Hyderabad: BRS chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, working president K.T. Rama Rao and Legislature Party deputy leader T. Harish Rao paid tributes to Kaloji Narayana Rao on his birth anniversary.
Chandrashekhar Rao recalled the poet’s lifelong association with people’s struggles and his opposition to injustice and oppression. He said Kaloji expressed society’s hardships through his writings.
The former Chief Minister also recalled his association with the poet. He urged young people to draw inspiration from Kaloji while confronting the misdeeds of rulers.
According to Chandrashekhar Rao, Kaloji’s literary journey remained closely linked to Telangana’s language and dialect. He said the poet’s work became part of the region’s social life and its assertion of self-respect.
He also said Kaloji’s defiance against injustice inspired the movement for Telangana statehood.
Kaloji Narayana Rao’s contribution to Telangana
Chandrashekhar Rao recalled that the previous BRS government observed Kaloji’s birth anniversary as Telangana Language Day. The government also instituted annual Kaloji Narayana Rao awards for poets and writers who contributed to Telangana literature.
He further recalled the decision to name the State Health University after the noted poet.
K.T. Rama Rao described Kaloji as a people’s poet who made the struggles of ordinary people his own. He said Kaloji used his writings to awaken society against authoritarianism and oppression.
Rama Rao also said Kaloji demonstrated that Telangana language belonged to the people and was not limited to textbooks. He recalled that the former BRS government declared the poet’s birth anniversary as Telangana Language Day.
The BRS working president also pointed to the naming of a medical university after Kaloji and the construction of Kaloji Kala Kshetram in Warangal.
Harish Rao recalls Kaloji’s ideals
Harish Rao recalled Kaloji’s view that resisting injustice gave meaning to his struggle. He said ending injustice brought fulfilment to that struggle.
Those who fought injustice, raised their voice for people’s rights and questioned wrongdoing to protect democracy represented Kaloji’s ideals, Harish Rao said.
He also paid tribute to those fighting what he described as the Congress government’s anarchic rule. Harish Rao said their efforts sought to protect people and democracy.