Following is a note on a few of the Illustrious sons of Telugu .
It makes a change to know great men of letters from another language.
Will some one mail me a list of the Great sons and daughters of other Indian Languages?
”
Abburi Varada Rajeswara Rao (1923-1993):
Prominent poet, critic and educator. On the editorial staff of several literary magazines. Taught for some time at Univ. Wisconsin, Madison.
Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu (1864-1945):
The foremost modern exponent of the literary and performing arts genre “harikatha.” Great musician and scholar of Telugu, Sanskrit and Persian. Principal of Maharaja Music College, Viziyanagaram.
Tallapaka Annamacharya (1424?-1503):
One of the greatest composers of South Indian classical tradition. World-class. Wrote more than 32000 compositions known as ‘padam’ as well as other major works. More than 14000 have been discovered to date on copper plate and stone inscriptions. He was the head of an astonishingly brilliant lineage. Seems to have influenced some other great composers of that time, e.g., Purandara Dasa.
Arudra -Bhagavatula Siva Sankara Sastry i (1925-1998):
Major modern poet, critic, movie lyricist and literary historian. His “tvamEvaahaM” and the encyclopedic work on Telugu literature “samagraaMdhra saahityaM” are very influential.
Bapu -Sattiraju Lakshmi Narayana (1933-):
Eminent painter, cartoonist, movie director, writer, journalist. World class artist. Uniquely personalized style blending to perfection the classical Telugu lines and modern techniques. Had an enormous impact on contemporary Telugu arts, movies, etc.
Bhandaru Achchamamba(1874-1905):
Writer and early pioneer of women’s issues. Published a well known biographical work on prominent national and international women, “abalaa satcaritra ratnamaala” (1901)
Chaganti Somayajulu (1915-1993):
Eminent writer of short stories and poetry. Although he wrote sparingly, many of his short stories have been translated into other languages. His indirect contributions include his influence on his friends such as Sri Sri and Narayana Babu. He was a long time president of Progressive Writers Association, arasam.
Chellapilla Venkata Sastry(1870-1950):
Brilliant and highly influential poet in the classical genre. Prolific literary genius. Trained a large number of famous writers. The second of the great duo tirupati vEnkaTa kavulu. Honoured as the first poet laureate of Andhra.
Chilukuri Narayana Rao (1890-1952):
Well-known lexicographer, historian and scholar. Published “aandhra Bhaashaa caritraM” (1937) and a revised version of Sankaranarayana’s English-Telugu Dictionary, etc.
C. Narayana Reddy (1931-):
Well-known poet, educator, critic, administrator, and song writer for the movies. For his epic poem viSvaMbhara in modern style the highest literary award in India j~naanapeetha, was given to him in 1987. He also produced several other major works, e.g., karpUra vasaMta raayalu.
Arthur Cotton (1803-1899):
Perhaps the most beloved western personality in Telugu history. Knighted. One of the finest civil engineers of 19th cent. Built the anicut on Godavari at Dhavaleswaram among other things. His irrigation works and plans transformed the economy of the coastal districts and very strongly influenced its current domineering position.
Charles Philip Brown (1798-1884):
Brilliant scholar of Telugu. Although he was not an Indian, he was intimately connected with Telugu literature for nearly sixty years and immensely contributed to its progress.
Damerla Rama Rao (1897-1925):
Brilliant artist. Became well-known within a very short life span. Founded the Andhra School of Art at Rajamundry. There is an art gallery named after him at Rajamundry today.
Durgabai Deshmukh(1909-1981):
Eminent freedom fighter, social reformer, educator and leader of early women’s movement Gora –Goparaju Ramachandra Rao (1902-1975) Highly influential thinker and social reformer. Dedicated his life to developing atheistic thought in Andhra and beyond. Authored several works. Founded the Atheist Center, Vijayawada. His son lavaNaM is also a well-known atheist and thinker.
Gurajada Appa Rao (1862-1915):
Perhaps the greatest modern writer in Telugu. Commands tremendous respect. Uncompromising intellectual and a social reformer in his own way. More than any one else’s, his works defined the beginning of modern Telugu drama, poetry and short story. The Kanyasulkam drama and much of his poetry are world class. His contributions lay not only in the techniques but also in the refreshing, original and modern outlook and a deep humanistic spirit that he instilled in Telugu literature.
Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna(1930-):
Brilliant musician in the South Indian classical style. Perhaps the finest from Andhra in his generation. Composer, vocalist, and music scholar.
Mutnuri Krishna Rao(1879-1945):
Great editor and journalist. His Krishna Patrika was instrumental in shaping the Telugu Literary scene for four decades beginning 1907.
Uyyalavada Narasimha Reddy(d. 1847):
Led one of the first popular revolts in all of India against British occupation Nataraja Ramakrishna (1933-) Very influential dancer, scholar and writer on Telugu dance forms. Single handedly revived the forgotten art form “aaMdhra naaTyaM.” Although he was born in Bali, his service to Telugu, his ancestral language and its culture is very meritorious.
Pingali Venkayya(1887-1963):
Freedom fighter. Great follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Designed the tricolour -the Indian national flag.
Potti Sriramulu(1901-1952):
Freedom fighter. Led the popular movement to unite Telugu speaking people under a single government and martyred himself in the process. His act of “Satyagraha” directly led to the eastablishment “Linguistic states” in modern India.
Tanguturi Prasam(1872-1957):
One of the greatest freedom fighters of India, eminent leader and administrator. Chief minister of Madras Presidency and the first chief minister of Andhra.
Chandra Rajeswara Rao(1915-1994):
Freedom fighter, eminent socialist, long time general secretary of the communist party of India Ravi Narayana Rao(1908-1991) Eminent freedom fighter, philanthropist, reformer, and parliamentarian. Spear headed liberation of Telangana movement. Founding member of the communist party of India.
Alluri Sitarama Raju (1897-1924):
Fearless freedom fighter. Led the most famous armed revolt in Telugu history against the British occupation Puchchalapalli Sundarayya(1913-1985) Great freedom fighter, social reformer and parliamentarian. Led communist movements in Andhra and beyond for many decades.
Tenneti Viswanatham (1895-1979):
Freedom fighter, parliamentarian, leader and administrator. Close associate of Tanguturi Prakasam.
Tyaga Raja (1767-1847):
Perhaps the most famous of all the South Indian composers. Part of the great trio of Carnatic music. Great writer. Devotee of Lord Rama. He has a very large lineage of brilliant pupils (SiShya paraMpara). Greatly praised and revered as a saint. Hailed as “on whose art no human hand can improve!” Kandukuri Viresalingam(1848-1919) One of the most brilliant and profoundly influential writers in Telugu. One of the greatest social reformers of 19th century India.
Visvanatha Satyanarayana(1890-1976):
The greatest classical style writer in modern times. A literary institution all by himself. His work and personality invoked just about every superlative (positive as well as negative) from various critics. Prolific writer and critic. Eminent educator. Significantly contributed to many diverse literary genres . Received India’s highest literary award j~naanapeeTha for his raamaayaNa kalpa vRkshaM. His novels such as vEyi paDagalu are equally famous.
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Missed two other great personalities :1)Viswanatha satyanarayana
2) Challa krishna murthy sastry(1904-1965)