Burra Venkatesham

Venkatesham was born in Jangam, Telangana in an economically disadvantaged family. He was the first person in the family to receive education.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2019/jul/23/selfie-of-success-book-review-climbing-the-ladder-2008034.html|title=Selfie of Success book review: Climbing the ladder|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-07-23}}

Venkatesham completed his BA from the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College, Hyderabad, in 1989 and LLB from Osmania University, Hyderabad, in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://www.franchiseindia.net/conference/hyderabad/burra-venkatesham.php|title=Welcome to Franchise India|website=www.franchiseindia.net|access-date=2019-07-22}} He is an alumnus of Andhra Pradesh Residential School, Sarvail, Telangana.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/treis-students-showcase-their-skills-in-english/article6997740.ece|title=TREIS students showcase their skills in English|last=Reddy|first=R. Ravikanth|date=2015-03-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-24|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}

Venkatesham became an officer of the Indian administrative service in 1995 from the Telangana cadre. He was the District Collector of the Medak district from 2005 to 2008,[https://sangareddy.telangana.gov.in/history-of-collectors/ History of Collectors] during which the administration was awarded the SA8000 certificate by the Social Accountability International, New York. The Medak administration was the first in Asia to receive the certificate.{{Cite book|title=Pathways to Greatness|last=Kalam|first=APJ Abdul|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2017|isbn=978-9352643837|location=|pages=99,100}} His experience as the District Collector was written about by the 11th President of India, A.P.J Abdul Kalam, in his book, Pathways to Greatness: Coming Together for Change.{{Cite book|title=Pathways to Greatness: Coming Together for Change|last=Kalam|first=APJ Abdul|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2017|isbn=978-9352643837|location=|pages=99,100,101}}

In February 2014, the then Chief Secretary to Andhra Pradesh, Pradip Kumar Mohanty, appointed Venkatesham as part of the three-member team of senior IAS officers for the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/reorganisation-committee-constituted-in-andhra-to-ensure-smooth-bifurcation-of-the-state-1393655099-1|title=Reorganisation Committee constituted in Andhra to ensure smooth bifurcation of the state|date=2014-03-01|website=Jagranjosh.com|access-date=2019-10-30}} For the implementation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, he was responsible for the Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Civil Supplies, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, Backward Castes Welfare, Minorities Welfare, Social Welfare, Tribal Welfare, and Rain Shadow Area Development Secretariat departments. His role was also to support the Services and Procedures, Educational Institutions, and Medical Institutions committees under the General Administration (SR) Department.[https://reorganisation.ap.gov.in/downloads/GO-MS-No-85-21-03-2014.pdf Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 – General Administration (State Reorganisation) Department – Work Allocation - Orders - Issued] He is the first Home Secretary of Telangana state.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Telangana-erases-Andhra-Pradesh-from-names-of-institutions/articleshow/47889112.cms|title=wife: Telangana erases Andhra Pradesh from names of institutions|date=July 1, 2015|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}

He is the secretary to the Government of Telangana for Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (YAT&C) department since 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/090719/understanding-success.html|title=Understanding success|last=Chakravorty|first=Reshmi|date=2019-07-09|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} He is the Secretary to the Backward Class Welfare department,{{Cite web|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/telangana-govt-disabled-women|title=Telangana Govt. Increases Allowance For Disabled Women By 25%|last=Gupta|first=Poorvi|date=2019-07-01|website=SheThePeople TV|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-23}} the Chairman of the Chitramayee State Art Gallery,{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/art-for-cultures-sake|title=Art for culture's sake|last=Nanisetti|first=AuthorShanti|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-24}} the Chairman of National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, a part of the Management team of Telangana Tourism,{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/about/management-team.html|title=Management Team ::: Visit Telangana - Official Tourism Information for Telangana|publisher=telanganatourism.gov.in|access-date=2019-10-30}} and was the Chairman of Society for Employment Promotion & Training in Twin Cities (SETWIN)[https://www.telangana.gov.in/departments/youth-advancement-tourism-and-culture Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture]

As the secretary of Culture, Venkatesham organized International Sweets Festival in Hyderabad{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/130119/sweets-kites-festival-today-in-hyderabad.html|title=Sweets, kites festival today in Hyderabad|date=2019-01-13|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-international-kite-festival-from-jan-13|title=Telangana International Kite Festival from Jan 13|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17}} and the International Snacks Festival in collaboration with Hyderabad Metro.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2019/aug/31/snack-fest-this-weekend-in-hyderabad-2026722.html|title=Snack fest this weekend in Hyderabad|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-10-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabads-numaish-to-go-international|title=Hyderabad's Numaish to go international?|last=Vellampalli|first=AuthorJaya|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-24}}

