SRI SRI

Sri Sri (1910-83) --- Srirangam Srinivasa Rao is known as Mahakavi (great poet) in Telugu poetry and Sri Sri is his pen-name. He was born in Visakhapatanam. He graduated, in Zoology, from Madras Christian College in 1931. He was the Editor of Vishakha weekly (1932) and News Editor of Andhra Prabha daily (1939-42). He worked in All India Radio (AIR) - New Delhi (1942), as a Laboratory Assistant in Military establishment, Lucknow (1943), as an employee in Nizam Nawab Reform Secretriate (1946) and as an employee in Anandha Vani (1946-49). He settled in Royapettah, Madras in 1947. In 1943 the first conference of the Abhyudaya Rachayitala Sangham (ARASAM) was conducted at Tenali with Tapi Dharama Rao as President. The Association was committed to all round social development, and emphasized the need to fight the forces of imperialism and fascism. The writers resolved to promote the cause of the working class. Marxist thinking entered into the writings of the young poets. Sri Sri became the cynosure of Telugu poetry. He produced Maro Prapancham (The Other World). While Maha Prasthanam was the forerunner of ARASAM poetry, Maha Prasthanam was the poet's contribution to contemporary revolutionary writing of VIRASAM (Viplava Rachayitala Sangham). Among other works are Siprali and Khadga Srushti. Sri Sri's poetry was progressive and, at the same time, it was often tinged with surrealism too. Mahakavi Sri Sri is the pioneer and gave a new look to modern Telugu poetry. A master of poetic diction, Sri Sri is an acknowledged as "a splendid alchemist who created superb and marvellous originals in Telugu, absorbing and transcending the Eastern and Western poetic influences". Many other movements with various groups were launched in Telugu poetry, including the Digambar group of poets comprising Nagna Muni (M.H.Kesava Rao), Nikhileswar (Yadava Reddy), Jwala Mukhi (Veera Raghavacharyulu), Cherabanda Raju (Baddam Bhaskar Reddy), Bhairavayya (Man Mohan Sahay) and Maha Swapna (Kammisetti Venkateswara Rao). Sri Sri remained the centre of attraction for all poets of succeeding generations. He received several awards and honours, including the Soviet Land Nehru award (1966), the Rajalakshmi Foundation award (1979) and the Sahitya Akademi award (1972) for his work of poetry, Sri Sri Sahityamu. He died on June15th, 1983.

Seshendra Sharma (b. 1927) --- Seshendra Sharma was born in Nagarajupadu of Nellore district. He is the author of more than 50 books including Na Desam, Na Prajulu (My Country, My People), Gorilla, Adhunik Mahabharatam, Janavamsham, Rakta Rekha, Kaala Rekha and Poet's Notebooks. Apart from poetry, he has authored Tantrik commentary (on Ramayana, Shodasi and Swarna Hamsa), short stories, plays, novelette and critical essays. He received Sahitya Akademi award (1994) for his book Kala Rekha (criticism). In 1999, the Sahitya Akademi conferred its Fellowship on him.

Ajanta (1929-98) --- Penumarti Viswanatha Sarma (Ajanta) was a journalist by profession. For sometime, he worked with Anandavani weekly and Andhraprabha daily. His works include Swarnalipi and Resonant Roadways. As he himself stated in the foreword to his poetry book Swapnalipi (Dream-Script), he never cared to preserve the written poem. Once a poem was written and published, that was the end of it. He believed that a poem would never have a final shape and structure. He continued to work on poems written originally 40 years back. He is a recipient of Sahitya Akademi award (1997).

Cingireddi Narayana Reddy (b. 1931) : Cingireddi Narayana Reddy was born in Hanumajipet village of Karimnagar district. He worked in Osmania University as a Professor. He received the Andhra Pradesh Academy award, the Soviet Land Nehru award (1982) and the Sahitya Akademi award (1973) for his poetry-collection Mantalu Manavudu. His poetic work Visvambara earned him a Jnanpith award (1988). Government of India honoured him with the Padmavibhushan (1992) and Andhra University, Waltair honoured him with Kala Prapurna (Honoris causa) in 1978. He was nominated to the Upper House of Indian Parliament in August 1997.

Nikhileswar (b.1938) --- K.Yadav Reddy 'Nikhileswar' is a well-known 'Digambara' poet, associated with the revolutionary movement in Telugu literature. He was a teacher by profession. He has more than sixteen books to his credit, which include poetry, fiction and essays.

K. Siva Reddy --- K. Siva Reddy is a former Principal of V.V.College, Hyderabad, he taught English and writes in Telugu. Fifteen volumes of his poetry have been published. He received the Sahitya Akademi award (1990) for Mohana! O Mohana!. He has translated from many languages into Telugu.

A. Jayaprabha (1957) --- A. Jayaprabha is a poet espousing feminist traits. Her poems have been published in several collections including Sooryudu Koodaa Udayistaadu (1980), Yuddhonmukhamgaa (1986), Vaamanudi Moodo Paadam (1988), Ikkada Kurisina Varsham Ekkadi Meghanidi (1991) and Yasodharaa Yee Vagapemduke (1993). She has also written a critical essay Bhaava Kavitvam lo Stree (1988) and Naalugo Goda (1993) a dissertation on the development of stage in Andhra.

MaheJabeen --- MaheJabeen is a social scientist by training and runs an institute in Hyderabad to counsel and support women. Akuralu Kalam is a collection of her poems of hers, which was published in 1997.

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