Telugu Sahitya Peetam becomes an orphan in Rajamahendravaram

Rajamahendravaram: Telugu Sahitya Peetam (TSP) of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University (PSTU) in this historical city is on death bed due to gross negligenceof the state government, funds crunch and lack of faculty, among other factors. The peetam was started for MA (Telugu literature) as two years course along with M.Phil in 1989 after the PSTU came into existence through an Act in 1985.

Along with TSP in Rajamahendravaram, two other peetams, one in Srisailam for History, Arachaelogy, Sanskrit Epics and Culture and another in Kuchipudi for Dance, also came into existence. Except the peetam in Rajamahendravaram, the other two peetams are functioning to some extent with minimum regular staff.

At present, there are six students in TSP and 15 staff members of various categories, including two temporary faculty members in the centre. Thestudents are not showing interest to join the peetam due to lack of scholarship facility and there is no head for the peetam to take care of the issues. Six professors are needed to run the peetam successfully.

So far this year, no one was admitted because of the burning problems. Meanwhile, PSTU is in 10th schedule of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act-2014 and not yet divided after the state bifurcation.

Now there is no vice-chancellor and registrar for the university. The government is paying salaries to the staff, but they are implementing the rules of Telangana government in the peetam.

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments appointed vice-chancellors separately to the university whose tenure expired recently. Of the total 30 acre area in which the university is located, 10 acre is under revenue department and 10 acres was given to NAAC.

The campus is full of thorny bushes and the staff are worried about the presence of snakes and some buildings are in dilapidated condition. When contacted, PSTU Officer on Special Duty Bhimeswara Rao said the university remained with the state as it was recognised and registered in the name of Andhra Pradesh. The government may appoint vice-chancellor and registrar shortly,he said.

Noted historian and founder of Andhra Kesari Yuvajan Samithi Y S Narasimha Rao underlined the need to develop the peetam by addressing the problems immediately.

The government should feel ashamed for neglecting the TSP, as it is located in the city where Adikavi Nannaya translated epic Mahabharatha into Telugu and the land which had given birth to many great personalities.