Rich tributes paid to NTR at AP Bhavan
PNS|Vijayawada/Delhi
The Andhra Pradesh Government has officially declared the Jayanthi celebrations of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) as a State programme, reflecting his unparalleled contribution to Telugu society and Indian public life. In honour of this declaration, a solemn and dignified tribute event was held at the AP Bhavan Auditorium, New Delhi, on Wednesday.
Prominent personalities from Delhi, AP Bhavan officials, and representatives from various Telugu Associations gathered in large numbers to pay floral tributes to the iconic leader.
The ceremony reverberated with pride, nostalgia, and renewed commitment to the ideals that NTR stood for. NTR was not merely a cinematic legend or a political stalwart, he was a phenomenon. Through over 300 films, he embodied mythological figures like Rama, Krishna, and Karna, turning cinema into a sacred art form and etching himself into the collective Telugu consciousness.
In 1982, NTR transitioned from screen to street, founding the Telugu Desam Party and galvanising a mass political movement anchored in Telugu self-respect and good governance.
As the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he brought empathy and equity into administration, launching landmark schemes such as ?2/kg rice and pioneering the midday meal programme.
\His visionary reforms uplifted millions, especially the poor and backward classes. NTR’s legacy lives on in statues, institutions, and the hearts of people across the Telugu-speaking world. Today’s event was not just a tribute, but a reaffirmation of his enduring ideals: courage, pride, service, and justice.
As the chant “Jai Telugu Talli” echoed through AP Bhavan, the gathering was reminded that remembering NTR is not a ritual it is a responsibility.
