Rayaprolu Subba Rao
{{Short description|Indian writer (1892–1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Rayaprolu Subba Rao
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| pseudonym = Abhinava Nannaya
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| birth_date =17 March 1892
| birth_place = Bapatla taluka, Guntur district, Madras Presidency, British India
| death_date =30 June 1984
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| genre = Poet, lyricist, translator
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| notableworks = Andhravali
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Rayaprolu Subbarao (1892–1984) was among the pioneers of modern Telugu literature.{{Cite web |url=http://www.teluguworld.org/lit.html |title=Culture - Indian Literature - Telugu |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=23 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523013914/http://www.teluguworld.org/lit.html |url-status=dead }} He is known as Abhinava Nannaya.[https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4185 Subbarao, Rayaprolu in The Encyclopedia of Indian Literature, Volume 5; Page: 4185] He was recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award to Telugu Writers for his poetic work Misra Manjari in 1965. He was 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"{{elucidate|date=July 2022}} into Telugu literature.
Early life
Rao was born in Garlapadu village, Kakumanu Mandal, Guntur district. His maternal uncle, Avvari Subramanya Sastri, initially taught him Sanskrit and Telugu. He attended the Board High School in Bapatla and was later educated in Kakinada and Rajahmundry.
He 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.osmania.ac.in/Arts%20College/Telugu.htm |title=Classical Language |website=www.osmania.ac.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040225123024/http://www.osmania.ac.in/Arts%20College/Telugu.htm |archive-date=2004-02-25}}
He was the chief editor of Andhra Maha Bhagavatam published by Telugu Academi, Hyderabad.
Style
Subbarao's literature is a mixture of Telugu Indian culture and Western ideas. 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 themes include sensual material, love of nature, patriotism, spirituality, humanitarianism and social reforms. Sensuality, in general, may be divided into two kinds, union and separation. Rayaprolu preferred separation in his writings. 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.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}
= Trunakankanamu =
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.
Edesamegina Endukalidina
His poem "Edesamegina Endukalidina" is very popular.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/01/stories/2009070151350300.htm |title=The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Rayaprolu remembered |website=www.hindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704120637/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/01/stories/2009070151350300.htm |archive-date=4 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}
One patriotic verse by Subba Rao, "{{lang|te|Edesamegina Endukalidina}}" (also known as "{{lang|te|Janmabhumi}}"), is a perennial favourite, being regularly sung and recited. It was particularly popular for public events in the pre-Independence Andhra region. The verse has been adapted many times into song for use in Telugu films.{{cite book |last1=Krätli |first1=Graziano |title=Why Should I Write a Poem Now: The Letters of Srinivas Rayaprol and William Carlos Williams, 1949-1958 |date=15 December 2018 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |isbn=978-0-8263-5997-1 |pages=5–8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jdR0DwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
{{Verse translation|lang=te|
Edesamegina endukalidina
{{pad|1.0em}}epeetamekkina evaremanina
Pogadara neetalli bhoomi Bharatini
Nilupara neejaati nindu gauravamu.
|To whichever country you go,
{{pad|1.0em}}and wherever you place your feet,
Whatever honour you get,
{{pad|1.0em}}and whatever people say,
Praise Bharati, your motherland,
Hold aloft your nation’s (full) honour.
|attr2=Translation by A. Viswam
}}
Honours
- Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao was awarded Kalaprapoorna from Andhra University in 1977.
- Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965.
Works
=Translations=
- Anumati (Permission)
- Bhaja Govindamu (Prayer to Govinda) (Telugu translation of Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindham)
- Soundarya Lahari (Below of Beauty) (Telugu translation of Shankaracharya's Soundarya Lahari)
- Sundara Kanda (Beauty Section) (Telugu translation of Valmiki Ramayana)
- Dootha Mattebhamu (Messenger Elephant)
- Lalitha (Telugu translation of The Hermit of [Oliver Goldsmith])
- Madhukalasamu (Liquor Pitcher) (Telugu rendering of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam)
- Meghaduta (Telugu translation of Kalidasa's work)
- Uttararama Charitha (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)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.andhrabharati.com/kAvyamulu/tRiNakaMkaNamu/index.html Complete Telugu text of Trina Kamkanamu at Andhra Bharati.com]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MYljTzIBdI&ab_channel=TeluguOne Ye Desamegina by Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBigV_BlA8Q&ab_channel=AIRHyderabad All India Radio Interview by Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9dtwSX7uU0&ab_channel=RKDIGITALS Desha Bhakthi Geetalu from Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPZMjKRKioo&ab_channel=stsnonline Telugu Culture - Sankranti Sambaram about Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBU12F65HDg&ab_channel=GowtamEdutech Ye Srilu Pongina Jeevagadda by Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rayaprolu+subbarao Aduio and Videos of Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfvpOKX3ppk&ab_channel=SateeshPunnam Meetings about Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt_mtHucxpc&ab_channel=AdityaMusic Telugu Movie Songs adopted from Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao works]
- [https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2015-03-13/A-Tribute-to-Rayaprolu-Subba-Rao-who-inspired-Andhras-in-Patriotism/137070 Hans India about Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.vepachedu.org/Rayaprolu.html about Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24799038-andhravali?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=GU4mX7StCM&rank=1 Andhravali by Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [http://indianexpresss.in/rayaprolu-subbarao-telugu-poet-and-lyricist/ Indian Express about Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.geni.com/people/Subbarao-Rayaprolu/370882778360007654 Books About Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13438999.Rayaprolu_Subba_Rao Books about Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://archive.org/search.php?query=Rayaprolu%20Subba%20Rao Books about Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rir1_a7AH1g&ab_channel=PresidentofIndia By the President of India quoting Sri Rayaprolu Subba Rao in World Telugu Conference]
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Category:Writers from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Telugu-language lyricists
Category:People from Guntur district