A Commitment to Social Welfare and Cultural Growth
“I will not agree to give my daughter to a journalist,” my mother was saying.
From the next room, my father’s voice was heard replying, “That’s not right. A journalist has social responsibility. Just watch—this boy will become a big writer one day.”
My mother’s logic was simple: if the girl is married to a bank employee or a government officer, life will go on smoothly. But my father’s belief won in the end. In 1985, I was married to a sub-editor working in Andhra Prabha (Turlapati Nagabhushana Rao).
I don’t know why, but from childhood I always liked my father’s words. He often told visitors that one should always do work that is useful to society. My father, Mannava Giridhara Rao garu, worked as a lecturer at Guntur Hindu College. Along with that, he was the editor of the monthly magazine Bharatiya Margam and the author of books like Hindu Dharma Vaibhavam, Kanti Rekhalu, Panikoche Kathalu, and MLA Atmakatha. He also served as a former member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council.
Inspired by my father, I have always encouraged my husband in writing and in various social service activities.
These were the words spoken by Turlapati Sridevi, a soft-spoken and thoughtful woman, when she was recently asked who inspired her life. When asked about her mother, she said:
Mother’s Blessings
“On one side, my father’s words filled me with inspiration. On the other side, my mother’s love and blessings helped me succeed as a homemaker. Though my mother was strongly against accepting a journalist as a son-in-law, she later became very happy after seeing his good nature. Whenever he visited our home, she gave him more importance than even us.
My mother Lakshmi Rajyam and my grandmother Samrajyam taught me many life lessons during my childhood, which I can never forget.”
About Your Parental Home?
Home Was Heaven
“In childhood, our home felt like heaven. It was a symbol of love and relationships. Later, we had a spacious house in Krishna Nagar, Guntur. There were mango trees and coconut trees in front, with flowering plants in between. The atmosphere was pleasant everywhere.
Making soil beds for plants, watering them, watching them grow, and feeling happy as if a small child was growing at home—these are sweet memories.”
What About Household Work?
Lessons Through Work
“As a girl grew up, the work at home also increased. My father, mother, grandmother, my elder brother Maruti Prasad, and visiting elders—all of them would give instructions: ‘Sridevi, do this… Sridevi, do that.’ I kept doing everything. That is when I learned to find happiness in work.
When I see today’s children, I feel we were different. Because we did all household work in those days, perhaps that is why we can manage everything efficiently even after marriage.”
Since Your Father Was a Public Figure, Did Eminent People Visit Your Home?
Many Great Personalities
“As my father was a lecturer, editor, and MLC, many well-known people used to visit our home. I still remember seeing and listening to personalities like Jandhyala Papayya Sastry garu, Viswayogi Viswanji garu, Prasadaraaya Kulapati (now the head of Kurthalam Peetham), and Matrusri Jillellamudi Amma. Receiving their blessings was my good fortune.
Famous actor Chittoori Nagaiah garu once took a book from my small hands and gave me an autograph—it still makes me happy to remember that. Comedian and writer Puchha Purnanandam garu was also very close to our family and blessed us at our wedding.
Political leaders like Joopudi Yagna Narayana garu, Pidathala Rangareddy garu, Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao garu, Bhattam Sriram Murthy garu, Vidhyasagar garu, and Roshaiah garu impressed me with their speeches and political awareness. Perhaps that is why I am still very interested in politics, news, and analysis. Since my husband is a journalist, giving suggestions on his articles has become a habit.”
How Were Festivals Celebrated?
Festivals – Joy Multiplied
“Whenever a festival came, happiness in the house doubled. My grandmother would call us, ‘Children, come here, stretch your hands, I’ll apply henna.’ If we delayed, she would come after us.
My mother loved cooking. Festivals meant many varieties of snacks. Since our house always had guests, the snacks would finish in a day or two. People especially liked my mother’s pickles and even carried bottles of them.
I learned cooking and pickle-making from my mother and earned a name myself. After my husband retired, he started ‘Channel 5AM’ on YouTube, where I presented weekly cooking programs under the title Sridevi Vantillu. This was about ten years ago. Viewers from India and abroad called and shared their responses.
During Sankranti, big rangoli designs had to be drawn in front of the house. If not, my grandmother would not keep quiet. She used to say, ‘Bending the waist keeps girls healthy.’ Now I feel that because many girls avoid such activities, they suffer from health problems and obesity at a young age.”
What Games Did You Play?
Games and Songs
“All the games we played in childhood had health benefits—rope skipping, marbles, hide and seek, four-pillar games, etc. Our school had a big playground, and our house was spacious, so we played actively both indoors and outdoors. My grandmother used to say these were very important while growing up.
Even after 50 years, our childhood friends still meet occasionally, and those moments are full of renewed energy.”
After Children Were Born…
“After having children, they became my whole world. Though I completed my MA in Telugu from Nagarjuna University and worked for some time, I chose to focus on raising my children and settled as a homemaker.
A mother is the first teacher. I guided my son Rajesh and daughter Divya Sravani in their studies. Both are now doing IT jobs in the UK. We have three grandchildren. I have visited the UK five times with my husband to see them.”
Did You Like the UK Culture?
My Way Is My Way
“Even after going to the UK five times, I never left our traditional dress. Once, when I sat outside a shopping mall wearing a saree, some English children looked at me in surprise. This dress may have been new to them, but my way is my own.
I do not change my habits thinking about what others may say. I will not move away from our culture and traditions. That is why I recently started a platform called ‘Turlapati Cultural and Knowledge Centre’ and took responsibility as its secretary.”
What Are the Activities and Your Goal?
Cultural Development Is Our Mission
“As the secretary of Turlapati Cultural and Knowledge Centre (TCKC), I am designing meaningful programs.
On January 26, 2026, we organized an awards ceremony at the main hall of Sri Tyagaraya Gana Sabha, Hyderabad, and honoured fifteen talented individuals. We plan to distribute free books to village students and provide scholarships to meritorious students in selected schools. We also conduct talent recognition programs for children and encourage aspiring singers.
Those who wish to support our activities can call 9642721615 (WhatsApp).”
Your Message to Today’s Generation
“Along with education, humility is important. In any work, we should not forget social welfare. Let us grow goodness in society and share goodness.”
Let us wholeheartedly wish that Sridevi, who has the rare quality of staying happy and making others happy, achieves many more successes.
— Achyutuni Rajyasri
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