TELUGUTELUGU LANGUAGELANGUAGE ANDAND LITERATURELITERATURE

Speaker : G. V. R. K. SHARMA M. D.

Harvard Medical School TT EE LL UU GG UU LL AA NN GG UU AA GG EE

AA classicalclassical languagelanguage ofof IndiaIndia AlsoAlso calledcalled ‘‘AndhraAndhra BhaashaBhaasha ’’ RankedRanked 7th7th inin AsiaAsia 14th14th inin thethe worldworld SpokenSpoken inin thethe statestate ofof AndhraAndhra PradeshPradesh

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 2 TeluguTelugu LanguageLanguage :: DemographyDemography

AlsoAlso spokenspoken inin thethe adjoiningadjoining regionsregions ofof TamilnaduTamilnadu ,, KarnatakaKarnataka andand OrissaOrissa andand inin thethe sizablesizable diasporadiaspora populationspopulations ofof Malaysia,Malaysia, FijiFiji Islands,Islands, U.KU.K andand U.SU.S TotalTotal aboutabout 8080 millionmillion peoplepeople

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 3 © Microsoft MapPoint and PlaneMad/Wikipedia

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 4 TeluguTelugu LanguageLanguage :Unique:Unique feature(sfeature(s ))

TheThe onlyonly IndianIndian languagelanguage wherewhere everyevery wordword endsends inin aa vowelvowel (( ‘‘AJANTAAJANTA BHAASHABHAASHA ’’ )) CalledCalled ‘‘ItalianItalian ofof thethe EastEast ‘‘ byby NiccoloNiccolo dada Conti,Conti, aa VenetianVenetian travellertraveller ofof thethe 1616 th centurycentury HeavilyHeavily SanskritizedSanskritized (( closeclose toto 60%)60%)

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 5 TeluguTelugu LanguageLanguage :: OriginsOrigins

AnAn IndoIndo –– DravidianDravidian offoff --shootshoot DevelopedDeveloped afterafter TamilTamil andand KannadaKannada RockRock -- edictsedicts andand inscriptionsinscriptions datingdating backback toto 11 st centurycentury A.D.A.D. PresentPresent literaryliterary formform aroundaround 900900 A.D.A.D.

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 6 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature

NannayaNannaya waswas thethe firstfirst poetpoet (( ‘‘AdikaviAdikavi ’’)) ShapedShaped poeticpoetic formatformat (( ‘‘vaaganusasanavaaganusasana ’’)) WroteWrote thethe firstfirst 33 cantocanto ’’ss ofof MahabharataMahabharata TrendTrend --settersetter forfor allall subsequentsubsequent poetspoets WordsWords mainlymainly SanskritSanskrit --derivedderived (( ‘‘tatsamatatsama ’’))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 7 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature

AnAn exampleexample ofof NannayaNannaya ’’ss poetrypoetry :: --

““TheThe moonmoon --litlit autumnautumn nightsnights werewere lovely;lovely; thethe brightbright chainschains ofof starsstars inin thethe cloudlesscloudless skiesskies mademade themthem lovelier.lovelier. RepleteReplete withwith thethe scentscent ofof waterwater --lilieslilies waftedwafted byby gentlegentle breezes,breezes, thethe nightsnights werewere luminescentluminescent withwith moonlightmoonlight scatteredscattered likelike camphorcamphor --dust.dust. ””

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 8 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature

TikkanaTikkana ,, anan administrator,administrator, warrior,warrior, poetpoet CompletedCompleted Mahabharata(11Mahabharata(11 th centurycentury A.D)A.D) BlazedBlazed aa newnew trailtrail usingusing aa judiciousjudicious mixmix ofof SanskritSanskrit -- derivedderived andand indigenousindigenous wordswords (( AcchaAccha Telugu)Telugu) BroughtBrought TeluguTelugu poetrypoetry closercloser toto thethe publicpublic

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 9 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: ThikkanaThikkana

AA samplesample ofof ThikkanaThikkana ’’ss poetry:poetry: ThisThis isis aa 44 --lineline verseverse calledcalled ‘‘kandakanda padyampadyam ’’ (a(a metermeter notnot borrowedborrowed fromfrom Sanskrit),Sanskrit), forfor whichwhich ThikkanaThikkana isis famousfamous ::

