Andhra Vignanamu

Kandukuri Bala Surya Prasada Rao, also known as Prasada Bhupaludu, the zamindar of Devidi Estate in Ganjam district,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RoosAAAAMAAJ&q=vijnanam |title=Indian Anthropologist |date=1977 |publisher=Indian Anthropological Association |volume=7 |pages=62, 64 |language=en |issue=1}} compiled the articles from various scholars and put them in his own language. Apart from being a compiler and editor, he was also a writer of the encyclopedia.{{Cite book |last=Reddy |first=M. Sankara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttR4AAAAIAAJ |title=Reference Sources in Telugu: A Comprehensive Guide |date=1996 |publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-81-7018-889-6 |pages=87, 91 |language=en}}

The articles in the encyclopedia were arranged alphabetically according to the Telugu alphabet.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3HJ8skQkM8wC&q=andhra+vijnanamu |title=International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics: IJDL. |date=1987 |publisher=Department of Linguistics, University of Kerala |pages=137 |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8X0aAAAAMAAJ&q=Kandukuri+Bala+Surya+Prasada+Rao |title=Herald of Library Science |date=1966 |publisher=P.N. Kaula at the Eureka Publications |volume=5–6 |pages=44 |language=en |quote=Kandukuri Bala Suryaprasada Rao Zamindar of Urlam took up the project. He worked at it from 1938 to 1941. He called it Andhra Vighnanam. He published it in seven volumes. The articles were alphabetically arranged.}} A supplement to the encyclopedia, consisting of 184 pages, was published in 1941 to further expand its scope.{{Cite book |last=ప్రసాద భూపాలుడు |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.372528/page/n427/mode/2up |title=శ్రీ ఆంధ్ర విజ్ఞానానుబంధము |date=1941 |language=te}} The preface to the encyclopedia was written by the renowned scholar Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy, who praised Prasada Rao for his editorial skills and intellectual contributions.{{Cite book |last=Reddy |first=Cattamanchi Ramalinga |author-link=Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BVLvAAAAIAAJ&q=andhra+vijnanamu |title=Ḍā.Si.Ār. Reḍḍi pīṭhikalu |date=1983 |publisher=Cittūru Jillā Racayitala Sahakāra Pracuraṇa Saṅghaṃ |pages=243–245 |language=te |quote=(p. 243) Sri Ijjitasar Kandukuri Bala Surya Prasada Rao Bahadur, the author of this Telugu Encyclopaedia, which I have the proud privilege to introduce to the public, is one of the most remarkable personalities in the Telugu country. (p. 244) Sri Balasurya Prasada Rao Bahadur is not merely a Zamindar which quite a number are, but a scholar of encyclopaedic range and extraordinary thoroughness and a writer of high standing in Telugu.}}

The encyclopedia encompassed a wide range of topics, with particular emphasis on ancient Indian thought. While primarily written in Telugu, some articles on modern scientific subjects were published in English, which limited its accessibility for Telugu readers. Despite this limitation, Andhra Vignanamu is recognized for its scholarly rigour and comprehensive coverage.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/HistoryCultureOfTheAndhras/page/307/mode/2up?q=Devidi |title=History and Culture of the Andhras |date=1995 |publisher=Telugu University |isbn=978-81-86073-07-0 |editor-last=Modali Nagabhushana Sarma |page=268 |language=English |quote=The second venture in preparing an encyclopedia was made by Kandukuri Prasadaraya Bhupaludu, Zamindar of Devidi, who, single-handedly prepared and published a 7-volume encyclopedia, Sri Andhra Vijnanamu, between 1938 and 1941. Though it was the work of a single individual, it has presented a wide range of information, especially on ancient Indian thought. However, the editor-compiler deemed it appropriate to publish some articles on modern scientific subjects in English and thus limited the scope and use of a Telugu encyclopaedia. |editor-last2=Mudigonda Veerabhadra Sastry}}

Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature reviewed it noting, "Though it is a one man effort and has all the drawbacks associated with it, and the selection as well the treatment of the entries is more arbitrary than logical, the volumes are, no doubt, serving its designed purpose."

M. Sankara Reddy lists Andhra Vignanamu in his book on Telugu reference sources. C. Dwarakanath Gupta cited it for information on Vysya gotras in his book Socio-cultural History of an Indian Caste.{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=C. Dwarakanath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OJlpWwZkRDAC&dq=andhra+vignanam&pg=PA223 |title=Socio-cultural History of an Indian Caste |date=1999 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-726-9 |pages=223 |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22%E0%B0%AA%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%B8%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%A6+%E0%B0%AD%E0%B1%82%E0%B0%AA%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%A1%E0%B1%81%22 Andhra Vignanamu (Vol. 1–7)] at Internet Archive

Category:Indian encyclopedias

Category:Telugu-language literature

Category:20th-century encyclopedias