthy attended as the chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ramakrishna Reddy said Gidugu Ramamurthy Pantulu played a historic role in making Telugu simple and accessible to the common people by promoting the spoken form of the language. He expressed concern that increasing preference for English-medium education was distancing children from their mother tongue. He emphasised that preserving Telugu means preserving our culture, identity and heritage, and encouraged students to develop a strong interest in Telugu language and literature.

Chief guest Mr. M. Srinivasa Murthy highlighted Gidugu Ramamurthy’s historic contribution in bringing the spoken form of Telugu into education, literature and administration. He urged students to respect and promote their mother tongue and encouraged them to connect Telugu with modern technology.

Students were given awareness about the importance of Telugu and the contributions of Gidugu Ramamurthy Pantulu. They also took a pledge to contribute to the preservation of the Telugu language.

Retired Telugu lecturer Mr. Neelakantam Achari presented a special poem on Gidugu Ramamurthy. The guests were felicitated by the college management with shawls and mementos. The programme concluded with the National Anthem.

Telugu faculty members Dr. Lalitha Saraswathi and Mr. M. Mohan Rao, along with faculty and students, participated in the programme.