““ TheThe arrowsarrows thatthat havehave piercedpierced youryour bodybody cancan bebe removedremoved andand thethe woundswounds healed,healed, butbut thethe wordswords thatthat havehave causedcaused deepdeep hurthurt cannotcannot bebe removedremoved byby anyany meansmeans ””

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 10 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature

LanguageLanguage ofof literaryliterary Telugu(GrandhikaTelugu(Grandhika oror SampradayikaSampradayika )) hashas beenbeen differentdifferent fromfrom itsits spoken(spoken( vyavaharikavyavaharika )) formform

TheThe words,words, thethe metermeter andand thethe contentscontents mostlymostly originatedoriginated fromfrom SanskritSanskrit

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 11 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature

OtherOther poetspoets followedfollowed inin thethe footfoot --stepssteps ofof NannayaNannaya andand ThikkanaThikkana NanneNanne ChodaChoda ,, YerrapreggadaYerrapreggada ,, NachanaNachana SomanaSomana ,, SrinadhaSrinadha ,, GauranaGaurana andand PotanaPotana (( 1111 th toto 1515 th centurycentury A.D.)A.D.) AllAll outstandingoutstanding poets,poets, theythey setset thethe stagestage forfor thethe goldengolden ageage ofof TeluguTelugu literatureliterature

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 12 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: thethe goldengolden ageage

OfOf AndhraAndhra historyhistory inin general,general, andand thethe literature,literature, inin particularparticular (( VijayanagaraVijayanagara empireempire ofof KrishnadevarayaKrishnadevaraya :: 1616 th centurycentury ))

GlowingGlowing accountsaccounts ofof PortuguesePortuguese historianshistorians DomingoDomingo PaesPaes andand FernaoFernao NunizNuniz

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 13 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: thethe goldengolden ageage FullFull floweringflowering ofof poetrypoetry withwith stalwartsstalwarts likelike PeddanaPeddana ,, (( ‘‘AndhraAndhra KavitaKavita PitamahaPitamaha ’’ meaningmeaning ‘‘FatherFather ofof TeluguTelugu PoetryPoetry ’’),), whowho wrotewrote ““ManuManu charitracharitra ”” PingaliPingali SuranaSurana (author(author ofof thethe firstfirst originaloriginal kavyakavya (classic)(classic) ‘‘KalapoornodayamuKalapoornodayamu ’’)) andand DvyardhiDvyardhi kavyakavya ,, ‘‘RaghavaRaghava PandaveeyamuPandaveeyamu ’’ withwith eacheach poempoem givinggiving 22 meaningsmeanings suitablesuitable forfor bothboth RamayanaRamayana andand MahabharataMahabharata –– aa rarerare scholasticscholastic featfeat

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 14 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: goldengolden ageage

““ItIt isis difficultdifficult toto composecompose aa poempoem withwith twotwo meanings;meanings; ifif thethe entireentire workwork isis likelike that,that, isis itit notnot extraextra --ordinaryordinary scholarship?scholarship? ThatThat too,too, inin Telugu,Telugu, whichwhich isis wonderful!wonderful! WhoWho isis therethere (other(other thanthan me),me), thatthat cancan combinecombine RamayanaRamayana andand MahabharataMahabharata (into(into one)!one)!

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 15 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: thethe goldengolden ageage

OtherOther esteemedesteemed poetspoets :: TimmanaTimmana (( authorauthor ofof ‘‘ParijatapaharanamuParijatapaharanamu ’’),), andand DhurjatiDhurjati (author(author ofof ‘‘KalahastiKalahasti MahatmyamuMahatmyamu ’’)) EmperorEmperor KrishnadevarayaKrishnadevaraya himselfhimself waswas aa greatgreat scholarscholar (( authorauthor ofof ‘‘AmuktamalyadaAmuktamalyada ’’,, oneone ofof 55 bestbest classics,classics, ‘‘PanchaPancha KavyasKavyas ’’)) ConsideredConsidered TeluguTelugu asas thethe bestbest ofof IndianIndian languageslanguages (( ‘‘DesaDesa BhaashalanduBhaashalandu .... LessaLessa ’’))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 16 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: thethe goldengolden ageage

