Sports and Dance Replace Cockfights and Gambling in This Obscure Krishna Village

Teacher-turned-MLC Boddu Nageswara Rao presenting cash prize to a meritorious student who secured top marks in class X in ZPH school of Penamakuru.

Unlike other villages in coastal districts, many youngsters who are well educated and professionals working in corporate firms in various places, are busy in making shuttle badminton courts, decorating the venues where cultural activities will be held in Penamakuru village in Krishna district. What more! Children aged between 6 years and 15 years are seriously practising dance for devotional and patriotic songs to perform on the venue. All these activities take place every year in Penamakuru village that comes under Vijayawada police commissionerate  to divert the attention of youngsters and students to games and cultural events rather than illegal activities of gambling and cockfights during Sankranti.  Having a big experience in organising such activities in the village for more than two decades, Bharat Yuvajana Sangham, a youth welfare organisation, is all set to conduct the 28th annual games meet at Penamakuru to mark Sankranti. ``A few years ago, many youngsters and children, clad in murky clothes, had indulged in illegal activities like cockfights and moodu mukkalata (rummy)  during Sankranti. Ever since, the Bharat Yuvajana Sangham started in organising games meet, we changed the mind sets of youngsters not indulging in illegal activities. They are totally changed now and participating games. Some youngsters participate in the games and cultural events and other take responsibility in organising those activities during Sankranti in Penamakuru,’’ explains M Raj Kumar, an MBA graduate and president of Bharat Yuvajana Sangham.  In 1980, former sarpanch of the village Mareedu Nageswara Rao had created the trend by organising such games and cultural events in protecting Sankranti festival and its tradition while preventing illegal activities of gambling and cockfights.    Attracting to these new trend in the village,  youngster who finished their high education in various streams and working in various corporate firms in different place in the state  and other places in the country have started a youth welfare organisation-Bharat Yuvajana Sangham. They have been continuing the games meet in Penamakuru to prevent illegal activities. To attract many youngsters, the Sangham members utilise social networking sites such as Facebook and keep uploading their activities. This year, all the villagers, students and youngsters will take an oath not to take part in or encourage gambling and cockfights during Sankranti. The pledge will be administered by educationists and village elders.  “It will be a cheerful festival for my family and others of Penamakuru. For every Sankranti, my friends and relatives are keen to visit my village to participate in games and cultural programmes. After the Sangham’s activities in preventing illegal activities intensifying, no illegal activity took place in Penamakuru. The highlight of the events are closing ceremony in which children, youngster hone their skills and perform cultural events. We will continue the trend in my village forever,’’ vows OA Prasad, an MCom, who works for a leading consultancy in Vijayawada. Director-general of police B Prasada Rao has directed the commissioners and superintendents of police to be vigilant against holding of illegal activities such as gambling and cockfights. Penamakuru village in Krishna district undergoes a welcome transformation and presents a pleasant scenario during Sankranti thanks to the efforts of a youth club. The pledge will be administered to general public, students and youth during Sankranti this year by village elders and educationists. The trend was changed by a former sarpanch M Nageswara Rao in 1980. This year, all the villagers will take an oath not to take part in or encourage gambling and cockfights during Sankranti.
By Moule Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com