Name any tourist destination, Attada Babu Rao, who has collected 800-odd postcards, has a montage to show and a story to tell.

It was perhaps his keen interest in people and places; their physical environments – natural and manmade- as well as customs, pastimes and amusements that spurred Attada Babu Rao to take to deltiology (an official term for collecting and studying postcards).

At 65, he has a vast collection of postcards with images of tourist destinations across the globe that can set one on an enchanting journey through history via beautiful locales. Exhibiting his prized collection on the World Tourism Day (September 27), the sexagenarian talks endlessly about how he had managed to get these colourful post cards from every nook and cranny of the world through his several pen pals scattered across the globe. “I don’t think many people are into deltiology. Collecting postcards can be a rewarding pastime,” he says, pointing to images of historic sites, tourist attractions and resorts besides famous industries, schools, churches.

A philatelist and a numismatist, he gradually diversified to deltiology way back in 1970. “Most of these postcards are very difficult to come by now. I had nearly 130 pen friends across the world, who are now reduced to merely 10, thanks to the internet,” he says with a wry smile.

A couple of months ago, when he approached the Limca Book of Records with a collection of 800-odd postcards, the latter asked him to come back after adding a 100 more. “I have time till June next year. By then, I may even cross the 1,000-mark,” he says, imbued with enthusiasm.

Toss a query on a particular tourist place and he spreads out dozens of postcards, creating a montage of colours splashed across, with famous monuments like the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco, the Eiffel Tower of Paris, Malaysia’s twin towers, Australian beaches, waterfalls in Nigeria and hordes of other breath-taking scenes from Germany, Denmark, Italy, Bahrain, Japan, Singapore, Honk Kong among others narrating a historic tale.

Upset over not being able to make a hat-trick by having his name enrolled in the Record Books for third consecutive year, he says he will put a full stop after third attempt.

Ask him what next and his smile returns. “The hunt will never cease.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – September 28th, 2014

Tirupati:

The nine-day annual Brahmotsavam festival at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here will begin with the hoisting of sacred Garuda flag atop the golden ‘dwajasthambham’ (flag mast) tomorrow.

Temple officials said tight security arrangements have made on the seven hills and in Tirupati for the smooth conduct of the Navaratri festival.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would arrive on the hills in the afternoon on a five-hour visit.

Later in the evening, observing the three and half decade old practice, Naidu, on behalf of the state government, would offer a set of new silk clothes to the shrine on the occasion of the advent of the festival, officials said.

The high priests of the hill temple would receive the clothes from Naidu.

The clothes would be adorned on the presiding deity on the ‘Garudaseva’ day on the fifth day of the Brahmotsavam on September 30, they added.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / PTI / September 25th, 2014

The stirring poetry written by Gurram Jashuva has mirrored the primordial prejudices and caste exploitation and it’s a matter of pride that Jashuva hailed from Vinukonda in Guntur district, Collector Kantilal Dande has said.

Paying rich tributes to the poet on his 119th birth anniversary, he said modern Telugu poet Jashuva was hailed as `Viswa Kavi,’ for his all encompassing poetry touching all aspects of society. The day saw a host of Ministers, MLAs and officials paying tributes to the bronze statue of Joshua near the District Court Complex.

Minister for Agriculture Prathipati Pulla Rao said that the State government was committed to construct a cultural auditorium in honour of Jashuva. Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu said that the legacy of Jashuva had not been limited to a particular section of the society but was embraced by one and all.

MLC K.S Lakshmana Rao demanded that a cultural centre be built in Guntur in honour of Jashuva.

The meeting had its share of nostalgia with several poets reading out verses from Joshua’s famous works, ‘Gabbilam’ and ‘Firadausi’. P.V. Ramana too had the audience spellbound with his rendering of some verses from Joshua’s works.

Literary critics said Joshua was the first Telugu poet to give voice to the exploited and the oppressed and his use of pastoral imagery in ‘Gabbilam’ was in stark contrast to the symbolic imagery used by earlier poets.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Guntur – September 29th, 2014