Statues of social reformer couple Hemalata and Lavanam unveiled in Telangana’s Nizamabad

Banswada MLA and Advisor, Govt of Telangana (Agriculture) after unveiling the statues of social reformers late Lavanam and Hemalata Lavanam at Samskar Nature Cure Ashram at Akbarnagar, Nizamabad District
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Special Arrangement

Banswada MLA and Telangana government Advisor (Agriculture), Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy on Thursday (August 14, 2025) unveiled the statues of social reformers Lavanam and Hemalata Lavanam, coinciding with the 11th death anniversary of Lavanam at Samskar Nature Cure Ashram in Rudrur mandal of Nizamabad district.

A memorial function was organized in the memory of renowned social reformer couple where Mr. Reddy described them as the pioneering social reformers of modern united Andhra Pradesh, particularly Telangana, and paid rich tributes to their contribution in Nizamabad district for their remarkable work in rehabilitating Jogini women since 1980’s.

Mr. Reddy assured that he would take steps to ensure that the vast campus of erstwhile Samskar NGO donated to the government in 2016 would be developed into seat of educational learning. Speakers at the meeting recalled the path breaking social reform efforts of the reformer couple. The contribution of Lavanam and Hemalata to the social progression and awareness with special focus on DNT Tribe (‘Ex-Criminal’ Tribe) of Stuartpuram, Seethanagaram, and Kapparalla Tippa (Andhra Pradesh) and Jogini women reform and rehabilitation, and fight against blind beliefs (in Telangana) during 1980s through early 2000 was highlighted.

Secretary of Samskar and author of Hemalata Lavanam’s official biography, Dr. Sundar Kompalli narrated interesting incidents from the life of the couple on the occasion. He said that in the late 1950s, Lavanam toured parts of Telangana along with Vinoba Bhave when the latter launched Bhoodan Movement.

Dr. Sundar pointed out that since then, Lavanam and Hemalata have become an integral part of social history of Telangana and their contributions culminated in the donation of the immovable properties of Samskar (their frontal organization) to the government after the formation of new Telangana State in 2104. Chelli Nilayam at Kotaiah Camp in Varni Mandal was earlier renamed as Hemalata Lavanam Memorial Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya., he added

Reputed naturopath Manthena Satyanarayana Raju praised the couple for their interest in founding the Nature Cure Ashram. The programme was attended among others by chairman of Agro-industries Corporation of Telangana K. Balaraju, State president of Telangana Jana Vignana Vedika Chelimela Rajeswar, one of the founders of the Ashram Marni Ramakrishna Rao, retired bureaucrat P. Sundara Kumar IAS, chairman of Samskar Hari Subrahmanyam, naturopath practitioner B. Srinivas, advisor of MSR Charitable Trust Divi Madhusudhan, and secretary of Samskar welfare Society ‘Yoga’ Sailu.