BhattuBhattu MoorthyMoorthy (( ‘‘RamarajaRamaraja BhooshanaBhooshana ’’)) :: authorauthor ofof ‘‘VasuVasu CharitraCharitra ’’,excelled,excelled inin ‘‘sleshaslesha ’’ (( pun)pun) andand metricalmetrical compositioncomposition TenaliTenali RamakrishnaRamakrishna :: renownedrenowned forfor hishis readyready witwit andand choicechoice ofof words,words, wrotewrote ‘‘PandurangaPanduranga MahatmyamuMahatmyamu ’’,, aa classicclassic

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 17 AfterAfter VijayanagaraVijayanagara empireempire (1336(1336 --16461646 a.da.d )) patronagepatronage shiftedshifted toto TanjavurTanjavur ((NayakaNayaka ’’ss)) QualityQuality declined,declined, mostmost ofof thethe outputoutput aa poorpoor imitationimitation ofof earlierearlier worksworks VemanaVemana ofof 1818 th century,century, aa welcomewelcome changechange fromfrom thethe traditiontradition

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 18 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: breakbreak fromfrom pastpast

VemanaVemana ,, aa socialsocial andand religiousreligious rebel,rebel, usedused simplesimple poetrypoetry toto conveyconvey hishis messagemessage TheThe metermeter hehe chosechose waswas ‘‘AaTaveladiAaTaveladi ’’,, aa quartetquartet --metermeter hehe handledhandled withwith felicityfelicity NoNo poeticpoetic embellishmentsembellishments oror scholasticscholastic displaydisplay ;; easilyeasily understoodunderstood && rememberedremembered SoSo popular,popular, everyevery AndhraAndhra cancan reciterecite atat leastleast aa fewfew ofof hishis hundredshundreds ofof versesverses

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 19 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: VemanaVemana

AA samplesample ofof VemanaVemana ’’ss poetry:poetry:

““PeoplePeople maymay boastboast ofof pedigreepedigree oror caste,caste, TheyThey maymay bebe arrogantarrogant withwith education,education, ButBut allall areare slavesslaves toto thethe richrich ““

““WhyWhy provideprovide colorfulcolorful dressdress toto thethe idol,idol, BowlfulsBowlfuls ofof foodfood andand fabulousfabulous temples?temples? DoesDoes GodGod wantwant food,food, clothingclothing andand shelter?shelter? ””

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 20 TeluguTelugu Literature:Literature: breakbreak fromfrom pastpast

GurajadaGurajada ApparaoApparao && GiduguGidugu RamamurtyRamamurty championedchampioned thethe causecause ofof spokenspoken TeluguTelugu GurajadaGurajada ’’ss ‘‘KanyasulkamKanyasulkam ’’,, aa playplay inin whichwhich spokenspoken TeluguTelugu isis usedused withwith tellingtelling effecteffect GiduguGidugu silencedsilenced orthodoxorthodox classicistsclassicists withwith hishis writingswritings && speeches;speeches; mademade wayway forfor spoken(vyavaharikaspoken(vyavaharika )) TeluguTelugu asas aa validvalid andand preferablepreferable literaryliterary mediummedium

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 21 TeluguTelugu Literature:Literature: breakbreak fromfrom pastpast

ClassicalClassical eraera retreated,retreated, butbut withwith aa flourish.flourish. ViswanadhaViswanadha SatyanarayanaSatyanarayana ,, aa colossalcolossal literaryliterary figurefigure withwith aa widewide rangerange ofof worksworks inin classicalclassical genre,genre, receivedreceived thethe JnanpeethJnanpeeth awardaward forfor hishis ‘‘RamayanaRamayana kalpavrikshamukalpavrikshamu ’’ DevulapalliDevulapalli KrishnasastryKrishnasastry ’’ss ‘‘KrishnapakshamuKrishnapakshamu --UrvasiUrvasi ’’ standsstands outout asas lyricallyrical romanticromantic poetrypoetry (( ‘‘BhavakavitvamuBhavakavitvamu ’’))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 22 TeluguTelugu Literature:Literature: thethe modernmodern eraera

SriSri SriSri ,, shortshort forfor SrirangamSrirangam SrinivasaSrinivasa RaoRao ,, hailedhailed asas thethe harbingerharbinger ofof modernmodern poetrypoetry ((‘‘NavayugavaitalikaNavayugavaitalika ’’,, 19111911 --1983)1983)

