- Venkiah Naidu presents Gora Sastri Award to Valliswar
The world has changed with modern technology. People’s thinking and behaviour have changed too, and so have values. In today’s fast-paced age, where attention doesn’t last even a minute, what still truly matters is quality, honest people and honest writing. The Gora Sastri Journalist Award ceremony proved once again that we still remember legends like Gora Sastri because they lived by those values, both in life and in journalism.
The event was held on the evening of May 23 at the Film Nagar Cultural Centre in Hyderabad and ran for over four hours. Speakers recalled Gora Sastri’s unique contribution as a creative writer and journalist. They also reminded everyone that journalism carries an even bigger responsibility today, with the world facing war, uncertainty, and tension.
Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu presented the award to Gundu Valliswar, a tireless journalist with more than 55 years of experience who is in his 70s. Venkaiah Naidu also honored Valliswar and his wife Lalitha Kumari with warm appreciation. Other distinguished guests included former government advisor Dr. K.V. Ramana Chari, lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja, Emesco Books head Vijay Kumar, former principal of Sakshi Journalism School Govindaraju Chakradhar, and Chandiparameswari Peethadhipathi Avasarala Prasad Sarma Siddhanti from Warangal.
“Closer to truth, away from sensationalism”
“Of the three pillars of governance – legislature, judiciary, and executive – if any one goes off the track, it’s the media’s job to bring it back. That’s why the media is called the ‘Fourth Estate’ and seen as the fourth pillar of democracy,” said Venkaiah Naidu.
“In times when standards and values are falling, we must read about journalists of the older generation – Kashinathuni Nageswara Rao Pantulu, Sivalenka Sambhu Prasad, Neelamraju Venkata Seshayya, Gora Sastri – and take inspiration from those who were firm and fearless. Gora Sastri was famous for mixing humor with satire in his writing. People eagerly read his editorials. During the Emergency, Ramnath Goenka of The Indian Express and C.R. Irani of The Statesman stood up firmly against the rulers’ oppressive ways. Here, Gora Sastri’s editorials were a sensation. When S. Jaipal Reddy, I, and other young political leaders then read his editorials, we found guidance.”
The former Vice President added, “The need today is not to make promises, but to uphold standards.” He said journalists should stay close to the truth and away from sensationalism, but sadly, today’s media often does the opposite. “The lives and works of great journalists from the past should guide us to change this.”
Recalling his long association with Valliswar, now Content Head at Emesco Books, Venkaiah Naidu praised him: “Valliswar is a journalist with the rare mix of commitment, quality, talent, and values we seldom see today. He’s brilliant at translation, holds nationalist views, and values human relationships. Giving him the Gora Sastri Award is fitting.”
As YSR’s Chief PRO… earning his appreciation
The award event was organized by the cultural organization Navasahiti International and the Working Journalists of India (Telangana). It is sponsored by Gora Sastri’s daughter and son-in-law’s family and is held every year to honor one outstanding journalist. This was the third edition. The evening began with a concert by aspiring singers, followed by the award ceremony. The first award was given to senior journalist K. Ramachandra Murthy and the second to A. Krishna Rao, chief of Andhra Jyothi Delhi Bureau.
Dr. K.V. Ramana Chari, retired IAS officer and a strong supporter of literary and cultural programs, presided over the event. “Society should remember and honor selfless, unpretentious people and journalists. This felicitation is part of that. Gora Sastri lived a meaningful, modest life, and Valliswar has followed the same path with curiosity, learning, and discipline,” he said.
“Senior journalist Valliswar knows both the glamour and the grammar of reporting. He knows when to push and when to hold back. In 2004, when he worked as Chief PRO to then united Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, I was Commissioner of the Information and Public Relations Department. Valliswar played a key role in bringing US President George W. Bush to Hyderabad and in persuading BITS Pilani, which initially said no, to set up BITS Hyderabad. He also transformed the government’s monthly magazine Andhra Pradesh from a ‘sarkari patrika’ into a literary journal that people actually read, raising circulation to about 40,000. The life story of YSR that he published in the magazine was a bold experiment. I was a direct witness when YSR himself read it and appreciated it,” Ramana Chari shared.
“It will be hard to find people like this in future:” Emesco Vijay Kumar
Dupati Vijay Kumar, head of Emesco Books, said, “Everyone on this stage is an Emesco author, and publishing their books makes us proud. I met Valliswar through the late IAS officer P.V.R.K. Prasad. I invited him to join our editorial board when he was at News Time, an English daily. Soon after, he became YSR’s Chief PRO. After fulfilling that huge responsibility, he kept his word and joined our organization.”
“Valliswar is known for expressing adbhuta rasa in a unique way. As a bilingual journalist in Telugu and English, following Gora Sastri’s path, he fully deserves this award.” He also struck a sobering note: “Choosing journalists who embody the values Gora Sastri’s generation set will only get harder. We may not find many journalists worthy of this award in the future. Maybe only two or three. Journalists should think about how the generation of ‘gentlemen’ in society and journalism is fading away.”
“You are instant poets… we are late poets,” says Suddala
Prominent film lyricist Suddala Ashok Teja, another guest, said, “Gora Sastri was known for his conversational editorials. What set him apart was his independence – he bowed to no one. Sometimes he seemed traditional, sometimes anti-tradition. He was a sword that fit no sheath – truly ‘anti for anti’. That’s why he was called the Telugu ‘Swatantra’ Gora Sastri.”
