CM Revanth Reddy lays foundation for Ande Sri Smruthi Vanam
Synopsis
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for the Ande Sri Smruthi Vanam memorial garden at Ghatkesar on 18 July 2026, calling the Telangana state anthem lyricist his 'soulmate' and reaffirming the government's commitment to honouring movement icons.
Key Takeaways
CM Revanth Reddy performed the ground-breaking for the Ande Sri Smruthi Vanam at Ghatkesar on 18 July 2026 , Ande Sri's birth anniversary.
The Chief Minister called Ande Sri his ' soulmate ' and said the poet's inspiration drove him to become Chief Minister.
The Telangana government formally adopted Jaya Jayahe Telangana — written by Ande Sri — as the state anthem on 2 June 2024 .
The government awarded Rs 1 crore each to families of nine Telangana movement activists, irrespective of party affiliation.
Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka , four cabinet ministers, MPs, MLCs and MLAs attended alongside Ande Sri's family.
Revanth Reddy warned that any attempt to dominate Telangana would see 'Ande Sri reborn,' anchoring the poet's legacy as a political and cultural symbol.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for a memorial garden — Smruthi Vanam — honouring poet, singer and Telangana movement icon Dr. Ande Sri at Ghatkesar on the occasion of Ande Sri's birth anniversary on 18 July 2026. The Chief Minister's Office of Telangana announced the event, sharing Revanth Reddy's deeply personal tribute to the lyricist he described as a lifelong inspiration.
Context
Dr. Ande Sri is widely known across Telangana as the author of 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana' — the official state anthem — and as a poet whose songs became anthems of the Telangana statehood movement. At the foundation-laying ceremony, CM Revanth Reddy said that while four crore people of Telangana may know Ande Sri as a poet, singer and movement activist, to him personally, 'Ande Sri is not just an activist — he is a soulmate' ('ఆత్మబంధువు').
The Chief Minister spoke with visible emotion, recounting that he is one of seven brothers and lost his eldest brother — his primary inspiration — while still young. 'After that, the elder brother I found was Ande Sri,' he said, describing the poet as a member of his own family.
Policy Backdrop
On 2 June 2024, the Revanth Reddy government formally dedicated 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana' as the state anthem, a moment the Chief Minister recalled at Saturday's event as one in which Ande Sri himself was visibly moved. The Congress administration has continued the broader tradition — established since Telangana's formation in 2014 — of institutionally honouring figures central to the statehood agitation.
Revanth Reddy also reiterated at the event that his government had identified nine individuals who dedicated their voices and lives to the Telangana movement and awarded Rs 1 crore each to their families, cutting across party lines. 'This is not my money — it is the people's money,' he said.
Stakeholders and Impact
The Smruthi Vanam foundation-laying was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Laxman Kumar, along with MPs, MLCs, MLAs and other elected representatives and officials. Ande Sri's wife Mallubai and children — daughters Vakkulamma, Vennela and Vekuva, and son Dattula — were present when the Chief Minister performed the ground-breaking ritual and paid floral tributes.
For movement families and cultural artists across Telangana, the memorial garden represents official state acknowledgement of Ande Sri's role in shaping the identity of the new state. Songs such as 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana' and 'Mayamaipotunnada Amma Manishannavaadu' were described by the Chief Minister as 'not songs but bullets — cannons that demolished the strongholds of rulers opposed to the people.'
What's Next
The Chief Minister issued a pointed warning that if any generation attempted to dominate or exploit Telangana, 'Ande Sri will be reborn' — signalling that the poet's legacy is being positioned as a permanent cultural guardrail for the state's political identity. The government has indicated it will be guided by the spirit of both Ande Sri and fellow movement icon Gaddar.
Construction of the Smruthi Vanam at Ghatkesar is expected to proceed following Saturday's foundation-laying. Further memorial projects and welfare disbursements for Telangana movement families remain on the government's stated agenda.
Point of View
Which has consistently sought to appropriate the moral authority of the Telangana movement to consolidate Congress's legitimacy in a state where that movement was long associated with rival parties. By positioning Ande Sri as a personal mentor rather than merely a public icon, the Chief Minister personalises state memory in a way that blurs the line between governance and political biography. The Rs 1 crore disbursements to movement families across party lines are a parallel move to depoliticise — and thereby own — the movement's legacy. Taken together, these gestures suggest the Congress government is building a long-term cultural narrative that ties its tenure directly to the foundational struggle for statehood.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ande Sri Smruthi Vanam?
Ande Sri Smruthi Vanam is a memorial garden being built at Ghatkesar in Telangana to honour Dr. Ande Sri, the poet and lyricist of the Telangana state anthem. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy laid its foundation stone on 18 July 2026, Ande Sri's birth anniversary.
Who is Ande Sri and why is he important to Telangana?
Dr. Ande Sri is a celebrated Telugu poet, singer and Telangana movement activist best known for writing 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana,' which the Telangana government adopted as the official state anthem on 2 June 2024. His songs are widely credited with galvanising public sentiment during the decades-long statehood agitation.
What did CM Revanth Reddy say about Ande Sri at the event?
CM Revanth Reddy described Ande Sri as his 'soulmate' and said the poet filled the role of an elder brother after he lost his own. He credited Ande Sri's inspiration as a reason he serves as Chief Minister today and warned that any attempt to exploit Telangana would see 'Ande Sri reborn.'
What is the Rs 1 crore scheme for Telangana movement activists?
The Telangana government identified nine individuals who dedicated their lives to the Telangana statehood movement and provided Rs 1 crore each to their families, regardless of political party affiliation. CM Revanth Reddy reiterated at the Smruthi Vanam event that the funds came from the public exchequer, not personal resources.
Where is the Ande Sri Smruthi Vanam being built?
The Smruthi Vanam memorial garden is being constructed at Ghatkesar, a location in Telangana. The foundation stone was laid on 18 July 2026 in the presence of Ande Sri's family and senior state government officials.
