Indian People’s Theater Association (IPTA) and Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali (APPNM) organized a Jatha (march) from Guntur to Vijayawada on 19-20 December 2023 to spread the message of friendship, love, peace, harmony, kindness, compassion, equality and fraternity.
Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali State President, Nalluri Venkateshwarlu (Anna), State in-charge Ajay Kumar, Guntur Arts Council President Poorna and IPTA National Secretary SK Ghani started this padayatra by hoisting the flag in front of the statue of Bhagat Singh in Kottapet, Guntur. A large number of Anganwadi workers and teachers reached Pedakakani to participate in the ‘Dhai Akhar Prem’ cultural march. They sang songs and paid tribute to Dr. BR Ambedkar at his statue.
CPI Ponnuru constituency Secretary Bujjayya and his team interacted with students at a school in Pedakakani. Here songs of love and harmony were performed. The Jatha was welcomed by Chinni Tirupatiya, Jaladi, John Babu, Chinni Satyanarayana, Gauhar Jani and Hanumayya. IPTA National Secretary S K Ghani, Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali State General Secretary Chinnam Penchalaya, President P Chandranaik, Executive Secretary R Ramakrishna, Treasurer R Pichaiyya, State Office Bearer S.K. Nazir, A Shivaiah, Mahant Lakshman Rao, Aret Rama Rao, Sitaram Prasad, Poturaju Nageswara Rao, Dappu Suri Nagabhushanam, Ananthalakshmi, Swarn Sulochana etc. also took active participation in the programme.
After lunch at Pedakakani, the Jatha passed through villages and reached Mangalagiri and rested there for the night. The Jatha started from Mangalagiri on the second day on 20th December at 08:00 am. Reaching among about 400 construction workers of four road divisions, the Jatha comrades explained the purpose of this march and presented people’s songs. A seminar was also organized in a nearby school and songs of love and harmony were performed.
The Jatha passed through many villages of Prakash Nagar and reached Nulaka Peta at 02:00 pm. After lunch at the hotel, the Jatha reached Undavalli Center via Prakasam Barrage, Kanakadurgamma Ammavari Gudi and Vijayawada Bhavani Puram Center at 4 pm. Street plays, folk dances, songs etc. were presented here.
In Vijayawada city, the artists of Praja Natya Mandal under the leadership of CPI Secretary G Koteswara Rao were given a warm welcome and the Padayatra was highly appreciated. This public meeting was presided over by P Chandranaik. The meeting was addressed by CPI Krishna district secretary Donepudi Shankar, IPTA National Secretary S K Gani, Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali State General Secretary Chinnam Penchalaya and others.
CPI State Secretaries Ramakrishna Garu, Donepudi Shankar, G Koteswara Rao honored the artists by draping them with shawls. Around 25 artists participated in this Jatha that lasted for two days. Chinnam Penchalaya, State General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali, took the responsibility of this two-day padayatra and worked hard to make the padayatra a success.
Report: Chinnam Penchalaya