Telangana marks 11th formation day grandly
Hyderabad
Telangana celebrated its 11th Formation Day on Monday with grandeur, marked by patriotic fervour and tributes to the martyrs who laid the foundation for the state. The main official ceremony took place at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, where Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy hoisted the national flag, reviewed a vibrant parade, and took the salute from various police contingents while riding in an open-top jeep.
To honour contributions to the Telangana movement, the Chief Minister presented cash awards of ₹1 crore each to nine eminent personalities, including poets and artists. Revolutionary folk singer Gaddar was posthumously awarded, with his wife Vimala receiving the honour. Multilingual literary figure Nalimela Bhaskar received the prestigious Kaloji Award.
Nineteen police officers were awarded gallantry medals, while 11 others were recognized for meritorious service. Japanese dignitary Kazuhisa Takeuchi, Mayor of Kitakyushu City, was the special guest at the event.
Tributes were paid at the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park before the main event. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma unfurled the flag at Raj Bhavan, while celebrations took place in all district headquarters. Political leaders across parties also marked the occasion. TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud thanked Sonia Gandhi for creating Telangana. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy criticized both past and present state governments and pledged the BJP’s commitment to fulfilling the state’s aspirations.