‘‘MahaprasthanamMahaprasthanam ’’ anan anthologyanthology inin blankblank andand rhythmicrhythmic verse,verse, employedemployed spokenspoken Telugu,Telugu, addressedaddressed thethe plightplight ofof thethe commoncommon manman andand setset thethe tonetone forfor allall modernmodern telugutelugu poetrypoetry

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 23 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: poetrypoetry ofof Sri.Sri. SriSri

““WhenWhen youyou looklook atat thethe historyhistory ofof nationsnations WhatWhat isis therethere toto bebe proudproud ofof ?? TheThe entireentire historyhistory ofof mankindmankind IsIs oneone ofof oppressionoppression andand exploitationexploitation ”” ““TheThe strongstrong subjugatedsubjugated thethe weak,weak, MurderersMurderers becamebecame emperorsemperors andand mademade aa namename forfor themselves;themselves; NoNo placeplace wherewhere aa battlebattle hasnhasn ’’tt beenbeen foughtfought TheThe pastpast isis drencheddrenched inin bloodblood oror sweatsweat ””

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 24 TeluguTelugu literature:literature: ProseProse

MostMost literature,literature, tilltill thethe adventadvent ofof modernmodern era,era, waswas aa combinationcombination ofof poetrypoetry && proseprose (called(called ‘‘champuchampu ’’)) inin classicalclassical TeluguTelugu ‘‘PurePure ’’ prose,prose, inin thethe formform ofof novels,novels, essaysessays oror shortshort storiesstories beganbegan onlyonly inin 1919 th centurycentury GurajadaGurajada ,, thethe advocateadvocate ofof spokenspoken Telugu,Telugu, wrotewrote exemplaryexemplary shortshort storiesstories (( inin additionaddition toto thethe playplay ‘‘KanyasulkamKanyasulkam ’’ andand poemspoems inin ‘‘MatrachandassuMatrachandassu ’’))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 25 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: ProseProse

GudipatiGudipati VenkatachalamVenkatachalam ((‘‘ChalamChalam ’’)) railedrailed againstagainst orthodoxorthodox practicespractices inin thethe societysociety andand espousedespoused thethe causecause ofof womenwomen inin hishis novelsnovels andand storiesstories KodavatigantiKodavatiganti KutumbaraoKutumbarao ((‘‘koko .. kuku ’’),), aa prolificprolific writerwriter whosewhose storiesstories andand essaysessays gavegave anan exposeexpose ’’ ofof thethe middlemiddle classclass ChagantiChaganti SomayajuluSomayajulu ((‘‘Cha.Cha. So.So. ’’):): mastermaster ofof thethe shortshort --storystory withwith thethe properproper idiomidiom

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 26 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: ProseProse

RachakondaRachakonda ViswanadhaViswanadha (( Ra.Ra. Vi.)Vi.) SastrySastry consideredconsidered thethe mostmost powerfulpowerful writer,writer, bothboth inin termsterms ofof thethe languagelanguage andand thethe messagemessage (( hencehence calledcalled ““SriSri SriSri ’’ inin proseprose ””)) WroteWrote mostlymostly inin thethe northnorth --easterneastern dialectdialect ((VisaakhaVisaakha MaanDalikamMaanDalikam )) highlightinghighlighting thethe plightplight ofof thethe lowerlower classes.classes. HisHis novelsnovels :: -- ‘‘AlpaAlpa jeevijeevi ’’,, ‘‘RattaluRattalu --RambabuRambabu ’’ && moremore

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 27 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: recentrecent celebritiescelebrities

C.NarayanaC.Narayana ReddyReddy (( ci.na.reci.na.re ):): writerwriter ofof widewide rangerange whowho balancedbalanced thethe traditionaltraditional withwith thethe modern;modern; 22 nd JnaanJnaan PeethPeeth awardeeawardee DevarakondaDevarakonda BalagangadharaBalagangadhara TilakTilak :: notednoted forfor sensitivesensitive lyricallyrical blankblank verseverse ((‘‘AmritamAmritam kurisinakurisina raatriraatri ’’,, aa lovelylovely anthology)anthology) OtherOther notenote --worthyworthy writerswriters :: GunturuGunturu SeshendraSeshendra SarmaSarma ,, ‘‘AjantaAjanta ’’ (( PenumartiPenumarti ViswanadhaViswanadha SastrySastry ),), ’’DigambaraDigambara poetspoets ’’,, BoyiBoyi BheemannaBheemanna ,, MohanaprasadMohanaprasad (( ‘‘MoMo ’’))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 28 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: recentrecent trendstrends

