Renowned writer passes away

Tirupati, Jan 3 (UNI) Noted critic, poet and writer Vallampati Venkatasubbaiah passed away last evening after a prolonged illness at Madanapalle in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

He was 70 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.

Venkatasubbaiah, popularly known as Vallampati, was born in 1937 in Rompicherla at Chittoor district and started his career as a school teacher. He had also authored over 40 works.

He won many national and state-level awards, including from Telugu University in 1996 and the Central Sahithya Academy in 1999.

A large number of his followers and associates attended the funeral today.

In a release here, Zilla Rachayithulu Sangam President B Balakrishna Reddy condoled his death and said it was a great loss to the literary world.

The Progressive Writers Association also condoled the death of Mr Vallampati.

UNI