Museum

The first World Telugu Conference was organized during 12-18. April 1975. An exhibition was put up with Photos, Charts, Paintings, Portraits etc., depicting the culture of Telugu Speaking people. Impressed by this, a citizens’ committee was formed to establish a cultural museum “Telugus through the Ages”. The then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Late Sri Jalagam Vengal Rao allotted 3 acres of Land in Public Gardens for this purpose by lifting the then existing ban to construct any buildings in the public gardens. The then president of India Fakruddin Ali Ahmed laid the foundation stone for the Museum on 13 september 1975. The citizens’ committee of Hyderabad gave financial assistance for construction of the bulding. The second world Telugu Conference organised in 1981 in Kaulalampur, Malaysia also extended a helping hand for establsihment of the Museum. Rupees 5 lakhs was collected as a matching grant under the chairmanship of Tokarsilali Kapadia, a prominent businessman and handed over the amount to the then International Telugu Institute for the Museum.

When the Telugu University was established by the 27th Act of Legislation of Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1985, the International Telugu Institute was merged with the University. The Telugu University was initially accommodated at Kala Bhavan Ravindra Bharati and later shifted to the present premises in the Public Gardens originally meant for th eMusuem. It has a built up area of 1.10 lakh sq.ft. and the museum building has built up area of 10,000 sq.ft with three floors.

As the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University is allotted 150 acres of land for the new campus in Kutbullapur Mandal, R.R. District, there is an urgent need to prepare a comprehensive plan to convert the entire building into the Museum “Telugus through the Ages” depicting the cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh from the earliest times to the present.

Suravaram Prathapareddy Telugu University has the following collections for the Musuem.

LIST OF EXHIBITS WITH POTTI SREERAMULU TELUGU UNIVERSITY.

Oil Paintings prepared in connection with the 1 World Telugu Conference in 1975 – ( 56)

Charts, depicting dynasties, boundaries of Kingdoms etc – (38)

Evolution of Telugu Script, Telugu Words in Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions (25)

Photos pertaining to Ancient Sculptures – (25)

Bhithi drawings replicas – (7)

Telugu Luminaries in various fields – photos – (230)

Chariot purchased from Srikora, Wooden sculptures etc – (258)

When the Telugu University was functioning at Kala Bhavan, a tentative picture was given to use the entire building as the Museum. This is as follows:

ENTIRE BUILDING AS MUSEUM

Prehistory of A.P.

Ground Floor Evolution of Telugu script, Telugu inscriptions, Ancient Samskrit and Prakrit inscriptions. Telugu words in these inscriptions, Adikavyam in Telugu, Pada Kavita, Vachana Kavita, Chandas. Evolution of Telugu Press, Charts pertaining to Telugu Language and Literature oil paintings depicting Telugu culture (prepared for the First world Telugu conference) dynasties who ruled Andhra desa, temples, art and architecture, sculptures etc., may be displayed.

2nd Floor

Contemporary sculpture, paintings, folk arts, puppetry

3rd Floor

: Portraits Gallery

Telugu Luminaries in different photographs 300 personalites. More need to be acquired.

Although this is not comprehensive and concrete it may give some idea and the advisory committee may suggest an action plan.