FeministFeminist poetrypoetry :: ProblemsProblems ofof womenwomen inin thethe societysociety addressedaddressed withoutwithout inhibitioninhibition SavitriSavitri (( 19491949 --’’91,91, ‘‘DacoitsDacoits ’’,, ‘‘HousewifeHousewife ’’)) KondepudiKondepudi NirmalaNirmala ,(,( ‘‘LabourLabour RoomRoom ’’,, ‘‘ThadisiThadisi MopedainaMopedaina kathakatha ’’)) describingdescribing thethe travailstravails ofof womenwomen duringduring childchild --birthbirth JayaprabhaJayaprabha :: askingasking womenwomen toto rebelrebel againstagainst conventionalconventional moralitymorality (( ‘‘chintalachintala nemalinemali ’’,, ‘‘PaitaPaita ’’))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 29 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: currentcurrent trendstrends

‘‘DalitDalit ’’:: literatureliterature ofof thethe oppressedoppressed AddressingAddressing untouchabilityuntouchability ,, childchild laborlabor politicalpolitical exploitation,exploitation, NaxaliteNaxalite movementmovement DoesDoes notnot employemploy classicalclassical languagelanguage oror metermeter FreeFree useuse ofof slangslang NoteworthyNoteworthy writers:writers: EndlooriEndloori SudhakarSudhakar ‘‘vartamaanamvartamaanam ’’(( thethe present)present) SivasagarSivasagar :: ‘‘NaDustunnaNaDustunna charitracharitra ’’ (the(the currentcurrent history)history) KhaderKhader MohiuddinMohiuddin :: ‘‘PuTTuPuTTu macchamaccha ’’ (( mole)mole) DariseDarise SesiSesi NirmalaNirmala :: ‘‘DalituraluDalituralu ’’ (the(the oppressedoppressed woman)woman) Harvard Outreach - Telugu 30 TeluguTelugu :: AvadhanamuAvadhanamu

LiteraryLiterary featfeat knownknown inin SanskritSanskrit CurrentlyCurrently inin TeluguTelugu andand KannadaKannada AA testtest ofof thethe powerspowers ofof memory,memory, readyready versificationversification andand thethe abilityability toto performperform multiplemultiple taskstasks simultaneouslysimultaneously DependingDepending onon thethe numbernumber ofof tasks,tasks, itit ’’ss anan ‘‘AshtavadhanamAshtavadhanam ’’(eight(eight ),), ‘‘SatavadhanamSatavadhanam ’’ (hundred),(hundred), ‘‘SahasravadhanamSahasravadhanam ’’ (thousand)(thousand)

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 31 TeluguTelugu :: AvadhanamAvadhanam

oneone whowho performsperforms isis ‘‘AvadhaniAvadhani ’’ oneone whowho teststests isis ‘‘PricchakaPricchaka ’’(questioner(questioner )) QuestionsQuestions areare literaryliterary andand demanddemand promptprompt versificationversification observingobserving rulesrules ofof prosodyprosody RestrictionsRestrictions areare placedplaced re:re: useuse ofof certaincertain syllablessyllables oror lettersletters inin specificspecific locationslocations TheThe topictopic ofof thethe question,question, thethe metermeter andand otherother constraintsconstraints maymay varyvary forfor eacheach verseverse

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 32 TeluguTelugu :: ashtavadhanamuashtavadhanamu

TheThe avadhaniavadhani isis notnot allowedallowed toto versifyversify allall fourfour lineslines atat aa stretch;stretch; afterafter thethe firstfirst lineline isis done,done, thethe 22 nd pricchakapricchaka comescomes upup withwith hishis questionquestion toto whichwhich thethe avadhaniavadhani respondsresponds inin verseverse withwith aa newnew line,line, movesmoves onon toto thethe 33rd ,, andand soso onon tilltill allall (8)(8) questionersquestioners areare satisfied.satisfied. TheThe avadhaniavadhani thenthen recitesrecites allall thethe firstfirst lineslines ofof thethe 8,8, doesdoes thethe 22 nd lineline ofof eacheach verseverse inin aa similarsimilar mannermanner (round(round --robin)robin) tilltill allall fourfour lineslines ofof eacheach verseverse areare done.done.

