Velamala Simmanna, who has published over 100 books and has served as former Head of Department of Telugu, Andhra University, has been chosen for this year’s Lok Nayak Foundation’s literary award. The award, which carries ₹2 lakh in cash, will be presented to him at the awards function to be held in the city on January 18, 2026.
Announcing this at a media conference, here, on Monday (November 24) , Lok Nayak Foundation chairman Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad said that LNF literary awards were being presented to eminent persons, who had contributed to the promotion of Telugu language and literature. The awards were being presented on January 18, every year, to commemorate the death anniversaries of former Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao and noted poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan (father of actor Amitabh Bachchan).
In addition to this, four others have been chosen for the Life Time Achievement Awards of the foundation. They are — noted oncologist and health advisor to the Government of A.P. Nori Dattatreyudu, Thotakura Prasad, who has been promoting Telugu language and culture in Dallas, noted doctor who has been serving in Detroit for the past four decades Vemulapalli Raghavendra Choudhary, Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Aarien Uday Areti, who hails from Bhimavaram.
The Life Time Achievement award carries ₹1 lakh in cash. Mr. Lakshmi Prasad said that Deputy Speaker of AP Legislative Assembly Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh B. Devanand, popular actor Tanikella Bharani and MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao would participate as guests at the awards function.
Garikapati Narasimha Rao, Malati Chandur, Boyi Bhimanna, Janamaddi Hanumat Sastry, Ravuri Bharadwaja, Subbanna Satavadhani, Olga, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, Goreti Venkanna, Katti Padma Rao, Yandamoori Veerendranath and Vanguri Chitten Raju were among those honoured with the LNF award in the past.
Published – November 24, 2025 03:27 pm IST
