The Counselling Unit at the Dean Students’ Welfare (DSW) organised an online interactive session between The Freedom Fighters, Students, and Campus Community as a part of 75 years of India’s Independence Celebrations – “Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav” on January 6th, 2022.
The speakers of this session were notable freedom fighters – Kondaveeti
Radhakrishna Garu, Unnam Venkayya Garu, President of Telangana Freedom
Fighters Organisation and M. Venkat Rao, General Secretary, Telangana Freedom
Fighters Organisation.
The event started off with a warm welcome by Dy DWS Dr. G. Padmaja. She welcomed the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. R.S. Sarraju, Freedom Fighters, DSW, Prof.
G. Nagaraju, the students and the University community who were present virtually
in this interaction session.
Prof. Sarraju expressed great appreciation towards the event calling it ‘a congregation of national importance.’ The Dean Students’ Welfare, Prof. G. Nagaraju in his
opening remarks remembered the spirit of Bal Gangadhar Tilak that ‘freedom is our
birthright.’ He also thanked Chief Warden, Prof. D. Vijaya Lakshmi for the idea that
led to the organization of this interaction.
The speakers of this wonderful session were notable freedom fighters – Kondaveeti Radhakrishna garu, Mallu Swarajyam garu (also former Member of Parliament), Unnam Venkayya Garu, President of Telangana Freedom Fighters Organisation and M. Venkat Rao, General Secretary; Telangana Freedom Fighters Organisation.
In his opening remarks, the Dean Students’ Welfare, Prof. G. Nagaraju reverently remembered the spirit of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his popular slogan ‘freedom is our birthright.’ He also thanked Chief Warden, Prof. D. Vijaya Lakshmi for the ideation behind this event.
Freedom Fighter Unnam Venkayya Garu hails from Khammam District. In his speech, he talked about his memories during the fight for independence in Warangal. Unnam
Venkayya garu spoke about how society has developed post freedom attainment and
the opportunities available to the present youth.
Later, Kondaveeti Radhakrishna Garu, who belonged to a farmer family from Nalgonda, shared his experience of revolt in his own small way. He described the
circumstances and situations around Independence especially with respect to
Telangana which did not enjoy freedom inspite of the rest of the Country attaining
freedom. He urged that corruption and betrayals should not be the resort of the youth
for a brighter future. Patriotism should be strongly felt by the younger generation. He
said that Intelligentia and youth should come together to design developmental
programs for the progress of the Country.
M. Venkat Rao garu, the third esteemed speaker of the session, is an active member of
the Freedom Fighters Committee. He is also a proud recipient of the Rashtrapati
Award. M.Venkat Rao garu urged the youth to maintain the values of democracy. He
recollected the experiences of people during the pre democratic period and narrated
the various adverse circumstances they had to face.
Lastly, psychological counselors of the university Dr. Hymavathi and Mr. Subhash
put forward the questions asked by the student community for which all the speakers
shared their own valuable insights.
It was summerized that equality feeling should exist not only at thought level but also
at application level.
Overall, it was an auspicious occasion to witness such great legendary people who have expressed dissent against British rule. The event ended on a positive note with a vote of thanks by Dy. DSW Dr. Santosh Kanade.
Contributed by Sahela Jay, Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad.
The Video link of the interactive session is below:
https://www.facebook.com/170140271052/videos/469310397917878