Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said the State Government has taken upon itself the task of making the World Telugu Mahasabhalu, a prestigious event to highlight the growth of Telugu Language and Literature in Telangana. World Telugu Conference is being held under the aegis of Telangana Sahitya Akademi from December 15 to 19 with celebrations spread over various stadia with the Lal Bahadur Stadium as a Centre Stage utilizing Ravindra Bharathi, Indira Priyadarshini Auditorim and Telugu University Auditorium. The whole city would be decked up with arches, gates, hoardings named after the famous poets who enriched not only the language but also our lives.
The Chief Minister said in the Assembly, Telugu is known as the ‘Ajanta Bhasha’ wherein all words end in vowel sounding connotations and a musical language having a hoary literary inheritance. Nicholas Conti, a noted Western Professor called Telugu as the ‘Italian of the East’ while Subrahmanya Bharathi, Tamil National Poet preferred to term it as ‘Sundara Telungu’ (Beautiful Telugu). Since times immemorial, Telangana Soil has been a fertile ground for the Telugu Literary Treasure Trove.
“Historic evidences prove that Telugu Language has been in vogue in Telangana for the past 2000 years. In fact, one can witness the basic Telugu language word usages in King Haala’s ‘Gadha Sapthasathi’ belonging to the first century itself. Another epigraphical evidence could be found in the ‘Jina Vallabha saasana’ of Bommalagutta in Kurikyala (V) of Karimnagar District wherein the inscription contain ‘Kanda Padyas’, a prosodic form, extremely popular form of Telugu poetry. Based on this, it is evident that Telangana by 947 AD itself had seen Grammer based literature. Telangana is also the birth place of highly native experimental songs like ‘Dwipada’, two-liners. Palakurki Somana of Jangoan district, Palakurthy (V) had proudly declared to the world that he would create Telugu Literature not full of profoundness but by using simple indigenous words thus crowning the language”, he said.
Telangana stood in front in creating various Telugu Literary genres. The first All Telugu composition of Basava Purana, first ever ‘Vrishadhipa Satakam, the exemplary ‘Basavodaharanam’ and price less poetical words of ‘Palkuruki Somana’ were some of these. The varied literary experiments of ‘Somana’ in fact became empirical for Telugu Literature subsequently. All these unequivocally establish the Land of Telangana as the path blazer in the growth of Telugu Literature over a period.
Gona Buddha Reddy’s ‘Ranganadha Ramayanam’ is the famous ‘Dwipada kavya’ (metrical poetry consisting couplet/two feet) in simple Telugu which was effusive in its simple Telugu usage. Ýayaathi Charitra’of Ponniganti Telagana of Patancheru (Medak Dist.) which was un adulterated purest form of Telugu language. Similarly, ‘’Madiki Singana’ of Ramagiri of Peddapally District wrote ‘Sakala Neethi Sammatham’ which was the first ever Law book in Telugu. Like wise Koravi Goparaju of Bhimgal of Nizamabad District compiled the first ever Telugu Story Book called ‘Simhasana Dwatrimsika’. Vemulavada Bhimakavi of Vemulavada was famous for his ‘Çhaatu Padyas’- poetry with a hidden meaning which has great entertainment value. Pillalamarri Pina Veerabhadrudu of Nalgonda who wrote ‘Jaimini Bharatam’ went ahead and declared ‘vani naa raani’ – language my consort. King Sarvagna Bhupaala of Rachakonda was known literary king too apart from being a ruler.
Known as the virtuous trove of Telugus ‘Srimad Bhagavatham’ of Bammera Pothana is known for its divine love ‘madhura bhakthi’, tender composition and beautiful grammatical style which gave it an everlasting name and fame. Bammera village today stands as a representative of rich literary heritage of Telangana. Various other genres like as ‘Dwardhi’ ‘Tyardhi’ ‘Chaturardhi’ ‘chitra’ ‘bandha’ ‘Avadhaana’ enrich Telugu language with alliterations, simile, hyperbole, etc. Apart from this traditional literature, Telangana is also home to several lively folk traditions. Telangana keeps preserving this treasure of folk songs and folk traditions which spread fragrance of language.
Linked to the various working classes, these songs of the rural folk are quite varied with those related to the agricultural activity and other aspects of the rural life that reflect the inner beauty of the mankind. Again the group songs like ‘Bathukamma paatalu’ ‘Kamuni Punnama Paatalu’ ‘Asoi Dhoola’ etc. reflect the social and the cultural milieu of Telangana. All these are passing on the richness of the language and the usage to the next generation down the line. ‘Chirutala Ramayanam’ ‘Harikatha’ ‘Yakshagaanam’ ‘Oggu Kathalu ‘ ‘Budiga Jangala Sarada Kathalu’ ‘Baala Santhula Paatalu’ etc. and other explosive forms have enriched Telangana’s Telugu.
However, darkness engulfed the hoary literary tradition of Telangana in the erstwhile state. Only a partial interpretation of the literary history was in circulation. The works of our literary giants gathered dust and remained unknown treasure to the world. In fact, the very nativity of the like of Vemulavada Bhima Kavi and Bammera Pothana were distorted. At one point of time, an extremely skewed argument to paint picture that Telangana never gave birth to any poet of repute became prevalent. It was at this juncture, that an eminent historian and litterateur, ‘Suravaram Pratapa Reddy’ began publishing an edition of ‘Golakonda Poets’ consisting 354 poets going around the nook and corner of Telangana that reminds a turning point of Telangana Self Respect and victorious literary high point.
‘Mahaa Kavi Daasaradhi’ who created profound metrical poems like ‘Agni Dhaara’ and ‘Rudra Veena’ in a unparalleled efficacy described the land of Telangana as My Mother Telangana – “Naa Telangana Talli Kanjatavalli”.
Raavella Venkata Ramarao of Khammam District praised the greatness of Mother Telangana and its geographical features and riches and called it a precious heavenly garden.
People’s poet Kaloji not only propagated the greatness of Telangana language but also gave a befitting reply to those who were sarcastic about the Telangana peoples tongue.
It is in this backdrop that the Telangana people revolted against the discrimination in all fields to achieve the dream of separate statehood for Telangana. The Telangana State Government is firmly resolved to internationalize the greatness of Telugu Language in Telangana shaping along the lines that people dreamt it of. It is working dedicatedly for enriching the lives of the younger generation with the greatness of their mother tongue. Realizing the need to ensure regular Study, Research, Analysis, Publishing and Propagation of the greatness of this language, the State Government has established Telangana Sahitya Akademi with noted Telangana poet ‘Nandini Sidha Reddy’ as its Chairman. The Govt. has recently issued order making Telugu compulsory for all students from the primary level to intermediate in the State. As parts of its efforts to preserve and strengthen the language further it has decided to host World Telugu Conference in a prestigious manner.
The State Government has already sanctioned Rs 50 crore. With each district getting Rs.5 lakhs for preparatory meetings alone, literary competitions to students in the fields of essay writing, debate, poetry recitation and writing have already begun in all the schools and colleges and universities. In addition, preparatory meetings were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. (NSS)