Tapi Dharma Rao

{{Short description|Indian writer, journalist, and social reformer (1887–1973)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Thapi Dharma Rao

| image = Tapi Dharma Rao from Ammanudi july 2018 (page 19 crop).jpg

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| pseudonym = Thapi Dharma Rao Naidu

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| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1887|09|19}}

| birth_place = Berhampur, India

| death_date = {{death year | 08-05-1973}}

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| education = B.A.

| alma_mater = Pachaiyappa's College, Chennai

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| genre = Writer, Poet, Lyricist

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| spouse = Thapi Anaapornama

| partner =

| children = Two daughters and three sons (including Tapi Chanakya)

| relatives =

| awards = Sahitya Akademi Award

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Thapi Dharma Rao Naidu (1887–1973) was a Telugu writer, journalist, rationalist, and social reformer. He is considered as a pioneer of colloquial language in Telugu journalism and a doyen of Telugu prose writers.{{Cite news |date=2016-10-17 |title=Thapi Dharma Rao, a doyen of colloquial language in journalism |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/Thapi-Dharma-Rao-a-doyen-of-colloquial-language-in-journalism/article16074788.ece |access-date=2023-06-13 |issn=0971-751X}} He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award by India's National Academy of Letters in 1971.{{Cite web |date= |title=Sahitya Akademi Awards in Telugu language (1955-2007) |url=http://www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in/old_version/awa10321.htm#telugu |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Sahitya Akademi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813103836/http://www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in/old_version/awa10321.htm#telugu |archive-date=13 August 2010 }} He authored many books which were the eye openers in the field of social sciences in India, in particular South India. His literary works like Vidhi Vilasam have found a place in the annals of Indian literature. He also wrote dialogues and lyrics for films like Mala Pilla (1938), Raithu Bidda (1939), Drohi (1948), Rojulu Marayi (1955).