Rayaprolu Subba Rao
Encyclopedia
Rayaprolu Subbarao is one of the pioneers of modern Telugu literature. He is known as Abhinava Nannaya. He was recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award to Telugu Writers
for his poetic work Misra Manjari in 1965. He is inspired by the Western literary movement and brought romanticism into Telugu literature by breaking away from the traditional translations of Sanskrit literature
. He introduced the concept of "Amalina Shringara Tatvamu" into Telugu literature
His poem Edesamegina Endukalidina
,
Pogadara Neetalli Bhoomi Bharatini,
Nilupara Neejaati Nindu Gauravamu is very popular.
Whichever country you go to, wherever you set foot,
Whatever dais you ascend, whatever anyone says,
Praise your Mother Bharati,
Keep up your race’s whole dignity!
and subsequently in Kakinada
and Rajahmundry
.
He has assisted Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rao
in the preparation of Andhra Vignana Sarvasvamu.
Department of Telugu in Osmania University
, Hyderabad was started in 1919. He was the professor and head of this department for 25 years. Khandavalli Lakshmi Ranjanam
, Divakarla Venkata Avadhani, B. Rama Raju and C. Narayana Reddy were associated with him as faculty.
He is the chief editor of Andhra Maha Bhagavatam published by Telugu Academi, Hyderabad.
Indian culture and Western
idea
s. He brought Western romanticism
especially English lyric style to Telugu literature
. However, he followed classical Sanskrit
and Telugu
meter in his writings and he didn't abandon Sanskrit Telugu form common language. His literature can be distinguished into various kinds: sensual, love of nature, patriotism
, spiritual
, humanitarianism
, Social Reforms etc. Sensuality, in general, may be divided into two kinds, union and separation. Rayaprolu preferred separation in his writings. In his first independent poem, Trunakankanamu, Rayaprolu narrates love pangs of separation. The hero's lover marries another man and he remains unmarried to suffer from the memories. By the end of the poem, hero's love transforms into a platonic love and friendship. In this poem, Rayaprolu's heroin continues a platonic relationship with the hero while married to another man. In Kastakamala, Kamala loves (platonic) two men. However, when one of them writes a love letter, she commits suicide. Rayaprolu was a great patriot and Telugu nationalist. He praised the (past) greatness of Telugu warriors to awaken the sleeping Telugu pride. Rayaprolu Subbarao defined Telugu romanticism and began a new era in Telugu literature. His romantic literature is considered as the watershed in Telugu literature for its modernity of themes such as naturalism
, rural life, platonic love
, a sense of history, libertarianism
, patriotism
, and fierce nationalism
Sahitya Akademi Award to Telugu Writers
Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1955, by Sahitya Akademi , to writers and their works, for their outstanding contribution to the upliftment of Indian literature and Telugu literature in particular....
for his poetic work Misra Manjari in 1965. He is inspired by the Western literary movement and brought romanticism into Telugu literature by breaking away from the traditional translations of Sanskrit literature
Sanskrit literature
Literature in Sanskrit begins with the Vedas, and continues with the Sanskrit Epics of Iron Age India; the golden age of Classical Sanskrit literature dates to late Antiquity . Literary production saw a late bloom in the 11th century before declining after 1100 AD...
. He introduced the concept of "Amalina Shringara Tatvamu" into Telugu literature
His poem Edesamegina Endukalidina
Edesamegina Endukalidina
Edesamegina Endukalidina is a Telugu Patriotic song written by Rayaprolu Subba Rao.-The Song:Edesamegina Endukalidina,Epeethamekkina Evvaremanina,Pogadara Neetalli Bhoomi Bharatini,Nilupara Neejaati Nindu Gauravamu...
,
Pogadara Neetalli Bhoomi Bharatini,
Nilupara Neejaati Nindu Gauravamu is very popular.
Whichever country you go to, wherever you set foot,
Whatever dais you ascend, whatever anyone says,
Praise your Mother Bharati,
Keep up your race’s whole dignity!
Early life
He is born in a family of Pandits. His maternal uncle Avvari Subramanya Sastri initially taught him Sanskrit and Telugu. He has studied in Board High School in BapatlaBapatla
Bapatla, formerly known as Bhavapuri, is a town and mandal of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south of Guntur City on the East Coast.-Assembly constituency:Bapatla is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh....
and subsequently in Kakinada
Kakinada
Kakinada is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad. It is also the headquarters of East Godavari district. It is nicknamed "Fertilizer City" , "Pensioner's Paradise" and "Second Madras"...
and Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
.
He has assisted 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...
in the preparation of Andhra Vignana Sarvasvamu.
