Kaloji fought injustice all his life: Justice Sudershan

Warangal: The spirit and philosophy of Kaloji Narayana Rao’s simple and purposeful life reverberated across Warangal on Monday, as the people of Telangana celebrated his birth centenary in a spiritual grandeur. Harita Kakatiya Conference hall was packed with Kaloji’s followers and admirers who came from across Telangana to pay their respects to a great poet, philosopher, freedom fighter, writer and a man who spent his entire life standing up against injustice.

The event was organized by Kaloji Foundation, presided by its President N Rama Shastry. Justice Sudershan Reddy, former judge of the Supreme Court and Goa’s Lokayukta was the chief guest.

Vasantha Kannabiran, writer and womens’ rights activist, Chukka Ramaiah, educationist and former MLC, B Narsing Rao, film maker and Kaloji Centenary Celebrations committee president, Varavara Rao, writer and poet, Ampashayya Naveen, novelist, Bharat Bhushan, Photographer, S Jeevan Kumar, Founder, Kaloji Foundation, R Laxma Reddy, Praja Kavi awardee, Vimala, founder of Arunodaya, Veda Kumar, president, TPF, Kaloji Ravi Kumar and many others participated.

Kaloji’s statue outside the hotel was garlanded before the commencement of the programme. Justice Sudershan Reddy described Kaloji as a gift of the nature to humanity. He said that Kaloji was a man of the people, who involved himself in the people’s movements, fighting against injustice. He wondered how Kaloji would have responded to the current political crisis if he was alive.

He came down heavily on the concept of ‘Telugu Jaati’ which was introduced by the film industry people who had come from Tamil Nadu, aspiring for political superiority after formation of AP. He said that the use of the very word was dangerous and unconstitutional, which was being used to create problems between people of various communities who have long existed in harmony, in Hyderabad. Coming down heavily on the Ministers of Telangana who were sending their messages to be read in the programme, he said that if the Ministers really were upholding the Constitution by being unbiased and working as representatives of AP, why did they allow the APNGOs meeting to be held in Hyderabad, which was used as a platform for perpetuating violence on the people of Telangana like constable Srinivas, Balaraju and others in LB Stadium.

He reminded the Telangana Ministers that Kaloji, addressing them, had said “Don’t die a dog’s death. Come out and achieve Telangana”. He said that the time had come to teach a lesson to people who claim Hyderabad is theirs and warned the people who felt the movement was over, that they would become laughing stock if they thought so.

Recalling the way in which Kaloji used to respond to peoples’ issues, Chukka Ramaiah said that the goal of the centenary celebrations was to resist privatization; the Government’s looting of public money and to create awareness among people who have been trying to oppose demerger of Telangana, with the philosophy of Kaloji, through the year-long celebrations.

Vasantha Kannabiran said that Kaloji, who had a very sensitive heart, had preserved the values of democracy by living and following what he preached. He never broke human relations even though there were differences of opinion among people. She recalled how he used to say, “Can’t we have tea with a Muslim once a week?”

Ampashayya Naveen said that Kaloji was a liberal who always used to believe and preach that politicians needed to be independent from their political leadership and the party while performing their duties. Narsing Rao said that many activities like plays, ballets, book distribution, website opening, compilation of all Kaloji’s works and many activities would be conducted every month in Hyderabad, throughout the centenary year. In Adilabad: Kaloji Narayana Rao’s birth centenary celebrations were launched in the town and other places in district on a grand note on Monday.

Telangana Writers’ Forum (TWF), TJAC and other organizations conducted several programmes to mark the occasion. As part of the programme, hundreds of students in private and government schools took a pledge to follow the principles of the great writer. Meetings were held in Adilabad, Nirmal, Khanapur, Bhainsa, Utnoor, Asifabad, Kagaznagar, Bellampalli, Mandamarri and Chennur.

In Karimnagar: Members of TWF organised a pledge-taking programme by hundreds of students in the town and other places in the district on Monday to mark the launching of birth centenary of legendary writer Kaloji Narayana Rao. The programmes were held at Alphores eTechno School, Kothapalli, Trinity School, Peddapalli, Government Girls High School, Siricilla, and at several other schools in various towns in the district.