Gurajada Apparao

Gurajada Apparao
Born
Gurajada Venkata Apparao

21 September 1862
Died30 November 1915(1915-11-30) (aged 53)
Occupation(s)Playwright
Dramatist
Poet
Known forKanyasulkam
Sarangadhara
Mutyala Saralu
Poornamma
Spouse(s)Appala Narasamma, 1885
ChildrenLakshmi Narasamma (daughter)
Venkata Ramadasu (son)
AwardsEmeritus Fellow, University of Madras

Gurajada Venkata Apparao (21 September 1862 – 30 November 1915) was an Indian playwright, dramatist, poet, and writer known for his works in Telugu theatre.[1][2] Rao wrote the play Kanyasulkam in 1892, which is considered as the greatest play in the Telugu language.[3][4] One of the pioneers of Indian theatre, Apparao holds the titles Kavisekhara and Abyudaya Kavitha Pithamahudu.[5][6][7][8] In 1910, Rao scripted the widely known Telugu patriotic song "Desamunu Preminchumanna".[9][10]

In 1897, Kanyasulkam was published (by Vavilla Ramaswamy Sastrulu and Sons, Madras) and dedicated to Maharaja Ananda Gajapati. Apparao (along with his brother Syamala Rao) wrote several English poems. His epic Sarangadhara, published in "Indian Leisure Hour", was well received.[11] The editor of the Calcutta-based "Rees and Ryot", Sambhu Chandra Mukherji re-published it in his magazine. Gundukurti Venkata Ramanayya, editor of the "Indian Leisure Hour", encouraged Apparao greatly during the same period. In 1891, Gurajada was appointed to the post of Epigraphist to the Maharaja of Vizianagaram.[9][10]

  1. ^ Staff Reporter (22 September 2016). "Gurajada's literary contribution recalled". The Hindu.
  2. ^ Sarma, G. v Prasada (22 September 2016). "Gurajada's patriotic song set to go places". The Hindu.
  3. ^ Gopal, B. Madhu (26 December 2012). "Time we perpetuated Gurajada memory" – via The Hindu.
  4. ^ Apparao, Gurujada Venkata (1 January 2002). Kanyasulkam. Book Review Literacy Trust. ISBN 9788188434008 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Forbes India Magazine - The next stage: The evolving face of theatre in India".
  6. ^ "Gurajada remembered". 22 September 2016.
  7. ^ 20th Century Telugu Luminaries, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005
  8. ^ "ಗುರಜಾಡ ವೆಂಕಟ ಅಪ್ಪಾರಾವ್ – ಚಿಲುಮೆ". 17 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b Rau, M. Chalapathi (1 January 1976). "Gurazada Commemorative Volume". South Delhi Andhra Association – via Google Books.
  10. ^ a b Suryanarayana, Peri (1 January 1968). "The life and greatness of Sri Gurajada Venkata Apparao". Vignana Sahiti Publications – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Staff Reporter (3 September 2012). "Call to propagate works of Gurajada Appa Rao". The Hindu.