Department of Telugu in Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
, Hyderabad was started in 1919. He was the professor and head of this department for 25 years. Khandavalli Lakshmi Ranjanam
Khandavalli Lakshmi Ranjanam
Khandavalli Lakshmi Ranjanam M.A. is doyen of Telugu literature and research from Andhra Pradesh, India....
, Divakarla Venkata Avadhani, B. Rama Raju and C. Narayana Reddy were associated with him as faculty.
He is the chief editor of Andhra Maha Bhagavatam published by Telugu Academi, Hyderabad.
Translations
- Anumati (Permission)
- Bhaja Govindamu (Pray to Govinda) (Telugu translation of Shankaracharya's Bhaja GovindamBhaja GovindamBhaja Govindam[Praise/Seek Govinda ] also known as Moha Mudgara is a popular 8th century Hindu devotional composition in Sanskrit attributed to Adi Shankara...
) - Soundarya Lahari (Billow of Beauty) (Telugu translation of Shankaracharya's Soundarya Lahari)
- Sundara Kanda (Beauty Section) (Telugu translation of Valmiki RamayanaRamayanaThe Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
) - Doota Mattebhamu (Messenger Elephant)
- Lalitha (Telugu translation of The Hermit of Oliver GoldsmithOliver GoldsmithOliver Goldsmith was an Irish writer, poet and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield , his pastoral poem The Deserted Village , and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man and She Stoops to Conquer...
) - Madhukalasamu (Liquor Pitcher) (Telugu rendering of Rubaiyat of Omar KhayyamRubaiyat of Omar KhayyamThe Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám is the title that Edward FitzGerald gave to his translation of a selection of poems, originally written in Persian and of which there are about a thousand, attributed to Omar Khayyám , a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer...
) - Meghaduta (Telugu translation of Kalidasa's work)
- Uttararama Charita (Telugu translation of Bhavabhuti's work)
Independent works
- Trunakankanamu (Grass Bracelet)
- Andhravali (Andhra Row)
- Kashta Kamala (Kamala in Distress)
- Ramyalokamu (Beautiful Sight)
- Swapnakumaramu
- Telugutoata (Telugu Garden)
- Vanamala (Forest Necklace)
- Misra Manjari (Mixed Bouquet)
- Kannepatalu (Virgin Songs)
- Jadakutchulu (Braid Tassels)
Style
Subbarao's literature is a mixture of TeluguTelugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
Indian culture and Western
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
idea
Idea
In the most narrow sense, an idea is just whatever is before the mind when one thinks. Very often, ideas are construed as representational images; i.e. images of some object. In other contexts, ideas are taken to be concepts, although abstract concepts do not necessarily appear as images...
s. He brought Western romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
especially English lyric style to Telugu literature
Telugu literature
The Telugu literature or Telugu Sahityam is one of the most precious possessions of the literary products of India. Telugu literature is rich reserve of poems, stories, dramas and puranas. It flowered in the early 16th century under the Vijayanagar empire, of which Telugu was one of the court...
. However, he followed classical 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...
and Telugu
Telugu literature
The Telugu literature or Telugu Sahityam is one of the most precious possessions of the literary products of India. Telugu literature is rich reserve of poems, stories, dramas and puranas. It flowered in the early 16th century under the Vijayanagar empire, of which Telugu was one of the court...
meter in his writings and he didn't abandon Sanskrit Telugu form common language. His literature can be distinguished into various kinds: sensual, love of nature, patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
, humanitarianism
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
, Social Reforms etc. Sensuality, in general, may be divided into two kinds, union and separation. Rayaprolu preferred separation in his writings. In his first independent poem, Trunakankanamu, Rayaprolu narrates love pangs of separation. The hero's lover marries another man and he remains unmarried to suffer from the memories. By the end of the poem, hero's love transforms into a platonic love and friendship. In this poem, Rayaprolu's heroin continues a platonic relationship with the hero while married to another man. In Kastakamala, Kamala loves (platonic) two men. However, when one of them writes a love letter, she commits suicide. Rayaprolu was a great patriot and Telugu nationalist. He praised the (past) greatness of Telugu warriors to awaken the sleeping Telugu pride. Rayaprolu Subbarao defined Telugu romanticism and began a new era in Telugu literature. His romantic literature is considered as the watershed in Telugu literature for its modernity of themes such as naturalism
Naturalism (literature)
Naturalism was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character...
, rural life, platonic love
Platonic love
Platonic love is a chaste and strong type of love that is non-sexual.-Amor Platonicus:The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino. Platonic love in this original sense of the term is examined in Plato's dialogue the Symposium, which has...
, a sense of history, libertarianism
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, and fierce nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...