The University of Hyderabad today organized an event titled “Preserving the Poet’s Legacy – Handing Over of Smt. Sarojini Naidu’s Artefacts” at the Conference Hall, Golden Threshold Building, Abids.
The event marked a significant milestone in the preservation of the literary and cultural legacy of Bharat Kokila Smt. Sarojini Naidu.
The programme commenced with a Welcome Address by Dr. Devesh Nigam, Registrar, University of Hyderabad.
Delivering the Inaugural Address, Prof. J. Anuradha, Vice-Chancellor (i/c), University of Hyderabad, recalled her own days as a student at the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication when it functioned from Golden Threshold. Preserving the building, she said, had been a dream since then, and ever since the School shifted to the main campus in 2003 there had been a longing to see the space come alive again. Today’s event, she noted, was the first step towards making the restored space active once more.
Ms. Sheela Reddy, Author and Trustee of the Sarojini Naidu Trust, recounted how she discovered the letters and personal belongings of Sarojini Naidu in a building of the Osmania Hospital, and went on to collect rare letters and artefacts associated with the towering personality that Sarojini Naidu was. She spoke of Golden Threshold as Sarojini Naidu’s marital home, often visited by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, and reminded the gathering that Sarojini Naidu was the first woman President of the Indian National Congress and an integral part of the freedom struggle.
In a key moment of the ceremony, the Will of Smt. Sarojini Naidu and the Government of Telangana Order Ref. No: 1040/Endts.II/A1/2026 dated 09-02-2026, transferring the artefacts to the University of Hyderabad, were formally presented to the Vice-Chancellor.
A Felicitation Ceremony was subsequently held to honour individuals who have contributed to the preservation and renovation of the heritage building. Those felicitated included:
– Ms. Sheela Reddy, Author and Trustee, Sarojini Naidu Trust
– Mr. Papa Rao, Retd. IAS, Trustee, Sarojini Naidu Trust
– Prof. Vinod Pavarala, Professor Emeritus, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, and First Chairman of the Committee overseeing the renovation of Golden Threshold
– Dr. Shaik Jeelani, Retd. Director, Centre for Distance and Virtual Learning (CDVL)
– Col. Ch. Hanumantha Rao, Former University Engineer, incharge of the renovation
Prof. Vasuki Belavadi, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, proposed the Vote of Thanks.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the restored Golden Threshold heritage building, where the guests viewed the preserved artefacts and the restoration works undertaken by the University.