‘Anasuya Devi used music as a tool to spread social equality’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion

Several people condole the death of veteran singer

Born and brought up in Kakinada, Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi used music as a tool to spread the message of social equality in the days when the society considered women coming out of their homes as a taboo. The literary and cultural environment around her made Anasuya Devi learnt classical music along with her elder sister Seetha in the childhood and later the sisters lent their voices to many light music compositions of their maternal uncle the renowned poet Devulapalli Krishnasastry. With Krishnasastry developed a penchant for Brahmo Samaj and penned songs for the organisation that worked for social renaissance, they sang those songs in many public meetings.

From there, Anasuya Devi left for the then Madras from where she went to Houston in the US and stayed with her daughter Ratna Papa till her last breath there on Sunday morning. “Anasuya Devi was a courageous woman, who broke all the shackles and moved freely on a par with men in those days. Her independent nature made her special among the family and her voice added beauty to many lyrics of Krishnasastry,” recalled Tallavajhula Patanjali Sastry, a close relative of the family and writer and environmentalist from Rajamahendravaram.

Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Anasuya Devi’s father Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao was a theatre artiste and he had influenced the family members including women to learn languages and read literature. “Anasuya Devi brought out her autobiography ‘Asamana Anasuya’ three years ago, in which she gave a detailed description of her journey from Kakinada to Houston,” said Mr. Patanjali Sastry.

“Seetha and Anasuya popularised folk music in the combined Andhra State. They were the first singers to give concerts with folk songs,” recollected V.A.K. Ranga Rao, renowned historian of music, who shared an association of 65 years with the Vinjamuri family. “The tune of popular song ‘Manasuna mallela.. .’ from the classic ‘Malleeswari’ was based on ‘Chandana charchita..’ a song rendered by Anasuya in 1937.

Similarly, the one ‘Eruvaka sagaro.. .’ from ‘Rojulu Marayi’ was based on ‘Chukkala Cheerakattukoni’ a private song rendered by Seetha and Anasuya in 1932. I have those gramophone records with me,” he said, while paying homages to the singer.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by K N Murali Sankar / Kakinada – March 25th, 2019

‘Gold’ rating for Vijayawada Railway Station

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All

Speaking on the occasion, Dhananjayulu lauded the efforts of the staff instrumental in achieving this feat.

GoldratingANDHRA26mar2019

Vijayawada :

Vijayawada Railway Station was awarded a ‘Gold’ rating by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) R Dhananjayulu received the IGB councils’ ‘Gold’ rating Shield from IGBC (Amaravati Chapter) Chairperson Vijaya Sai Meka at Divisional Conference Hall here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhananjayulu lauded the efforts of the staff instrumental in achieving this feat. He called upon the field staff and branch officers to work hard and strive to achieve the ‘Platinum’ rating for the railway station next year. The station stood 4th for maintaining cleanliness among the A1 Category stations of the Indian Railways consecutively for the years 2017 and 2018, he said.

IGBC (Amaravati Chapter) Chairperson Vijaya Sai Meka said that the rating was a big achievement and the staff must continue to make efforts in order to achieve the ‘Platinum’ rating next year. The hardwork done by the railways could clearly be seen as with the installation of LED lights, fans (BEE 5-star rated), pumps and motors, solar water heating systems etc, he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / March 26th, 2019

Andhra Pradesh SP scales a peak in Papua New Guinea

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

RadhikaANDHRA23mar2019

SP inches close to ‘Seven Summits Challenge’

Radhika G.R., Superintendent of Police from the State was on cloud nine, literally, for inching a step closer to her goal of completing the ‘mountaineering challenge’– conquering the seven summits of the world.

Video released

In a short video recorded, Ms. Radhika who works with the State’s Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS), could be seen elated, having the 4, 884-metre tall Carstensz Pyramid or Puncak Jaya, the highest summit in Oceania, under her feet. The video was released by State police on Thursday.

Thanks A.P. police

Carrying the Indian national flag and OCTOPUS flag, Ms. Radhika proudly says, “Today, I have reached the top of Carstensz Pyramid, the highest peak of Oceania in Puncak Jaya island. We reached the summit at 10 a.m. Indonesian time with the help of two guides and mountain professionals team. I thank the AP police and the AP government.”

In December last, the 43-year-old Ms. Radhika summited the Antarctica’s highest peak of Mount Vinson. Earlier in 2017, she scaled the 5, 642-metre high Mount Elbrus, the tallest in Russia and Europe and became the first Indian woman to do so.

She made headlines in 2016 for being the first Indian policewoman to conquer the world’s highest peak Mt. Everest when she worked as an additional SP in the State.

As part of her goal to complete the ‘Seven Summits Challenge’, a dream for any professional mountaineer she also scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Kosciusko in Australia and others and has inched close to fulfilling the goal on Thursday. She began her career as a government lecturer and later got selected as Deputy SP.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / March 22nd, 2019