VISAKHAPATNAM: Telugu Language Day was celebrated in different educational institutions, including the Telugu Department of Andhra University, on Saturday.

August 29 is the birth anniversary of Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy Panthulu, who relentlessly fought for introduction of ‘Vaaduka Bhaasha’ or spoken dialect at all levels and this day is being celebrated as Telugu Language Day.

Speakers, who included K. Sudarsana Raju, Head of Telugu Department, AU, and noted literary personalities and retired professors Velamala Simmanna and Viriyala Lakshmipathi, recalled the evolution and development of Telugu language as also the deterioration of standards that plague the present day Telugu.

They also recalled the contribution of Gidugu Ramamurthy Panthulu for popularising spoken dialect. Sincere steps were needed to get the language its past glory.