100 Year of Impact

Thanks to the advice and insistence of the Hony. President, Shri B.M. Rao, thoughts began to crystallize that we, the members of the Committee should each contribute Rs.10,000/- before we start requesting outside help. The District Collector, Dr. K.S. Jawahar Reddy was kind enough to sanction Rs. 1 lakh from the Exhibition funds which was added to the previous District Collector’s sanction of Rs. 1,50,000/- and the magnanimous donation of Rs. 1,01,116/- of Shri B.M. Rao was all that we had when we launched our PROJECT RENOVATION SKM. Since there was no indication of the Govt. Funds, we approached Dr. Jawahar Reddy Garu again to give us permission to raise the funds by conducting a Raffle. Thereafter, began our crusade! We had to raise not less than Rs.18 lakhs at the minimum to ensure a decent appearance for the Surya Kala Mandiram.  

Dr. Jawahar Reddy Garu was also kind enough in recommending our case to his friend in the Central Govt. for sanctioning the Grant as requested by us earlier. Based on his letter, things started moving at the Center. The Director, Department of Culture, Hyderabad, Shri A. Srikanth also put in his word of recommendation with the Office of the Secretary, Dept. of Culture at New Delhi. We are hopeful that we will receive some Grant from the Center very soon, with the constant follow-up by our friends, Shri A. Ravi and Shri Kanna Babu at Delhi.

My son, Tikku was a great help and support in all the areas especially, the renovation work. It will be befitting to mention that the continuous follow-up made by him as Chairman of the Building Committee, is recognized by one and all. The Architect, Shri Guru Prasad did a wonderful job in transforming the place – all on a voluntary basis! Similarly, the supervision of the Engineer, Shri Raju was superb. He took all our shoutings with a smile and every time he came up with a standard reply that ‘it will be over in two days’. Though the roadmap was drawn up for completion of the jobs by end August, additional jobs then planned were taken up which resulted in the spill-over up to the second week of September. Shri K.V.S. Anjaneya Murthy Garu was of immense help in our loud thinking of various implementational aspects and giving finishing touches and final decisions whenever required. Shri RepakaSubba Rao Garu, Secretary & Treasurer, with his untiring and relentless efforts was at times critical and conservative of our decisions. But he stood like a solid rock of Gibraltar and gave timely support in all issues, specially in sparing Venkateswara Function Hall for the make-shift office during the renovation phase and also accommodating the Raffle Draw Programme and the Press Meet. Shri K.S. Narasinga Rao, Shri A. Rameswara Rao, Shri M. Ramachandra Rao, all gave their support and they along with Shri RepakaSubba Rao Garu, finalized the excellent Programmes for the Music Festival. Shri Challa Sitaramayya Garu with all his vast experience as the past Secretary gave timely suggestions and made a silent and concrete contribution. Shri A. Sitapathi Rao, as the finance chief was always calculating whether the required funds will be raised or not and raising alarms along with the Treasurer. Shri M.M. Pallam Raju helped a lot by taking on the follow up works at Hyderabad and Delhi. Shri P. Ramu, Shri V.H.S. Prasad, Shri S.R.K. Ravi Kumar, Shri D.V. Krishnam Raju, Shri R.K. Viswanatha Rao and Shri Bolla Ranga Rao Garu, were always there to help. A lot of effort has been put in by one and all without which we would not have completed the renovation and plan such good programmes.

The timely and magnanimous grant of Rs. 2 Lakhs, made by the District Collector Dr. Jawahar Reddy, I.A.S., at the time of the Raffle Draw on 12/09/03 was like a boon for us when we were struggling to somehow complete the jobs. But for the persistent appeal of our Hony. President, Shri Badam Madhava Rao Garu, this amount would not have been given by the District Collector. It was purely due to his personal rapport that we could receive this benevolence. Similarly the large-heartedness of the I st. prize winner, Shri M.M. Pallam Raju and the II prize Winner – ITC Ltd-ILTD Dvn (my previous Employer) who did not claim the prizes, was a great help. It once again proved that whatever we do with a pure heart and dedicated zeal, it will always pay good results. The DIVINE GRACE was always with us. 

Shri Panditha Rao and Shri Venkateswara Rao of the Saraswathi Gana Sabha were the main pillars of support to us as they were taking all the demanding nature of a variety of jobs that were entrusted to them and always with a smile on their tired faces! Shri Surya Chandra Rao and Shri Viswanatham who took up the masonary and carpentry jobs became tuned to our demands and put in extra efforts to complete their jobs. Even the temporary help we took in Shri Srinivasa Kumar jelled with our expectations and gave his best. 

To whomever I appealed, there was a very positive response except of course, a few individuals as well as Corporates who stuck to their guns in not responding to this great community cause.

I am particularly grateful to Shri Satish Chandra Garu I.A.S. for recommending our case to M/S Reliance Industries, Mumbai who donated liberally. I am ever thankful to M/S Reliance Industries, Mumbai, ITC Ltd ILTD Division, Anam Educational Charitable Trust, Kakinada Sea Ports Ltd, State Bank of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Tata Chemicals Limited, Mumbai, Ocean Sparkle Pvt.Ltd. Hyderabad, SRMT, Mensamind, Hyderabad, Dr.V.K. Raju, Shri C.V. Raju and Shri Bikkini Shyam Kumar, who readily responded to my appeal with their major contributions. Similarly, the services of a host of well wishers like, Shri Srikanth of National Sound Engineering Works, Shri A. Venkateswara Rao of SITI Cable, Shri Viswa, the lensman, Shri Ramesh Raju Garu of NIIT (who made it easy to refer with the list of the Raffle Ticket holders), are acknowledged with grateful thanks.

Over-all, we proved that we had faith in ourselves in making this transformation come true! 

– LAKKARAJU SESHAKUMARI