“To make an unforgettable sight remain a lifetime memory, Photography is the only option”. The power of photography is such that our memories will be carried on for generations. Spending a lifetime in a profession like photography is a blessing. Dr. Shivakumar AV is a blessed soul in this aspect.
Dr. Shivakumar Anand… hails from Palamuru which is known as the migrant district in Telangana. Shivakumar Anand’s father is a teacher. He is a great scholar and a multi-lingual person. He used to write poetry in four languages: Telugu, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Urdu. He used to be a part of many poet associations. He can be termed Mahapandit as he translated 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit into Hindi.
His father worked in schools in Kalvakurti, Devarakadra, and Abhangapatnam in the Palamuru district for employment. After his retirement, he came to Palamuru and settled there. Shivakumar’s family is a big one as he has one elder sister, two younger brothers, and four younger sisters. Unfortunately, the family had lost the two younger brothers, and Shivakumar being the sole male heir had to take responsibility.
Dr. Shivakumar Anand graduated from his hometown, Palamuru. For his post-graduation, went to Marathwada University in Maharashtra for MSc in Zoology. He completed his post-graduation there from 1979 to 1981 and immediately joined the Ph.D. He completed his Ph.D. between 1981 and 1984. At the young age of 24, Dr. Shivakumar Anand created a sensation as the first person to receive a doctorate at such a young age in the history of Marathwada University.
After receiving his doctorate, Shivakumar Anand’s research guide Dr. GK Kulkarni went to the USA for his research. After he went to America, Shivakumar Anand was also invited to come. At that time, as he was not interested he politely rejected the offer and searched for a job in India. But the job offers didn’t turn fruitful. As Dr. Shivakumar Anand was an artist, he used to paint. He started a hoarding business in Aurangabad and used to paint 20-30 feet large hoardings even in the middle of the night under the flood lights.
While his life is going on well, he had to hear the devastating news in the year 1986 that his father has breathed his last. With family responsibilities at the helm, Shivakumar had to go back to his hometown. However, Shivakumar knows he had to marry off his elder sister and his four younger sisters as well. So, he has decided to head to Hyderabad to achieve more in life.
Upon the encouragement of his friend D. Ravinder Reddy, Dr. Shivakumar Anand joined the photography course at JNTU Hyderabad in 1998. As JNTU Hyderabad is the only university offering courses in photography there used to have a huge competition. Dr. Shivakumar Anand came out with flying colors in the entrance exam by securing the national level 6th rank. After completing his photography course, Shivakumar got a rare opportunity that completely turned his life. He got the lucky opportunity to work as a personal photographer for the then Chief Minister Nandamuri Tarakarama Rao. He learned discipline under the guidance of the legendary person which came in handy for him.
At the same time, he used to work as a freelance journalist in popular magazines such as Deccan Chronicle, Andhra Bhumi, Indian Express, The Week Magazine and India Today. He has also worked as a photojournalist for film magazines. He even worked as a still photographer for two years for the serial Agamanam, which created a sensation on television at that time. Popular artist Sarath Babu who was busy with numerous projects did the Agamanam serial which surprised many. Dr. Shivakumar played a small role in the serial as well.
During his working days as a photojournalist, he used to work tirelessly from morning till midnight without taking a single day off. It shows the commitment he had toward his craft. 1994 is a huge turning point in Dr. Shivakumar’s life. He bid goodbye to his bachelorhood and married Umadevi. His better half brought in more luck for him as he got the opportunity to Japan to learn more techniques in photography with the help of a good friend Dr. Gudipati Upender Reddy who was his colleague during post-graduation.
Impressed with Dr. Shivakumar Anand’s work, the Japanese photographic company gave him project work for 3 years. He remarkably completed the project work in three years. After 1996, technology has seen drastic changes, and a large number of youth used to travel to the United States of America. Dr. Shivakumar Anand thought that as a great opportunity and immediately learned Mainframes in Computers. In July 1998, he left for the United States of America.
He worked as a consultant from 1998 to 2002 in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Chicago, and New York. After getting a green card in 2002, he re-entered the media field to follow his passion. He worked as a freelancer in TV5, TV9, NTV, V6, Sakshi, and other Telugu channels. Dr. Shivakumar Anand has been covering all kinds of events organized by the Telugu-American organizations TFAS, TANA, ATA, NATA, NATS, TAGDV, TLCA, etc., established by the Telugu people settled in America. He received many compliments for his work.
It has been Dr. Shivakumar Anand’s long-time wish to attend the world meetings held at the United Nations. In September 2019, all the world-class leaders met in New York. Dr. Shivakumar’s wish came true and he even met Narendra Modi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the meeting. Dr. Shivakumar Anand captured Modi along with the other delegates in his photograph and it was a special feeling for him.
The year 2020 is another milestone year for him as with the support of his close friend Jai Yalamanchili, the founder and CEO of UBlood app, drawing his experience in the media field, Dr. Shivakumar Anand has started web papers in Telugu and English along with worldwide YouTube channels named JSW and Jaiswaraajya. Dr. Shivakumar Anand continues to be the Global Director of JSW & Jaiswaraajya organizations the global head office is located in New Jersey and Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills is the branch office.
Keeping aside caste and religion, the web papers touch on various topics like education, immigration, health, yoga, women empowerment, business, and job opportunities. Moreover, he wants to expand the organizations in the OTT sector as well. Dr. Shivakumar Anand’s wife Umadevi becomes a helping hand. They have two children. His son Sai Kiran has completed his master’s in aerospace engineering and is working as a design engineer for the Mars satellite. He is completing the research as well. His daughter Shivani is pursuing a degree in cinematography from New York University, continuing his father’s legacy.
From Palamuru to New Jersey, Shivakumar’s life teaches us many life lessons and inspires us in every corner of his life’s turns and twists. Started as nothing, Dr. Shivakumar Anand took one step at a time and crossed the continents, worked hard with dedication, and finally settled in the United States of America. Even in his 60s, Dr. Shivakumar Anand continues to inspire the youth.
Telugu Fine Arts Society congratulates Dr. Sivakumar Anand, who started life as a common man and rose to extraordinary heights with amazing achievements.
Hats off to Dr. Shivakumar Anand.
