Govt preserves C Narayana Reddy’s legacy, to set up memorial

HYDERABAD: Describing Dr C Narayana Reddy as a ‘diamond’ in the world of Telugu literature, Telangana chief minister

K Chandrasekhar Rao

announced a

memorial

and a

statue

at Tank Bund in Hyderabad city.

The chief minister on Tuesday visited the Jnanpith awardee’s house to pay his respects. He placed a wreath on the body and paid his homage to the most popular literary person of Telugu language.

Talking to mediapersons, he said 100 buses will be pressed into service across the state to transport those who want to attend the last rites of the departed poet. “Millions of his fans want to come to Hyderabad from other districts of Telangana. I have directed the officials to arrange 100 buses to transport them. One major government building in the city will be named after him and Rs 10 lakh will be granted to his brainchild ‘Saraswath Parishath’.

The last rites will be performed with the police honours and we are ready to do whatever needed to show our respect to the beloved son of this soil,” said chief minister Chandrasekhar Rao.

He recalled his association with Narayana Reddy and his love for his writings. KCR during his school days stood first in his class by reciting poems from “Mandara Makarandamala” written by Narayana Reddy. “ He has no match in contemporary literary world. He has given a glamour to literature with his exemplary poems, folk and film songs. I am very much at pain with his demise and I pray peace for his soul and strength for his family to overcome the loss,” said the chief minister.

Several ministers including home minister

Nayani Narsimha Reddy

, MLAs, MPs and TRS leaders accompanied the chief minister and paid their last respects to the departed writer.