KT Rama Rao Honors Cartoonist M Naru and Artist Kurella Srinivas in Hyderabad
On 19 July 2026, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao attended the Cartoonist Sekhar Memorial Awards 2026 as the chief guest in Hyderabad. During the ceremony, Rama Rao presented awards to cartoonist M Naru and artist Kurella Srinivas, while emphasizing the social responsibility of supporting creative talent and promoting Mahatma Gandhi's values of harmony.
Speaking at the event, Rama Rao stated that the country currently needs the values espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. He emphasized that religious beliefs are personal matters and that society must move forward with mutual respect and harmony. He stressed the need to recognize and encourage creative talents like artists and writers as a key social responsibility.
The BRS working president described the ceremony as a refreshing break from the daily rigours of politics. He noted that interactions with artists, writers, and poets are rare and enriching moments. Discussing the influence of cartoons on public life, he stated that a single cartoon could often convey more than a lengthy commentary. He recalled the contributions of legendary cartoonist RK Laxman, shared his admiration for Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson, and praised Telugu cartoonists including Sridhar, Shankar, and Sekhar.
Rama Rao paid tribute to the late cartoonist Sekhar, stating that his work on contemporary issues and the Telangana movement had left a lasting impact and inspired a generation of artists. He recalled being moved by an incident where Sekhar, despite a serious illness, visited Gun Park to celebrate the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, which paved the way for the formation of Telangana State.
Commending Sekhar’s family and friends for continuing the awards for six years, Rama Rao assured them of support to expand the annual event. He stated that efforts would be made to organize future editions on a larger scale to continually honor the contributions of artists and writers to society.