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 33 TeluguTelugu :: ashtavadhanamuashtavadhanamu

DuringDuring thethe versification,versification, whichwhich isis thethe mainmain test,test, oneone ofof thethe questionersquestioners maymay keepkeep ringingringing aa bellbell andand thethe avadhaniavadhani hashas toto keepkeep tracktrack ofof thethe numbernumber ofof bellbell --ringsrings AttentionAttention maymay bebe diverteddiverted byby aa ‘‘pricchakapricchaka ’’ whowho intervenesintervenes atat randomrandom withwith irrelevantirrelevant ((‘‘aprastutaaprastuta ’’)) queriesqueries thatthat thethe avadhaniavadhani hashas toto answeranswer withwith readyready witwit oror reparteerepartee

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 34 TeluguTelugu :: avadhanamuavadhanamu

AtAt thethe end,end, thethe avadhaniavadhani willwill havehave toto reciterecite thethe 44 lineslines ofof thethe verseverse intendedintended forfor eacheach ‘‘pricchakapricchaka ’’ inin properproper sequencesequence (( havinghaving observedobserved allall thethe prescribedprescribed restrictions),restrictions), respondrespond properlyproperly toto thethe ‘‘aprastutaaprastuta ’’ (( irrelevant)irrelevant) questionsquestions andand givegive anan accurateaccurate tallytally ofof thethe bellbell --rings!rings! TheThe moremore thethe ## questioners,questioners, thethe greatergreater thethe challengechallenge andand thethe greatergreater thethe credit.credit.

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 35 TeluguTelugu :: avadhanamuavadhanamu

InIn thethe modernmodern eraera DivakarlaDivakarla TirupatiTirupati SastriSastri andand ChellapillaChellapilla VenkataVenkata SastriSastri (( ‘‘TirupatiTirupati VenkataVenkata KavuluKavulu ’’),), inin additionaddition toto beingbeing wellwell --knownknown playplay -- wrights,wrights, areare thethe mostmost famousfamous avadhanisavadhanis whosewhose prowessprowess isis legendarylegendary CurrentCurrent avadhanisavadhanis areare many:many: MadugulaMadugula NagaphaniNagaphani SarmaSarma ,, MedasaniMedasani Mohan,Mohan, GarikipatiGarikipati NarasimharaoNarasimharao ,, RallabandiRallabandi KavitaprasadKavitaprasad andand manymany othersothers whowho havehave performedperformed ashtaashta ,, satasata ,, sahasrasahasra ,, andand dvisahasradvisahasra avadhanamsavadhanams

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 36 TeluguTelugu script,script, grammargrammar andand prosodyprosody TheThe scriptscript isis closeclose toto KannadaKannada VowelsVowels (( ‘‘AcchuluAcchulu ’’):): అఅ ఆఆ ఇఇ ఈఈ ఉఉ ఊఊ ఋఋ ౠౠ ఎఎ ఏఏ ఐఐ ఒఒ ఓఓ ఔఔ అంఅఅంఅ ◌ః◌ః Consonants(Consonants( ‘‘HalluluHallulu ’’)) :: కక ఖఖ గగ ఘఘ ఙఙ చచ ఛఛ జజ ఝఝ ఞఞ టట ఠఠ డడ ఢఢ ణణ తత థథ దద ధధ నన పప ఫఫ బబ భభ మమ యయ రర లల వవ శశ షష సస హహ ళళ

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 37 TeluguTelugu GrammarGrammar

DerivedDerived fromfrom SanskritSanskrit (( ‘‘TatsamaTatsama ’’)) e.g.e.g. ’’simhasimha ’’ ModifiedModified (( ‘‘TadbhavaTadbhava ’’)) e.g.e.g. ’’singamusingamu ’’ ‘‘DesyaDesya ’’ :: regionalregional (( ‘‘AcchaAccha TeluguTelugu ’’)) ‘‘GramyaGramya ’’ :: alsoalso regional,regional, butbut slangslang

CaseCase ofof thethe nounsnouns byby addingadding suffixsuffix oror prefixprefix డ4డ4 మ5మ5 వ6వ6 ల7ల7 etc.etc. accordingaccording toto thethe casecase e.g.,e.g., ‘‘nannunannu ’’,, ‘‘neethoneetho ’’,, ‘‘meekumeeku ’’ etc.etc.

