Editor: I. Mallikarjuna Sharma Volume 11: 15-31 March 2015 No. 5-6

HISTORICAL INEVITABILITY OR ELECTORAL CORRUPTION?
[Tracing the history of Andhra, Visalandhra and separate Telangana movements] - I. Mallikarjuna Sharma ♣
I think the welcome speech by Sri Ongole
Venkatarangaiah Pantulu garu, Chairman of the
Reception Committee of this Nellore Andhrajana
Maha Sabha, dated 1 June 1917 [Pingala nama
samvatsara Jyeshta Suddha 11, Sukravaaramu], deserves
and needs to be cited here in extenso:
“Andhra mothers and gentlemen,
Welcome...……
History of Simhapura [veera vikrama]: Our Nellore in
this Andhra country is a very ancient abode. In
the Sabha Parva of Andhra Bharata, in the event
of description of the Varuna Sabha (Varuna’s
royal court), along with sacred rivers like
Krishnaveni and Saraswathi, tributes were also
paid to the river Penna. In the Andhra literary
world, there is no other place more famous than
the Nellore district.
Several famous poets like Tikkana, following in
the footsteps of Nannya called the First Telugu
poet, belong to this place. Poets from Nellore
outnumber others whose lives were described in
the compilation of the lives of Andhra poets done
by Sri Veeresalingam Pantulu. Though it seems
the Chola kings at one time ruled over the
Telugu lands also, all the same, our Nellore
district has stood like a mountain obstructing the
encroachments of Tamil language and protecting
and promoting the sweetness, sanctity, shape and
sanitation of the Telugu language. It is not odd
that the name and fame of Kavi Brahma Tikkana
Somayaji is spread over every nook and corner
of Andhradesa. Tikkana was applauded in the
prior poets’ tributes section of the Srikamparaja
Caritra too, which makes it clear that his fame
spread to non-Andhra countries too. This great
poet had not only gained supreme command over
the Telugu and Sanskrit languages both but also
displayed unparalleled statesmanship. He had
enabled his master Manumasiddhi, who lost his
kingdom, to regain it.” 1
♣ Continued from Law Animated World, 15-02-2015 issue;
emphases in bold ours - IMS.
1 Tikkana beseeched Ganapati Deva of Kakatiyas, who was
so impressed by the luster and lore of this great poet, that he
Then, narrating the greatness and fame of
certain modern stalwarts hailing from Nellore
district, Sri Venkatarangaiah made particular
reference to Sri Vennelaganti Subba Rao (1784-
1839) who in the early days of East India
Company’s entry, joined its service and learning
a little English went to North Kanara districts i.e.
the western coast in those days when railways
were absent and later came back to settle in
Madras as translator in Sadar Court (now Madras
High Court) and says his autobiography written
in English is printed and available with his family
descendants. Then he paid tributes to Sri
Yeragudipati Venkatachalam pantulu who caused
a tall gopura [tower] to be built on the bank of
Penna at the entry of Sri Ranganayaka Temple
near Nellore; to Sri Palle Chanchal Rao pantulu,
settled in Madras, a donor par excellence; to Sri
Mangamuri Narasimham Pantulu who, per the
command of the sloka ‘paradharmo bhayavaha’ 2 ,
started the [now famous] Hindu School in Bandar
(Machilipatnam) in one day [overnight]; to Sri
Gurram Appanna Sastri who as a Court scholar
[vakil?] in Madras High Court had assisted
several Judges too by his legal wisdom.
Thereafter he paid tributes to the then recently
deceased Sri Venkatagiri Maharaja, doyen among
the zamindars in Madras and scholar in Andhra
literature, to Diwan Bahadur Sri Boppuri
Nagaiah, great lover of Telugu language, Sri
Bezawada Pattabhirama Reddy, zealous activist
of Andhra movement, et al.
sent his armies to Nellore without delay, to conquer
Manumasiddhi’s enemies, and restored the kingdom to
that lost king. - IMS.
2 Bhagavad Gita, 3:35: “sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah / paradharmat
svanusthitat /sva-dharme nidhanam sreyah /
para-dharmo bhayavahah” [“…far better to discharge one's
prescribed duties (meaning of one’s own religious stream), even
though they may be faulty, than another's duties. Destruction in
the course of performing one's own duty is better than
[prospering by] engaging in another's duties, for to follow
another's path is fearsome.”]
45 Law Animated World, 15-31 March 2015