FREEDOM FIGHTER, NATIONAL AWARDEE, BALA BANDHU

Late. Shri. MADDULURI RAMAKRISHNA

At the age of eight, refused to remove the picture of Gandhiji from the wall of the waranda, though threatened by the Tasildar. At 11 with the blessings of the elders collected good books and requested the newspapers editors to supply free copies of Andhrapatrika, Bharathi, and Krishnapatrika & Started a library that was inaugurated by a patriot Gadicharla HariSarvotham Rao.

Contributed one-month hostel fee to Harijan welfare fund when Gandhiji came to Bapatla. Gave up college studies in response to nation’s call for freedom movement and sentenced to 4-months rigorous imprisonment in central jail Rajmundry. Went underground to evade arrest warrant in Quit India Movement and published Swatantra Bharathi to awake patriotism in people. Put on shadow plays like; This land is ours, Let’s fight for freedom, Buddha, Our heritage etc. to awake patriotism in people. Under the guidance of great historian Mallampalli Somashekar Sharma, read inscriptions on the walls of the Bhavanarayana swamy temple, Baptla. Honest stores and examinations without watchers were started in a school to inculcate honesty in pupils. Worked in villages, far from the madding crowd and renovated a High School at the cost of 4-acres wetland. The Deputy Director of Public Instruction said “A worthy priest at the feet of THE TEMPLE OF LEARNING". Acquired 2-Hectares of land as playground to Brahmana-Koduru High school with the help of the villages & leveled it as a playfield. Attended the Xth world Educational conference at Delhi under the leadership of Mulkraj Anand.

In public recognition of the valuable services to the community as a teacher of outstanding merit, the President of India honored with NATIONAL AWARD in 1967. Resigned the Headmaster-ship when undue transfer was done in the middle of the academic year when good experiment was being done to improve knowledge in children by starting an open library. Achieved cent% results in 10th class Public Exams 1972 at Radhakrishna Z.P High School, Donepudi. Gifted 2,000 good books to the women’s college, BAPATLA. Trained about 960 teachers to work for the village development.

Was founder President of A.P children’s Writers Association in 1952 and encouraged writers to write good literature for youngsters & worked hard and sincerely to publish valuable books for which the State Govt. felicitated with BALA BANDHU in 1991.

Attended number of seminars, workshops as a person with profundity on children’s literature conducted by Central Govt., State Govt. and N.C.E.R.T. at Delhi, Calcutta, Banaras, Mysore, Trivandrum, Orissa (Koraput), Hyderabad etc.

To enlighten children, 1-lakh copies of ANDALA AA-AA-LU, MUDDU –BIDDALU, ANDARDI EE THOTA, VINTARA MA KADHA, BHU-MATHAKU VANDANAM and other storybooks. Translated the Story of India by Mulkraj Anand. National Book Trust, New Delhi, published JOURNEY TO GOMUKH.

A.P Balala-Acadamy published [BUDDHUNI-BOMMA], AFRICAN CHILDREN’S FOLKLORE stories, and yet to publish 101-PITTA KADHALU and ANDALA TELUGU, compiled a Dictionary of 17,000 folklore words and many books yet unpublished.

Visited U.S.A twice on many educational & cultural missions. Gave number of talks on A.I.R on Bad Effects Of Smoking, Andhra Ratna Duggirala Gopalkarishnaiah, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mandela, Einstein, Baba Amte and others.

Till March 26, 2010, with dedication and devotion, served with noble cause of the MOTHERLAND.

JAI-HIND.

A Prayer for Children by - Madduluri Ramakrishna

Where there is nothing like a school,

Where play is learning,

Where kids never know force,

Where they live sweetly as birds,

Where kids are understood by adults,

Where adults themselves can become kids,

Father, in that world, let me be born.

[Category :Telugu people] [Category:Andhra Pradesh ]

• Balabandhu Madduluri Ramakrishna
• Andala A Aalu