AP State govt to set up AP History Academy soon

Guntur: Deputy Speaker in the State Legislative Assembly Mandali Buddha Prasad said here on Monday that the State government would set up Andhra Pradesh History Academy very soon.

Addressing the meeting on ‘Salvage Archaeology and Recent Researches on Megalithic Cultures of South Asia’ organised at Acharya Nagarjuna University under the aegis of Commissionerate of Archaeology and Museums, the Deputy Speaker said the government has already issued a GO to set up the academy which would propagate the history of AP.

He said that had the leaders of political parties studied history, Andhra Pradesh would not have been divided. He said that the History Academy would take up printing of books on history and distribute them. He recalled Kerala has already set up a History Academy.

Urging the students to study history, he pointed out that he was a student of history. He stressed on the need to conduct research on Telugu language. He said, “We are proud that we are Telugus.” Buddha Prasad expressed serious concern over Telugu inscriptions disappearing in the temples when their walls are white-washed.

Stating that there are 14 museums in the State, he urged the teachers to take students to the museums to create awareness about history. He further said that the State government has already allotted land for the construction of the State Museum in Amaravati.

Minister for Civil Supplies Prathipati Pulla Rao inaugurated the conference. He said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was giving priority to develop historical Kondavaeedu Fort as a tourist centre because it is near the state capital Amaravati. He urged the Commissioner of Archaeology to concentrate on it.

He said that in spite of resource crunch, the government has allotted Rs 68 crore for the development of Kondaveedu Fort. He said that over 200 acres of plain land is available on the hillock of Kondaveedu Fort and if it is developed, the Fort will attract international tourists.

Commissioner of Archeology department Dr G Vani Mohan, ANU Vice-Chancellor Prof. A Rajendra Prasad, International heritage advisor Prof Amareswar Galla, Prof K Thimma Reddy and Prof K Paddayya were among those who participated.