The first World Congress of Telugu History will be held in London on July 14 and 15 and more than 350 well known Telugu scholars from around the globe will assemble there to discuss the history and culture of the Telugu people.

Prior to the programme, a group of eminent Telugu scholars from AP will collect the 1000-year old palm leaflets (Tala Patra Grandhalu) and 19th century’s literary works preserved in the British Library in London, study them thoroughly and submit a report to the Congress. The Congress will discuss the report and submit final report to the state government.

Mr Kaza Prabhakar, secretary of the organizing committee, told media persons in Hyderabad that the leaflets and classical books will provide several missing links to throw light on the unexplored part of the history of the Telugus.

Apart from history of the Telugu people, the leaflets will provide clues on the evolution of the Telugu language, contribution of Telugu people to human intellectual growth, kingdoms, civil societies, arts and crafts, coins and trade, costumes and traditions and living standards of the Telugus over the years.

The palm leaflets preserved in the British Library included Adiparvam of Mahabharata and some scriptures penned by Nannayya, the first Telugu poet. (J)