Daily Archives: July 27, 2014

Race among Anglo-Indians hots up for nominated post

Decision of the Telangana government to put on hold nomination of Anglo-Indian community member to the Legislative Assembly it had selected has raised the hopes of other aspirants.

The 10,000 strong Anglo-Indian community in the new State expressed surprise when Telangana government backed Royden Roach for the nominated MLA’s post. It is said that the community associations have written to the government objecting to his nomination.

Maureen Hatch, a social activist, Warren Latouche, president of All-India Anglo-Indian Association, Secunderabad-Hyderabad branch and Gerard Charles Carr, Treasurer of Federation of Anglo-Indian Association of India are hopeful of nomination.

Initially, the TRS government had recommended the name of Maureen Hatch, a social activist and former employee of AP Industrial Development Corporation.

However, a ‘small technical error’ in the covering letter and not her bio-data had resulted in the file recommending Ms. Maureen Hatch as the nominated MLA being returned from Governor’s office for ‘relook’.

Ms. Maureen told The Hindu that when she was requested to give a copy of her bio-data to the Telangana Legislature Secretary. The covering letter addressed to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was given, but the body of the letter contained YSR Congress party’s name. The error was brought to her notice, correction was made and a fresh letter submitted and accepted. She appealed to the TRS government to consider her candidature.

Wing-commander Peter de Padua, Vice-president of All India Anglo Indian Association Hyderabad-Secunderabad branch said that country head of the association Neil O’Brien and the governing body has recommend the name of Warren Latouche, president of the City branch for the post. “Mr. Latouche has demonstrated in many ways, genuine concern for the members of Anglo Indian community,” he said.

Mr. Carr is also in the race hoping that his association with the TRS and the community service he had done would get him the nomination.

Anglo-Indian Association general secretary Hilary Platel clarified that Elvis Stephenson was not the vice-president of the Association.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – July 26th, 2014

Bathukamma is made Telangana state festival

Bathukamma festival in Telangana. ( Photo:DC/File)
Bathukamma festival in Telangana. ( Photo:DC/File)

Hyderabad:

The famed Bathukamma will now be a Telangana State festival. The government has declared “Bathukamma Panduga” to be the state festival on the lines of recently declared Bonalu Jatra. This is the second festival in Telangana to be declared a state festival after Bonalu, which was celebrated with state-backing in Secunderabad and Hyderabad in a big way recently.

Youth advancement tourism and culture department issued orders on Thursday in this regard. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao held a meeting with officials of the department of culture and others on June 16 and decided that Bonalu, Bathukamma be declared state festivals and celebrated in a big way across the state.

The Telangana Jagruti, headed by TRS MP Kavitha, had promoted Bathukamma in a big way during the Telangana movement along with Telangana cuisine. “Bathukamma Panduga is an important festival, which is celebrated across Telangana.

It is also an important cultural event of Telangana state, wherein large number of people, particularly women, participate with devotional fervour. Therefore, it is decided to declare the “Bathukamma Panduga”, as state festival duly providing assistance from different government departments and agencies for celebrating the festival,” said principal secretary to Telangana government B.P. Acharya.

Government asked the Department of Culture to take necessary action to celebrate the festival in a befitting manner. Bathukamma is one of the unique festival of Telangana region celebrated during Dasara Navarathri by women. Dressed in the best, the women sing songs in praise of Goddess Gouri during the nine day festivities.

Women seek the blessings of mother Goddes seeking prosperity and a good year. Colours, flowers and water are all intrinsic to the festival and the goddess herself is not one rooted in a shrine but turmeric and placed on top of conical flower arrangements that signify both life and eternity in their colours.

The flowers are immersed in tanks and rivers water on the 10th day. Local flowers like Gunuka, Tangedi, Lotus, Alli, Katla, Teku flowers which bloom in this season in various vibrant colours all across the uncultivated and barren lands are used to create flower arrangements.

Immersion of Bathukamma (Bathukamma visarjan) in water bodies is celebrated with utmost devotion and enthusiasm through out Telangana region.

source: http://wwww.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / July 25th, 2014