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 38 TeluguTelugu GrammarGrammar

Gender(Gender( ‘‘lingalinga ’’)) ‘‘Mahat(Mahat( ‘‘pumpum ’’)) :: male;male; ‘‘MahatiMahati ’’((‘‘streestree ’’):): female;female; ‘‘amahatamahat ’’((‘‘napumsakanapumsaka ’’):): neuterneuter Number(Number( ‘‘vachanavachana )) :: Singular(Singular( ‘‘EkaEka ’’)) Plural(Plural( ‘‘BahuBahu ’’)) Tense(Tense( ‘‘kaalakaala ’’):): asas inin EnglishEnglish ‘‘SandhiSandhi ’’ :: joiningjoining 22 wordswords e.g.,e.g., ‘‘meerumeeru ’’++’’evaruevaru ’’== ‘‘meerevarumeerevaru ’’ ((‘‘whowho areare you?you? ’’))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 39 TeluguTelugu Prosody(Prosody( ‘‘chandassuchandassu ’’))

MetersMeters fromfrom SanskritSanskrit withwith minorminor changeschanges UtpalamalaUtpalamala ,, champakamalachampakamala ,, mattebhamattebha ,, SardoolaSardoola ,, sragdharasragdhara ,, bhujangaprayatabhujangaprayata etc.etc. MetersMeters indigenous:indigenous: SeesaSeesa ,, kandakanda ,, aaTaveladiaaTaveladi ,, ThETageethiThETageethi etcetc TheThe rulesrules requirerequire arrangementarrangement ofof lettersletters inin aa uniformuniform mannermanner withwith rhymingrhyming ofof thethe 11 st letterletter ofof eacheach lineline withwith anotheranother letterletter ofof specificspecific locatilocationon (( yatiyati andand praasapraasa ))

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 40 TeluguTelugu ‘‘ChandassuChandassu ’’ ((‘‘DesiDesi ’’))

MetersMeters constructed,constructed, notnot basedbased onon lettersletters butbut onon groupsgroups ofof syllables;syllables; versesverses areare notnot asas rigidrigid asas thethe SanskritSanskrit --derivedderived metersmeters --‘‘ShaTpadiShaTpadi (from(from Kannada),Kannada), RagaDaRagaDa ,, MutyaalasaramMutyaalasaram (( popularizedpopularized byby GurazadaGurazada ,, RayaproluRayaprolu SubbaraoSubbarao andand Sri.Sri. Sri.),Sri.), e.g.,e.g., ‘‘DesamanTeDesamanTe maTTikaadoymaTTikaadoy (( AA countrycountry isis notnot aa piecepiece ofof land)land) DesamanTeDesamanTe manushuloymanushuloy ’’ (( AA countrycountry isis itsits people)people)

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 41 TeluguTelugu prosodyprosody :: currentcurrent statusstatus

MostMost ofof thethe currentcurrent poetrypoetry isis ‘‘ FreeFree VerseVerse ’’ ((‘‘vachanavachana KavitaKavita ’’),), feasiblefeasible forfor anyone,anyone, oror BlankBlank Verse(Verse( ‘‘geyageya kavitakavita ’’)) whichwhich requiresrequires somesome commandcommand ofof thethe languagelanguage VeryVery littlelittle isis inin thethe formform ofof ‘‘DesiDesi chandassuchandassu ’’)) andand eveneven lessless inin thethe formform ofof rigidrigid metersmeters becausebecause theythey requirerequire soundsound knowledgeknowledge ofof thethe language,language, thethe grammargrammar andand prosodyprosody

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 42 TeluguTelugu :: contributioncontribution toto musicmusic

