Chris Anthony

Thumulagunta is a village South of the University. When i first knew it there was a small track leading to it from near the dairy farm. There is now a dual carriage way that goes past the village which now has mainly 'pukka' houses and concrete small roads. My main special friends there are Balaji and his family who I have known for about 15 years, Suman, and in the last few years Barath Kumar who has become a loyal friend, guarding my binoculars and always making me feel welcome. This year he also took over a lot of photography with the help also of Mounish. The part of the village I go to is a poorer part, separated from the main part by a track throught the fields. This part of the village is also called Mallipalli or Harijanawada. The main part appears more wealthy and even has a big temple. Sadly [for me] the land around the village is being used to build big rich houses. On the South of Thumulagunta is a very large open area where there is probably a river which only appears in the monsoon. Between that area and the villages is a high raised part with a cobbled walkway on the top decorated with flowering shrubs and bits of sculpture. This is called the park and i was taken on an expedition there by by young village friends.