Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120152860300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ashok to be ‘worshipful master’

Correspondent

He will do the honours during the centenary year of Masonic Temple

VIZIANAGARAM: Former Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the great grandson of P. Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju, Raja of Vizianagaram and founder master of Lodge Nicopolis 81 (Nico means victory or Vijayam and Polis means city or nagaram), will be ‘worshipful master’ during the centenary year of Masonic Temple here that commences on December 2.

It was in 1909 that the Raja of Vizianagaram established the Lodge on a sprawling two-acre land (beside APSRTC Complex), said D.N. Raju, the outgoing ‘worshipful master’ of Masonic Temple.

Charitable activities

At a press conference on Sunday, Mr. Raju, while announcing the name of Mr. Ashok, detailed the charitable activities that included donations to educational institutions, cyclone relief, medical camps, etc.

On December 1, World AIDS Day, it would donate rice bags to AIDS counselling centre run by the Rotary Abhaya at Rajapulova.

Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who was present, said that he became worshipful master for two consecutive years 1973-75 and added that Freemasonry was one of the world’s oldest secular fraternal societies.

“No atheist can become a mason. Anyone who believes in the existence of Almighty is eligible,” he said. During the centenary year, many programmes would be organised.

Earlier, reporters were taken to the first floor of the Masonic Temple where, on a table in front of the worshipful master’s chair, holy books – Bhagawad Gita, Guru Granth, Koran, Bible and Khordeh Avesta (in Roman script) — were kept signifying brotherhood of man.