‘Annamaiah was a great social reformer’, says Bhuman in Sri City’s literary programme

Saint poet and Telugu Padakavita Pitamaha, Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya was a great social reformer during the 15th Century said Sri Bhuman (Sri Subrahmanyam Reddy), former Director of SVETA. Addressing the literary session arranged by Srivani, Sri City’s Spiritual & Literary Forum in Sri City on Saturday, he said through his sankeertans, the saint poet paved the way for egalitarian society. Annamayya taught equality and fought against the discrimination and other social evils that were prevalent during those days in the society, Bhuman said.

Srivani organised a programme of talk by Mr. Bhuman on the theme ‘ Annamayya – a social reformer’, in which he explained how Annamayya propagated his ideas on the equality of all people in the society through his sankirtanas. 

Dr. Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder Managing Director welcomed Bhuman and other distinguished artists from TTD Annamacharya Project and felicitated them. He briefly explained the very purpose of organising literary and spiritual programmes involving local talents.  Mr. Palleti Balaji, PRO was the compere of the programme.

Bhuman said, According Annamacharya all living beings irrespective of their status-social, moral and religious in the order of creation are equal. The poet aimed at social equality. One gets astounded at Annamaya’s vast repository of social causes and his ceaseless efforts to address them through his Kirtanas in the simplest language possible to reach each individual. Every Kirtana is the reflection of his sincerity and commitment and his utter devotion to his ideals. His concern for a just society and its citizenry and the feeling for social cause are amazing. Bhuman believes, for Annamayya realising God is only a byproduct, but his real aim with unwavering zeal and focus was to uplift the people and reform the society. It is surprising that we don’t come across such Kirtanas being sung at concerts but end up listening to only those most widely recited ones. 

Mr. Bhuman’s talk was interspaced with select kirtanas of Annamacharya that describe the  social issues of those days, sung by Mr. Saraswati Prasad of TTD Annamacharya Project, supported by Mr. P. Panduranga Rao, Mr. Sankar and Mr. Suresh on percussion instruments. Tandanana  Brhamamokkate  and E kulajudaina nEmi are among the kirtanas rendered by the artists.