Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

‘Inscriptions hold key to history, language’

P.V. Parabrahma Sastri

VISAKHAPATNAM: Inscriptions throw light on the status of language, dynasties that ruled the region, role of religion and traditions of the bygone times, retired Deputy Director of Archaeology and Museums P.V. Parabrahma Sastri has said.

Delivering the Garimella Sitharam and Mahalakshmi Endowment Lecture on “Inscriptions in Andhra Pradesh” here on Monday, he said the 3rd century BC Bhattiprolu inscription in Telugu Brahmi was the earliest in Telugu and preceded Ashoka’s inscriptions. It used the all-important sound of the first vowel of the language as well as the last letter. He bemoaned the deletion of letters from the alphabet over a period of time and said retention would support the case for ancient language status.

Dwelling on the history of early rulers of the land, Dr. Parabrahma Sastri said Satavahanas first ruled the present Telangana around 32 BC and it took them about a century to establish their reign over the coastal region. Also they did not immediately succeed Ashoka as was generally believed and there was an interregnum of about 200 years during which period several kings ruled. The coins found, with probably at Kotilingala mint, proved it. An inscription found at Guduru indicated that village heads were honoured at weddings so that they could adjudicate over disputes later. The Khandavillin inscription threw light on the Kakatiya rule. Paying tributes to noted historian Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma, he said their work was done based on the research done by him.

Retired Head of the Department of History of Andhra University Y. Sriramamurthy presided. Prof. M. Krishna Kumari introduced Prof. Parabrahma Sastri. Retired Head of the Department of History of Andhra University C.Somasundaram paying tributes to Somasekhara Sarma on his 116th birth anniversary recalled the work done by him under the tutelage of Chilukuri Veerabhadra Rao, Komarraju Lakshmana Rao and Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao Pantulu and his contribution to ‘Andhra Charitra.’ His invaluable contribution was also reflected in his books “Forgotten Chapter of Andhra History,” and “History of Reddy Kingdom.”

While Viswanadha Satyanarayana dedicated his “Andhra Prasasthi” to him, C.Narayana Reddy and Tirumala Ramachandra followed suit with “Karpura Vasantarayalu” and “Lipi and Puttupurvottaralu.” Yedida Venkataramana Murthy of Rajahmundry donated editions from “Bharathi” from 1942 to 1970s to Visakha Pubic Library. Library vice-president M.Varahalu Chetty participated.

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‘Inscriptions hold key to history, language’
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