B. Venkatesham assumed office as Education department Principal Secretary and also full additional charge as Collegiate Education Commissioner on 18 December 2023.{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |date=17 December 2023 |title=Telangana Govt transfers 10 IAS officers in reshuffle, Arvind Kumar out of Municipal Administration department |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/govt-transfers-10-ias-officers-in-reshuffle-arvind-kumar-out-of-municipal-administration-department/article67647475.ece |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218171044/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/govt-transfers-10-ias-officers-in-reshuffle-arvind-kumar-out-of-municipal-administration-department/article67647475.ece |archivedate=18 December 2023 |accessdate=18 December 2023 |language=en-IN}}{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |date=5 December 2024 |title=N. Sridhar appointed Principal Secretary of Telangana Education Dept |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/n-sridhar-appointed-principal-secretary-of-telangana-education-dept/article68950751.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205174643/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/n-sridhar-appointed-principal-secretary-of-telangana-education-dept/article68950751.ece |archive-date=5 December 2024 |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=en-IN}} He also holds the Full Additional Charge as the Principal Secretary to Governor Jishnu Dev Verma.

• Bathukamma on water{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/flower-power-to-bloom-on-hussainsagar/article25230844.ece|title=Flower power to bloom on Hussainsagar|date=2018-10-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-17|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2018/oct/18/bathukamma-of-waters-and-flowers-1886850.html|title=Bathukamma: Of waters and flowers|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-10-17}}
• International Kite Festival{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/international-kite-sweet-festivals-to-begin-from-jan-13-119010701032_1.html|title=International kite, sweet festivals to begin from Jan 13|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2019-01-07|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-10-17}}
• Key organizer of World Telugu Conference{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/countdown-to-world-telugu-conference-begins/article21262078.ece|title=Countdown to World Telugu Conference begins|last=Maitreyi|first=M. l melly|date=2017-12-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-17|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/121217/900-poets-to-be-part-of-world-telugu-conference.html|title=900 poets to be part of World Telugu Conference|date=2017-12-12|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}{{Citation|title=TS Tourism Secretary Burra Venkatesham Speaks About Arrangements For World Telugu Conference {{!}} V6|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbpQiuV8Sec|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}
• Restoration of Qutub Shahi tombs{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/restoration-complete-qutub-shahi-tombs-regain-old-charm/articleshow/67389396.cms|title=Restoration complete, Qutub Shahi tombs regain old charm {{!}} Hyderabad News - Times of India|date=January 5, 2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}
• Tobacco free tourist spots in Telangana{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/040219/all-tourist-spots-to-be-free-of-tobacco.html|title=All tourist spots to be free of tobacco|date=2019-02-04|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}
• Ramappa Temple as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/unesco-team-will-inspect-ramappa-temple-on-september-25/articleshow/70573699.cms|title=Warangal: UNESCO team will inspect Ramappa temple on September 25|date=August 7, 2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}
• Key organizer of the 31st Hyderabad Book Fair{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-book-fair-from-today|title=Hyderabad Book Fair from Thursday|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/busy-sunday-thousands-throng-book-fair|title=Busy Sunday as thousands throng Hyderabad Book Fair|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-24}}
• Cable suspension bridge at Kuntala waterfalls{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/cable-suspension-bridge-at-kuntala-waterfalls|title=Cable suspension bridge at Kuntala waterfalls|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-24}}

File:Burra Venkatesham with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Cm YS Rajashekhar Reddy.jpg

In 2019, Venkatesham authored the book, Selfie of Success.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/defining-success-with-different-perspectives/article28288629.ece|title=Defining success with different perspectives|last=Maitreyi|first=M. l Melly|date=2019-07-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-07-22|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/review/books/2019/07/08/selfie-of-success-personifying-unearthing-its-secrets.html|title='Selfie of success': Personifying success, unearthing its secrets|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} He was felicitated by V. Srinivas Goud, the minister for Tourism, for writing the book.{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/minister-srinivas-goud-felicitates-burra-venkatesham|title=Minister Srinivas Goud felicitates Burra Venkatesham|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-24}}

• Selfie of Success
• Gelupu Pilupu
• Jeevana Dhanya Shathakam
• Buddham Saranam Gacchami
• Ramayana Parivaram

In 2019, Venkatesham was named the Person of the Year by the Creative India magazine.{{Cite web|url=http://live24.network/creative-india-person-of-the-year-2019-burra-venkatesham/|title=Creative India Person of the Year 2019 – Burra Venkatesham|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-30}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Venkatesham, Burra}}

Category:Living people

Category:1968 births

Category:Indian civil servants

Category:Indian writers