The state government has accorded an administrative sanction of Rs 20 lakh for restoration of ‘Bammera Pothana Smarakam’ in Bammera village in Palakurthi in Warangal district.

The Youth Advancement Tourism and Culture Department issued a GO to this effect on Wednesday. It was proposed in the state budget to release Rs 66 lakh for restoration of Bammera Smarakam. Former professor of NIT, Warangal, M Panduranga Rao and retired IAS officer BV Paparao started Kakatiya Heritage Trust and purchased land from the farmers who encroached upon. The land was said to be originally owned and cultivated by Bammera Pothana, who enriched Telugu literature by his invaluable and pure devotional works.

Pothana was known for his magnum opus Andhra Maha Bhagavatam. Pothanamatyulu was a household name for Telugus. Now, the lovers of Telugu literature can visit his birth place and visit his Samadhi. At present Bammera village has a tomb of the poet, 4.3 acres of agricultural land belonging to Pothana and an agricultural well used by the poet. The Kakatiya Heritage Trust submitted a master plan to the government to develop Bammera memorial. Panduranga Rao told Express that there was a proposal to develop a garden, install a statue of Pothana and make available the literature of Pothana for the visitors.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / by The New Indian Express, Express News Service / Andhra Pradesh, August 30th, 2012