HISTORY

ANDHRA SAHITYA SAMITI , SECTOR 5, BHILAI NAGAR

Address :      Andhra Sahitya Samithi (Regd.No.70),  Sector-5,  BHILAI – 490006

    Telephone :    0788.2858366

Objective    :The Andhra Sahitya Samithi has been formed by Telugu speaking people of Bhilai Nagar with an objective of developing Culture, Religion and the Fine Arts of Andhra Pradesh and provide facilities of education.

Activities    :   Construction and maintaining of Lord Shri Venkateshwara Temple, (Balaji Mandir) at Sector-5, Bhilai and Construction and maintaining  Shri Venkateshwara Kalyana Mantapam (a multi purpose hall) at Sector-5, Bhilai  for organizing various religious / cultural functions, marriages and other social gatherings.

BEGINNING 

During late fifties while giant steel plant was taking shape in Bhilai, changing the economic & geographic landscape of the region, social transformation was also taking place simultaneously.  People (Engineers, Technicians, craftsmen & other unskilled labour) from all corners of India reached Bhilai to take part in the construction activities.  Having spent 12 hours in day light, they used to spend their evening hours joining together forming communities and enriching Bhilai with different cultural heritages they have brought from their respective native states.  Gradually different cultural associations have taken birth in the Steel City making Bhilai a mini India.

One of such Associations in Bhilai is ANDHRA SAHITYA SAMITHI a premier association of Telugu speaking people of Bhilai.  It was registered in the year 1960, by those stalwarts of yester years who had a special love for rich Telugu literature & Telugu culture.   The Andhra Sahitya Samithi with its registered office at Sector-5, Bhilai has undertaken many noble & great activities over the years under the able leadership of various great personalities like Late Shri G.M.Apparao, Late Shri V.R.Tata,  Shri S.Chittaranjan, Shri R.V.Rao, Late Shri G.V.Rao, Shri D.V.J.Rao, Shri E.Keshava Rao, Shri V.V.V.S.Prakasha Rao, Shri A.Sambasiva Rao and many more who served the Samithi in different periods.  Some of the noteworthy activities under taken by Andhra Sahitya Samithi are organizing cultural programs by famous playback singer late Ghantasala, great Karnatic singer Smt. M.L.Vasanta Kumari, famous Kuchapudi dancers Vedantam Satyanarayana Sharma, Radha & Raja Reddy, famous folk dancer Shri D.YT.Sampat Kumar, mimicry program by Shri Venumadhav Shehnai proramme by great Shri Bismillah Khan.  Samithi also extended timely help to their brothern by raising funds for flood relief for victims of Diviseema etc.

Significant events in the history of the samiti are given below:

Year            Event 

1959-60    Sri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was honoured

1960-61    Sri Bismillah khan’s shehnai

1962-63    Construction of samiti Building

1964-66    ‘Kanyasulkam’ drama by JV Sriramamurthy and party

1967-68    Sri M Chenna reddy was honoured,  Laying  foundation  stone           by      Sri jagatpati, the then GM BSP

1969-71   Mimicry by Dr Chandrasekharam

1969-72   Dances by Smt Kanakadurga  and party

1971-76   Laying foundation stone of Rajagopuram by Sri
               P R  Ahuja the then GM BSP

2010-11  Temple Sampokshana,  Mahkumbabhishekam

2011-12   Annamcharya kirtanalu

The executive committee thanks all the members, patrons and philonthropical organizations who have been extending co-operation since  last many years.