Telangana Pays Tribute to Jayashankar, Gaddar - Leaders Reaffirm Their Legacy

Telangana on Thursday remembered two of its most influential icons Professor Kothapalli Jayashankar, the chief ideologue of the statehood movement, and people's poet Gaddar as political leaders across party lines paid tributes on Jayashankar's birth anniversary and Gaddar's death anniversary.

Leading the commemorations, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy paid floral tributes to both leaders and said the State Government remains committed to fulfilling their vision of a progressive, inclusive and socially just Telangana. He described Professor Jayashankar as the intellectual force behind the Telangana movement, crediting him with shaping its ideological foundation and giving direction to the decades-long struggle for statehood.

The Chief Minister said the government's development agenda is inspired by Jayashankar's principles of regional justice, equitable development and people-centric governance. He added that the administration would continue working towards realizing the aspirations of the people in line with the ideals championed by the late academic, who served as Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya University and dedicated much of his life to advocating a separate Telangana. Jayashankar, born on August 6, 1934, passed away in 2011, nearly three years before Telangana became India's 29th state.

Paying homage to Gaddar, Revanth Reddy said the legendary balladeer's revolutionary songs became the heartbeat of the Telangana movement, awakening political consciousness among ordinary people and giving voice to the marginalized. He said Gaddar devoted his life to fighting for the rights of the poor, workers and oppressed communities, transforming music into a powerful instrument of social justice and democratic expression.

The Chief Minister observed that while Professor Jayashankar laid the ideological roadmap for Telangana, Gaddar inspired the masses through his powerful cultural movement, making both leaders inseparable pillars of the state's history. Their contributions, he said, continue to guide Telangana's journey towards development and inclusive governance.

The occasion also witnessed tributes from leaders across the political spectrum. BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) described Professor Jayashankar as the guiding light of Telangana's ideology and a mentor to K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) during the statehood movement. He noted that the previous BRS government honoured the scholar by naming Jayashankar Bhupalpally district and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University after him.

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka hailed Jayashankar as the "Father of Telangana," saying his vision and scholarship provided lasting direction to the movement. Remembering Gaddar, he said the people's singer infused the struggle for Telangana with unmatched energy and ensured that the voices of the underprivileged resonated across villages through his revolutionary songs.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar joined BRS MLA T. Harish Rao at the Siddipet Government General Hospital Development Committee meeting chaired by District Collector K. Haimavathi. The committee approved the purchase of advanced medical equipment worth ₹5.49 crore to strengthen healthcare infrastructure. The minister instructed officials to expedite recruitment proposals, expand palliative care, chemotherapy and child health services, and ensure quality treatment in government hospitals. He also called for stringent action against private hospitals performing unnecessary caesarean sections before later paying tribute to Professor Jayashankar.