Speakers at Golkonda Literary Festival invoke national pride

HYDERABAD: The Golkonda Literary Festival, organised by Samachara Bharati, highlighted various aspects of the freedom struggle, particularly in the erstwhile Hyderabad state, while also invoking national pride.

The Hindi edition of the literary festival, with the theme 'Swaraj 75 — Liberation Struggle of Hyderabad' at the Agarwal Shiksha Samiti, Pathargatti, remembered the sacrifices made by freedom fighters who were forgotten or ignored, while highlighting the contributions of unsung heroes from south India.

Scholar and author Dr Anand Raj Varma, surgeon and president of the Samajik Samrasta Manch, Dr Vamsha Tilak, and well-known author Prashant Pole, among others, inspired the audience "to put the nation first". While Dr Varma urged the youth to get involved in the path of 'dharma,' Dr Tilak stated that people must be aware of their history and atrocities committed against their forefathers in order to bring justice.

He said that though south India’s contribution to the freedom struggle had been poorly represented. " Rani Chennamma of Kittoor is not as well-known as Jhansi Lakshmi Bai. Raja Mahipatrao Sehgal and Ramachandra Rao Jadhav were great freedom fighters whose contributions are now forgotten,” he stated.

In the same vein, Prashant Pole mentioned Rani Abbakka, Raja Martanda Varma, Tilaka Manjhi, queen Shivakasi's Velu Nachiar and her woman commander Kuyili, Birsa Munda.

Four books were launched on the occasion: ‘Hyderabad Nishasstra Pratirodh’ by Shrirang Godbole and its Telugu version, ‘Hyderabad Nirayudha Pratighatana, Vinash Parv’ by Prashant Pole and ‘Sant Sevalal’ by Kandakurti Anand.