Latest news with #MandaliBuddhaPrasad
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Past glory of Ghantasala to be restored
Ghantasala (Krishna district): On the occasion of Gautama Buddha Jayanti, grand celebrations were held on Monday at the Reclining Buddha Project premises in Ghantasala, a Buddhist site in the Avanigadda constituency, under the aegis of the State Creative Culture Committee and the Department of Language and Culture. Speaking on the occasion, Collector in-charge Geetanjali Sharma stated that plans are being formulated to develop two key areas in the district as tourist destinations. One is Manginapudi Beach, and the other is Ghantasala, which is to be included in the tourism circuit with the aim of completing the Reclining Buddha Project. Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad explained that Gautama Buddha began his spiritual journey with the resolve to share the light of wisdom that arose in his heart under the Bodhi tree, and his birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana all occurred on Vaisakha Purnima. Director of the Epigraphy Division of Archaeological Survey of India K Muniratnam Reddy said that six months ago, the Prime Minister's Office sought information. During a parliamentary discussion on how India got its name, Home Minister Amit Shah was to release a press statement. A Chhatri inscription found in Ghantasala's fields mentioned 'Bharat,' and this was communicated to them. He noted that Ghantasala has been highly significant since the 1st century CE. Buddhist inscriptions found in Dharanikota connect Andhra Pradesh with Gujarat. At the initiative of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, research in the Lankamal forest area uncovered 27 Buddhist inscriptions. In Telangana's Karregutta Gundaram forest area, 11 inscriptions were recorded with police assistance. Additionally, the magazine Buddha Bhumi, authored by prominent Buddhist scholar Borra Govardhan, was also unveiled. Former Rajya Sabha member Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, Director of the State Language and Culture Department Mallikarjuna Rao, Special Officer MEPMA PD Saibabu, Krishna District Writers' Association President Guthikonda Subbarao, State Drama Academy Chairman Gummadi Gopalakrishna also participated.
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Need for revival of libraries stressed
Vijayawada: MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad attended as the chief guest at the state-level conference organised by Andhra Pradesh Library Revival Movement Forum here on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, the MLA advised the parents and teachers to encourage children and students to develop an interest in reading, language and knowledge, and efforts should be made to ensure they visit libraries. He said that libraries in rural areas are closing down at a higher rate than in urban areas. He announced that the construction of a historical library in the Amaravati capital region will commence soon. However, he recalled that Education Minister Lokesh has assured the development of the mother tongue and libraries in the Legislative Assembly. Former MLCs Vithapu Bala Subrahmanyam and KS Lakshmana Rao demanded the allocation of a dedicated ministry for libraries. They reminded that those preparing for higher education and competitive exams like civil services primarily utilise libraries. Forum's president Valluru Sivaprasad said that the library movement began in Vijayawada and the revival movement is now starting from here. Library science expert Raavi Sharada recalled that a century ago, visionaries like Gadicharla Hari Sarvotthama Rao and Ayyanki believed libraries were essential for knowledge, not just temples and shrines. They established the Library Association and published a monthly magazine called Library Sarvasvam. Resolutions passed at the conference included filling vacant posts in libraries, providing matching grants to the Raja Rammohan Library Foundation, naming libraries after pioneers of the library movement, purchasing books through the Madhyamika Siksha Abhiyan, directly allocating the 8 per cent cess to the library organisation, establishing a dedicated library ministry, setting up libraries in high schools and colleges, and making Telugu a mandatory second language in intermediate courses. At the event, a compilation of essays titled 'Grandhalaya Vijnanam,' published by the forum, was released by prominent educationist Dr Parimi and Buddha Prasad. As part of the conference, discussions were held on topics such as educational institutions and libraries, the necessity of reading in the technological era, district libraries' issues and reconstruction, and the importance of public libraries and literature, with participation from writers and intellectuals. Lakshmaiah, Venkata Narayana, Manohar Naidu, G Lakshmi, Katragadda Swarupa Rani, Manchikanti, Arasam Arun Kumar, Paruchuri Ajay Kumar, Jyothi Sri, L Venkateswara Rao, BN Sagar, Channapragada Sharma, V Krishnakumari, Chalapaka Prakash, B Jayaprakash, Kopparthi Rambabu, and others participated.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Teachers play an important role in bringing back children to libraries, says Buddha Prasad
Teachers play a crucial role in inculcating and also reviving the reading habit in children, many of whom do not read any book except their guides, said Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad. Participating as the chief guest in a conference organised by the Vijayawada Book Festival Society to discuss measures to rejuvenate libraries in the State, in Vijayawada on April 27, Sunday, Mr. Buddha Prasad said: 'In the early 20th century, the Grandhalaya Udhyamam (The Library Movement) laid the foundation for the Andhra Movement and Independence Movement. While many of us were not born then, we have now got the opportunity to participate in a similar movement, the movement for rejuvenating libraries in the State.' Emphasising that there are two aspects to achieving success in the movement, the MLA said the first is bringing the issues such as lack of infrastructure, vacant positions of librarians, lack of libraries in high schools to the attention of the State government and the second is to bring back children from the clutches of social media towards books and libraries. 'I have full faith in the State government that it will do its part with regard to filling vacant posts and other issues. But what use is the infrastructure when there is no one to read? Teachers play an important role in bringing our children back to libraries,' he said, adding that the State government should also recognise the need to protect Telugu. After the bifurcation, many inscriptions, literary works, sculptures have remained in the museums in Telangana, the MLA said, adding that there is a need to bring them back to the State. 'There is no State Library yet. But the government is considering setting up one soon in Amaravati. All the old and rare literary works will be brought back,' he said. Former MLC K. Lakshmana Rao pointed out that many villages and high schools and government colleges do not have a library and many libraries do not have a librarian. He urged the State government to look into these aspects. The conference was attended by renowned writers, who while expressing concern at the declining reading habit among children, discussed ways to revive it.
New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Ghantasala was not just a singer, butalso a freedom fighter: Andhra MLA Mandali
VIJAYAWADA: Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad on Monday said legendary playback singer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was not only a musical genius but also a dedicated freedom fighter who actively participated in the Quit India Movement. He was speaking after flagging off a heritage walk in Ghantasala village to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Ghantasala's historic musical concert in his native village on April 21, 1967. The walk, held under the auspices of NRI Gorrepati Ranganatha Babu, saw participation from local dignitaries, students of UVR Gorrepati School and ZP High School, and villagers. The event began with floral tributes at the statue of Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, followed by special prayers at the statue of Gautama Buddha. The MLA visited the Veerabrahmendra Swamy Temple, where Ghantasala once performed, and the house of Vemulapalli Veerasekhar, where the singer's family had once stayed. Recalling Ghantasala's contributions to the freedom movement, Buddha Prasad said the maestro was arrested during the Quit India Movement in 1942 and imprisoned in Gudivada for a year, where he shared a cell with freedom fighter Potti Sriramulu. He later took part in Sriramulu's funeral procession, singing patriotic songs in his memory. He also remembered how the Challapalli Rani recognised Ghantasala's talent early on and gifted him a ring, which he later sold to fund his music training in Vizianagaram. The program was attended by former ZP Vice Chairman Gorrepati Venkata Ramakrishna and others.
