Renowned poet and writer Ande Sri passed away on Monday, and his last rites were conducted today. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, along with state ministers and TPCC chief Mahesh Goud, attended the funeral. The final procession proceeded from Lalapet to Ghatskesar, where the cremation took place at NFC Nagar. During the ceremony, CM Revanth Reddy paid a heartfelt tribute to Ande Sri, recalling his personal bond with the poet and becoming visibly emotional. He announced that the funeral was conducted with full state honors and extended condolences to the family, assuring them of government support.
The Telangana government has decided to establish a memorial grove at the site of Ande Sri’s cremation. Speaking at the ceremony, CM Revanth Reddy recalled Ande Sri’s remarkable contributions as a writer, artist, protector of animals, and participant in the Telangana movement. He noted that despite facing financial hardships, Ande Sri remained committed to social causes, inspiring generations alongside leaders like Gaddar. CM Revanth Reddy further announced that the iconic song “Jaya Jayahe Telangana,” written by Ande Sri, will be included as a part of the school curriculum and a memorial grove will be set up in his honor. The government will also provide a job to a member of his family.
Highlighting the enduring influence of Ande Sri’s work, the CM stated that his poetry collection Nippula Vaagu serves as a guide for those fighting for Telangana’s causes, comparable to spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita, Bible, and Quran. The government plans to print 20,000 copies of the collection and make it available in every library across the state. CM Revanth Reddy also revealed that he had written to the central government last year recommending Ande Sri for the Padma Shri and will do so again this year, requesting support from Union Ministers Bandi Sanjay and Kishan Reddy to ensure the poet receives the honor.