NRI’s of Andhra Pradesh Celebrate 61st Birth Anniversary (Jayanti) of Late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy
Over 200 NRIs belonging to Andhra Pradesh gathered at local Pasand India Cuisine, Richardson Texas to celebrate the 61st Birth anniversary (Jayanti) of late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy (Dr. YSR) which fell on July 8. The crowd thronged in large numbers on a working day by 7pm to show their love, affection, respect and deep sympathy to the departed leader’s birth anniversary that is being celebrated all over the world besides Andhra Pradesh. In a standing-room only situation, the crowds cheered the long list of achievements of Dr. YSR and the hall reverberated with shouts of “Long Live the Memory of Dr. YSR”, “Dr. YSR – Amar Rahe” etc. as each speaker spoke.
The meeting was organized by several admirers of Dr. YSR and his schemes under the leadership of Dr. Sridhar Korsapati. The major contributors to the effort include: NMS Reddy, Dr. Ramana R. Guduru, Dr. Srinivas R. Alla, Dr. Tara Kumar, Dr. Raghava Reddy, Rao Kalvala, Ajay Reddy, Ramana Kistapati, Prasad Mallu, Srinivas R. Gurram, Pakeera Reddy, Krishna Reddy Uppalapati, Upender R. Budida, Ashok Guduru, Babu Narendra, Phalgun, Tirumala Reddy and Gopi Chillakuru.
The meeting was conducted by MVL Prasad. After calling the meeting to order Prasad requested Dr. Korsapati to address the gathering on the importance of today’s meeting. Formal lighting of candles was done by representatives of Hinduism – Sri Sesha Sai Rompicharla of Flower Mound Hindu Temple; Christianity – Pastor Daniel Prabhakar Mutyala of Dallas Telugu Christian Church; Islam – Taiyab Kundawala, leaned Islamic businessman; Sikhism – Sant Amarjeet Singh of Gurudwara Sikh Sangat, Euless and President of India Association of North Texas (IANT) Niranjan Patel. Each of the religious representatives offered prayers for the Peace and Tranquility on earth as well as prayed for the departed soul thus demonstrating the balanced religious approach maintained by Dr. YSR.
The photo of Dr. YSR was garlanded by Dr. Ramana R. Guduru with a “Gaja Mala”- an elephantine proportioned garland of excellent roses and other fragrant flowers.
Prasad presented the life and times of Dr. YSR in a slide-show covering various facets of Dr. YSR from early days, young family that grew and showed full family with grand children, political rise and excellent programs he undertook; YSR’s US visit and meeting with people fatal crash in September 2009.
Prasad mentioned the deep impact he made on the lives of poor people with his multi- faceted welfare programs such as: Two-Rupee for Kilogram of Rice; Rural education quotas, Women’s welfare schemes; INDIRAMMA housing for rural areas; Rajiv Gruha Kalpa housing schemes for Urban areas; Rural Unemployment Schemes; Arogya Sree Program for Community Health Insurance and Jala Yagnam – for the major irrigation, electric power and drinking water facility to millions of farmers and people of Andhra Pradesh. He emphasized the fact that Dr. YSR reached out to the common man with his projects and this etched an indelible mark on their hearts.
Several local community leaders offered their special praises on Dr. YSR, his projects, his political acumen, his care & concern for the poor people of Andhra Pradesh besides strong emphasis on promoting the State to be one among the top 5 in India. They include Dr. Srinivas Alla, Srinivas Reddy Gurram, Prasad Thotakura, Suresh Manduva, Gopi Chillakuru and Satish Reddy. Several others who were visiting from India spoke including Sri Konda Reddy of Rayachoti, Kadapa district and former MLA and Chairman, Road Transport Corporation Sri Gone Prakasa Rao. Sri Prakasa Rao shared his fond memories, regards and honor he received from Dr. YSR very vividly and was very emotional.
The meeting was well covered by TV-9 (Reporter - Venkat Mulukutla and Camera - Rajendra) Several video clips were presented that included the video message by Dr. YSR delivered soon after second term victory at General elections in May 2009 as well as message to all overseas admirers of Dr. YSR by his son Y. Jaganmohan Reddy.
The entire proceedings were conducted in a non-partisan, non-denominational, and purely commemorating the memory of life & works of a great Chief Minister and Friend of the Poor – Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Over 200 members of Telugu community belonging to various walks of life, political affiliations etc. joined the event in a strong show of respect to Dr. YSR.
Rao Kalvala offered Vote of Thanks where he thanked all the organizers, Master of Ceremonies MVL Prasad, Pasand Restaurant, TV9, Sakshi TV, media partners Ek Nazar & FunAsiA and all the guests who made the function grand by their attendance.
The crowds once again cheered and the hall resounded with shouts of “Long Live the Memory of Dr. YSR”, “Dr. YSR – Amar Rahe” etc. The meeting was adjourned by MVL Prasad and sumptuous dinner was provided by Pakeera Reddy of Pasand India Cuisine.
Everybody went home with a great feeling of remembering the life and works of Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy in a grand style.
Report filed by: MVL Prasad