Comparing Venkaiah Naidu’s flow of speech to Valliswar’s writing, he quipped, “If he is ‘Venkaiah Naidu with a flow of alliteration,’ then Valliswar is our ‘journalistic Kalpavalli,’” drawing applause. “Journalists are instant poets; we film lyricists are late poets,” he joked, as a National Award-winning lyricist.
Gora Sastri, a ghost writer for films
Govindaraju Chakradhar, former principal of Sakshi Journalism School and Rachana Journalism College and author of a Central Sahitya Akademi monograph on Gora Sastri, said: “It’s rare to see a journalist who’s also a creative writer. Gora Sastri left a secure railway job and entered journalism, inspired by Khasa Subba Rao, editor of the English paper Swatantra. He went on to have a brilliant career as an editor, as the writer of the ‘Vinayakudi Veena’ column, and as a writer of radio plays. He encouraged others too, grooming writers like K. Ramalakshmi (Arudra) and V. Ramadevi. He helped write for the film ‘Iddaru Mitrulu’ starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and worked anonymously on four or five other films.”
“Back then, Gora Sastri alone wrote editorials in two different languages on two different topics on the same day – in Telugu for Andhra Bhoomi daily, which started in Secunderabad, and in English for its parent paper, Deccan Chronicle.” Chakradhar illustrated Gora Sastri’s range of subjects and satirical style with examples. “As bilingual journalists and creative writers, Gora Sastri and Valliswar have similarities. If Gora Sastri wrote in the ‘Bhaanalu’ form, Valliswar gave us innovative ‘99-seconds stories.’ Valliswar has a natural gift for storytelling – I’d call him ‘Kathaala Kannayya’.”
Diplomacy in words: “You are right! But he is not wrong!!”
G. Raja Karthikeya, a young diplomat who worked at the UN and until recently in Iran, spoke about his father Valliswar’s influence. “Patience and skill are key to rising in life and work. I learned that from my father. His frequent line – ‘You are right! But he is not wrong!!’ – has helped me a lot in diplomacy. He also taught me that ‘HR’ doesn’t just mean Human Resources, it means Human Relations. When rehabilitation funds for surrendered militants in Afghanistan went missing, my fight was guided by the example of my grandfather in the freedom struggle and my father as a journalist during the 1971-72 ‘Jai Andhra’ movement in Eluru when police fired. They taught me that professional duty and personal duty are not separate.”
Opening remarks and more
S.V. Suryaprakasa Rao, founder president of Navasahiti International and senior journalist, welcomed the guests with praise. “As we remember Gora Sastri, who upheld values in journalism, and present this award in his name, it’s a day for journalists to look inward,” he said, urging everyone to reflect on current trends and values in journalism.
Gora Sastri’s son-in-law, Srinivas Vasudev, an English lecturer from Bengaluru who recently moved to Hyderabad, read out notes on Gora Sastri’s writing life and Valliswar’s career. On the same stage, former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released Srinivas Vasudev’s poetry collection Jaathara. The event was also attended by political and social analyst Chalasani Srinivasa Rao, Indian-American entrepreneur D. Jyothi Reddy, who rose from farm laborer to IT founder, veteran journalists T. Udayavarlu, Visalandhra’s Lakshmana Rao, Nandiraju Radha Krishna, former editor of Jaagruthi weekly Vaddi Vijaya Saradhi, senior photojournalist C. Kesavulu, and other senior journalists and dignitaries.
Members of Working Journalists of India (Telangana), a nationalist group of journalists active in 16 states and 12 districts of Telangana for the last three years, played a key role in organizing the event under state general secretary Ravikanti Srinivas. From Navasahiti, national convenor Jhansi Raparthi, Shirisha Srinivas, Rajani, and Tenneti Murthy, grandson of veteran politician Tenneti Viswanatham, also helped conduct the program.
“This honor is my good fortune”: Valliswar
“This recognition is the fruit of my past good deeds and the blessings of my parents and teachers,” said award recipient Valliswar. “My first guru in journalism was Mangalampalli Chandrasekharam, who covered Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Eluru in the 1930s and was the founding president of the state journalists’ association. I’m also an Ekalavya student of the late C.H.S. Madhava Rao, a noted journalist who worked as the roving correspondent for The Hindu across coastal districts, and I admire his reporting style. I’ve been a fan of Venkaiah’s oratory since his student leader days. These three have been my guides.”
Chandrasekharam, who worked for PTI, The Mail, and Andhra Patrika in Eluru, West Godavari, told him early on: “A judge, a teacher, a priest – we expect them to be pure, honest, and impartial. A journalist should be the same.” Valliswar said he has tried to follow that advice, practicing journalism without bias, without succumbing to bribes or defamation cases.
The hall stayed lively late into the night with Valliswar’s friends, family, and well-wishers. When the discussion turned to the struggles of journalists who devote themselves to the profession and miss out on family life, Valliswar’s wife Lalitha Kumari fondly shared memories of their early days in Tirupati in the 1980s. Her innocent, honest, and unpretentious recollections brought laughter to the gathering. The evening ended on a warm note, remembering Gora Sastri’s values and the hardships of journalists from an earlier era.
(Dr. Rentala Jayadeva, the author of the article, stands as one of the most respected senior journalists, cultural analysts, and literary critics in the Telugu-speaking regions. Journalism and historical research run deep in his lineage. He had a career spanning more than three and a half decades in journalism. His father, the late Rentala Gopalakrishna, was a monumental figure in Telugu literature who authored nearly 200 books, including celebrated Telugu translations of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vatsyayana Kamasutra, and Leo Tolstoy’s epic War and Peace.)
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