SV University Registrar Prof. Pratap Reddy Felicitated by the Dallas Telugu Community
“Service to Language is Service to Culture and Tradition” is the theme of the evening gathered at the Pasand Indian Cuisine, Richardson, TX to felicitate the visiting Prof. J. Pratap Reddy, Registrar, Sri Venkateswara University (SVU). The event was attended by a galaxy of over 100 prominent local Telugu community members amidst busy weekend schedules. This private dinner was hosted by the SVU Alumni Association in cooperation with Telugu Association of North Texas (TANTEX) and Telugu Association of North America (TANA).
Earlier Dr. Sridhar Reddy Korsapati, Secretary, India Association of North Texas (IANT) and immediate past President of TANTEX extended a warm welcome to Prof. Pratap Reddy. Mr. Gopi Reddy Chillakuru, President of SVU Alumni Association honored the chief guest with a large and beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. Mr. Satyan Kalyandurg, Chair, Board of Trustees, TANTEX and Mr. Suresh Manduva, Secretary, TANTEX jointly felicitated Prof. Reddy with a Cashmere shawl in true Telugu traditional style. Mr. Prasad Thotakura, Executive Vice President, Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and Mr. NMS Reddy, President-Elect, TANTEX jointly presented Prof. Reddy with a memento recognizing his outstanding contributions to bring ancient status to Telugu language.
After the felicitations, Prof. Reddy addressed the gathering and thanked them for their hospitality and reciprocated with an invitation to Tirupati. The presentation is broad, informative and was an eye opening for the audience who applauded the speaker for his strategic outlook and tactical execution of the educational programs. Several members of TANTEX thanked Prof. Reddy for being a good academic ambassador and for his contribution to bring ancient status to Telugu language. Informative question and answer session with the chief guest included topics ranging from the future of Telugu language, choices and challenges in the university education and the impact of the new methodologies to the changing student behavior. In response to one of the questions Prof. Reddy appealed to the parents not to impose what they want but instead requested them to give that opportunity to children.
Mr. Thotakura reminded the audience of the sudden and tragic demise of the legendary Telugu lyric writer Mr. Veturi Sundararama Murthy and shared his personal association with him and observed a minute of silence as a mark of respect to the departed leader followed by some famous tunes from the local talent.
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Urimindi, Chair, Telugu Literary Forum, TANTEX concluded the meeting with vote of thanks to the attendees, the chief guest Prof. Pratap Reddy, media partner TV9 and Pasand Indian Cuisine for providing a delicious dinner and a professional atmosphere.
