Bhandaru Acchamamba
Encyclopedia
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Bhandaru Acchamamba was one of the pioneers in the early stages of women's movement. She is regarded as one of the early feminist historians in India. Acchamamba, a child widow, studied Telugu
, English
and Hindi
classics under her brother's guidance and became knowledgeable in literature and women's issues. She wrote several biographies of Telugu and British
women, which laid path for future historians.
Her stories reflect the social conditions of her times and women's issues.
in Krishna district
of Andhra Pradesh
. Her father, who was a diwan (minister in the state government), died when she was six years old. She was married to her maternal uncle, Bhandaru Madhava Rao at the age of ten. After her father's death, she took her younger brother, Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rao
under her care. While he was studying, along with him, she also learned to read Telugu, Hindi, English and Marathi
. After her brother left for Nagpur
to continue his studies, Acchamamba worked on her own, learning Bengali
and Gujarati
as well as a little Sanskrit
.
The early deaths of her son and daughter were inconsolable personal loss for her. Since then Acchamamba had adopted five orphans providing them with basic necessities and education.
Together with Oruganti Sundari Ratnamamba, Acchamamba established the first women's association in Coastal Andhra
called Brindavana Streela Samaajam (Brindavana Women's Association) at Machilipatnam
in the year 1902. In 1903, she traveled all over the state and helped others to establish several women's organizations.
Acchamamba died on January 18, 1905 at the age of 30.
The works of Acchamamba include,
Articles published in the magazines Hindu Sundari and Saraswati are,
Dhana Trayodasi was published in the monthly Hindu Sundari in 1902. It was the story about a poor couple who did not have money to light up little dish lamps for Deepavali
celebrations and buy clothes. The crux of the plot was the husband's attempt to commit a crime and the wife curbing his ill-advised plan.
In 1901, with the help of her brother, Acchamamba had compiled several stories on Indian women and published them into the book Abaala Saccharitra Ratnamala. These inspirational stories depicted the beauty, bravery and conviction of 34 Indian women, belonging to a period of 1000 years in history, through their biographies. Excerpts of this book were published in Kandukuri Veeresalingam
's socio-economic journal Chintamani.
In her story Khana, Acchamamba retrieves the life of Khana, the wife of the famous Indian astronomer and mathematician Varaha Mihira
, who acquired great proficiency in poetry, astrology and astronomy.
She traveled extensively and spoke with several scholars.
Bhandaru Acchamamba was one of the pioneers in the early stages of women's movement. She is regarded as one of the early feminist historians in India. Acchamamba, a child widow, studied Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
classics under her brother's guidance and became knowledgeable in literature and women's issues. She wrote several biographies of Telugu and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
women, which laid path for future historians.
Her stories reflect the social conditions of her times and women's issues.
Early Life and Background
Bhandaru Acchamamba was born in 1874 in a small village called PenuganchiproluPenuganchiprolu
Penuganchiprolu is a Village and Mandal in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.It is about 20 km east of Jaggayyapeta and 20 km north of Nandigama, on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada road. Muniyeru - A river with spiritual importance is passes by the village...
in Krishna district
Krishna district
Krishna District is a district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. It is named after the Krishna River, the third longest river that flows within India, flows through the district and joins Bay of Bengal here in this district. It has a population of 4,529,009 of which 32.08% is urban as of...
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. Her father, who was a diwan (minister in the state government), died when she was six years old. She was married to her maternal uncle, Bhandaru Madhava Rao at the age of ten. After her father's death, she took her younger brother, Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rao
Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rao
Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rao , was an Indian historian.-Early life:He was the son of Venkatappaiah and Gangamma. His father died two years after his birth, leaving one daughter and two sons. His early education was imparted at Bhongir under his mother and step brother Shankar Rao...
under her care. While he was studying, along with him, she also learned to read Telugu, Hindi, English and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
. After her brother left for Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
to continue his studies, Acchamamba worked on her own, learning Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
and Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
as well as a little Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
.
The early deaths of her son and daughter were inconsolable personal loss for her. Since then Acchamamba had adopted five orphans providing them with basic necessities and education.
Together with Oruganti Sundari Ratnamamba, Acchamamba established the first women's association in Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
called Brindavana Streela Samaajam (Brindavana Women's Association) at Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam is a city and a special grade municipality in the Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south east of state capital, Hyderabad.-History:...
in the year 1902. In 1903, she traveled all over the state and helped others to establish several women's organizations.
Acchamamba died on January 18, 1905 at the age of 30.
Literary Work
Acchamamba has written several short stories, essays on women’s issues. Her most popular writing is a volume of biographies of 34 women, known as Abaala Saccharitra Ratnamala.The works of Acchamamba include,
- Dhana Trayodasi
- Abaala Saccharitra Ratnamala (A Garland of Great Women's Life Histories)
- Beeda Kutumbam (A Poor Family)
- Khana
- Satakam (A Cycle of Hundred Poems)
Articles published in the magazines Hindu Sundari and Saraswati are,
- Dampatula Prathama Kalahamu (The First Dispute of a Couple)
- Vidyaavantulagu Yuvatulakoka Vinnapamu (An Appeal to the Educated Women)
- Strividyaa Prabhaavam (The Strength of Woman's Education)
Dhana Trayodasi was published in the monthly Hindu Sundari in 1902. It was the story about a poor couple who did not have money to light up little dish lamps for Deepavali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
celebrations and buy clothes. The crux of the plot was the husband's attempt to commit a crime and the wife curbing his ill-advised plan.
In 1901, with the help of her brother, Acchamamba had compiled several stories on Indian women and published them into the book Abaala Saccharitra Ratnamala. These inspirational stories depicted the beauty, bravery and conviction of 34 Indian women, belonging to a period of 1000 years in history, through their biographies. Excerpts of this book were published in Kandukuri Veeresalingam
Kandukuri Veeresalingam
Rao Bahadur Kandukuri Veeresalingam , also known as Kandukuri Veeresalingham Pantulu , was a social reformer of Andhra Pradesh. He was born in an orthodox Niyogi Telugu Brahmin family...
's socio-economic journal Chintamani.
In her story Khana, Acchamamba retrieves the life of Khana, the wife of the famous Indian astronomer and mathematician Varaha Mihira
Varahamihira
Varāhamihira , also called Varaha or Mihira, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who lived in Ujjain...
, who acquired great proficiency in poetry, astrology and astronomy.
She traveled extensively and spoke with several scholars.