AELC’s formation day celebrated with fervour

The 173rd formation day celebrations of Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) were celebrated with gaiety on the premises of Andhra Christian College here on Thursday.

It was on this day back in 1842, a US pastor Rev. John Christian Frederick Heyer set foot in Guntur to establish the church.

Parishes

With the help of then collector, Henry Stokes, Fr. Heyer began to expand the church building new parishes. But it was in the field of education and healthcare, that Fr. Heyer left an indelible mark. Together with Kugler, he established Kugler Hospital.

He began an Anglo Vernacular School which later blossomed into A.C College.

In a fitting tribute, a bust size bronze portrait of Fr. Heyer along with two other portraits of Rev Martin Luther, founder of protestant movement and H. Wolf, another missionary who served in AC College were unveiled on the AC College premises.

Remembering the contributions of missionaries who had pioneered education and health, National Council of Churches in India, Bishop Taranath S. Sagar said that the founding fathers of AELC had God’s love, mercy and compassion which had motivated them to leave all their belongings and set sail to India.

They braved the torrid heat, the tropical infections to work for the glory of God and set up schools, colleges and hospitals.

Executive secretary, UELCI and treasurer of Rev. A.G Augustine Jeyakumar, moderator bishop, AELC K.F Pradesi Babu, Bishop of Guntur Gali Bali, Principal of AC College P. Mutyam were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Guntur – August 01st, 2014

Hyderabad :

The objective of writing history of Andhra Pradesh, covering coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana, without seeking government help is “to keep it scientific, secular and free from any bias,” said veteran historian V Ramakrishna on Friday.

He was speaking at a function organized to release the fifth volume of the comprehensive history of Andhra Pradesh. The volume was released by governor E L S Narasimhan who said that the Andhra Pradesh History Congress, which was formed in 1976 and whose members have compiled the voluminous data, should take some help to facilitate its work. “Do not oblige anybody, but do take help because it is a gigantic task and the need of the hour,” he said.

Ramakrishna, who is popularly known as VRK, said that it was in 1998 that the APHC decided to compile and publish the comprehensive History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh in eight volumes which, with time, have been expanded into nine volumes.

The need for the series was felt because no connected, authenticated, chronologically arranged narrative from an inter-disciplinary perspective, incorporating the latest data, is available today. “Writing micro history is difficult. The content of each chapter is verified at various levels for its authenticity. I want to pay tribute to the contributing historians because they have written, not for money, but their dedication towards the cause of history,” he informed the audience.

The members of the editorial board of the history series include K S Kameswara Rao, A Satyanarayan and G Venkata Ramayya while the general editor is V Ramakrishna. The fifth volume has been edited by R Soma Reddy.

According to speakers at the function, the present volume is on Late Medieval Andhra Pradesh covering the period between 1324 and 1724, a period that witnessed the rise of larger regional state powers such as the kingdom of Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis.

Consequent upon the constant flux of people of different languages, faiths, cultures and professions and the establishment of foreign settlements, a liberal spirit of tolerance developed, which was furthered by the prevalence of Sufi and Bhakti cults. One of the most significant features of the times was the evolution of composite Dakhni Deccani culture, along with the rise of the Deccani Urdu language.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / July 19th, 2014

INTACH convenor S. Elias Reddy says proposals are forwarded to INTACH central office in New Delhi for development of 43 heritage places in Kadapa district

Eighty nine places of historic, spiritual, religious and heritage importance were identified in Kadapa district and proposals were forwarded to INTACH central office in New Delhi for development of 43 such places, district INTACH convenor S. Elias Reddy said.

Addressing the INTACH meeting in the Sivalayam near Gandi waterworks here, Mr. Elias Reddy said INTACH would strive to preserve the culture and heritage in Kadapa district. Former MLC and INTACH honorary advisor P. Subba Reddy released a book ‘Gandikota Charitra’ written by Tavva Obul Reddy. He called for propagation of INTACH activities in the district.

Inscriptions dating back to 2,000 years surfaced in Vallur mandal, Vallur MPDO M. Suresh said and called for development of Pushpagiri Math and Indranatheswara temple. INTACH members Gangaiah and Ramachandra Reddy wanted forming of INTACH student clubs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by M. V. Subrahmanyam / Kadapa – July 14th, 2014