Bapatla, a town closely associated with the Telugu people’s quest for a distinct identity, is set to mark 75 years of its municipal journey with Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Bapatla MLA Vegesana Narendra Varma Raju on Saturday unveiled the logo for the 75th anniversary celebrations of the municipality, which was formally constituted on April 2, 1951. Dr P.C. Sai Babu, secretary of the Forum for Better Bapatla, forum member G. Venkateswara Rao and party leaders G. Srinivasa Rao and Ch. Durga Prasad attended the event.

Raju said the Platinum Jubilee celebrations would be organised shortly and would highlight Bapatla’s place in Andhra history.

The town had emerged as an important centre of the Andhra movement long before it became a municipality. The first Andhra Mahasabha was held here on May 26, 1913, bringing together around 800 delegates and prominent leaders including Konda Venkatappayya, Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya and Pingali Venkayya.

The conference gave momentum to the demand for a separate province for Telugu-speaking people and contributed to the movement that culminated in the formation of Andhra State in 1953.

Bapatla is also associated with the cultural symbolism of ‘Telugu Talli’ and is regarded as a cradle of Telugu identity. The Platinum Jubilee celebrations are expected to highlight both the town’s civic evolution and its contribution to the political and cultural awakening of the Telugu people.