InIn KarnaticKarnatic (( SouthSouth IndianIndian classical)classical) musicmusic aa vastvast majoritymajority ofof compositionscompositions –– kirtanaskirtanas ,, varnamsvarnams ,, padamspadams ,, javalisjavalis ,, thillanasthillanas –– areare inin Telugu.Telugu. ManyMany vaggeyakarasvaggeyakaras (composers)(composers) enrichedenriched thethe SastraSastra (science),(science), sampradayasampradaya (tradition)(tradition) andand SahityaSahitya (literature)(literature) ofof musicmusic (already(already inin vogue)vogue) byby theirtheir devotionaldevotional andand romanticromantic compositionscompositions suitablesuitable forfor ganagana (song)(song) andand abhinayaabhinaya (dance)(dance)

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 43 TeluguTelugu :: contributioncontribution toto musicmusic

ForemostForemost amongamong themthem isis TallapakaTallapaka AnnamacharyaAnnamacharya (15(15 th CenturyCentury A.D.)A.D.) whowho composedcomposed overover 30,00030,000 kirtanaskirtanas inin praisepraise ofof LordLord TirupatiTirupati VenkateswaraVenkateswara (( ofof thesethese onlyonly aboutabout 8,0008,000 areare availableavailable andand onlyonly aa fewfew hundredhundred areare setset toto tune).tune). TheThe compositionscompositions areare outstandingoutstanding bothboth forfor theirtheir literaryliterary meritmerit andand devotiondevotion

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 44 TeluguTelugu :: contributioncontribution toto musicmusic

-- ManyMany greatgreat vaggeyakarasvaggeyakaras followedfollowed AnnamayaAnnamaya ;; wellwell --knownknown amongamong themthem areare TyagarajaTyagaraja andand SyamaSyama SastriSastri ((DikshitarDikshitar mostlymostly usedused Sanskrit)Sanskrit) ofof thethe 1919 th Century,Century, who,who, tilltill thethe discoverydiscovery ofof AnnamayaAnnamaya ’’ss works,works, werewere consideredconsidered toto bebe thethe mostmost importantimportant contributorscontributors toto thethe SahityaSahitya ofof KarnaticKarnatic music.music. -- KshetrayyaKshetrayya ’’ss andand SarangapaniSarangapani ’’ss padamspadams ,, richrich inin TeluguTelugu idiom,idiom, areare usedused forfor AbhinayaAbhinaya

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 45 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: ‘‘SatakaSataka SahityaSahitya ’’ SatakaSataka (( AA hundredhundred verses)verses) FirstFirst SatakasSatakas inin SanskritSanskrit (( ‘‘AmaruAmaru ’’ SatakaSataka andand ‘‘SubhashitaSubhashita TrisatiTrisati ’’ (( ‘‘goodgood wordswords inin threethree hundredhundred versesverses ’’)) byby BhartrihariBhartrihari ;; laterlater inin KannadaKannada andand TeluguTelugu Verses,Verses, byby definition,definition, areare inin oneone metermeter LastLast lineslines oror words(words( ‘‘makutamakuta ’’)))) areare thethe samesame andand usuallyusually dedicateddedicated toto aa favoritefavorite deitydeity (( ishtaishta daivadaiva )) UnlikeUnlike ‘‘kavyaskavyas ’’(( classics),classics), theythey addressaddress social,social, political,political, oror personalpersonal issuesissues OverOver 300300 SatakasSatakas inin TeluguTelugu

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 46 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: SatakaSataka SahityaSahitya

OfOf thethe 300300 satakassatakas ,, aa couplecouple ofof examples:examples: -- FromFrom ‘‘SumatiSumati ’’ (( ‘‘goodgood mindmind ’’):): byby BaddenaBaddena (12(12 th centurycentury A.D.)A.D.) ““oneone ’’ss ireire isis oneone ’’ss enemyenemy oneone ’’ss patiencepatience isis anan armor,armor, oneone ’’ss compassioncompassion aa friend,friend, oneone ’’ss happinesshappiness isis aa heavenheaven oneone ’’ss sorrowsorrow isis aa hellhell forfor certain!certain! (( OO !! oneone withwith goodgood mind!)mind!)

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 47 TeluguTelugu LiteratureLiterature :: SatakaSataka SahityaSahitya

‘Kalahastiswara Sataka ’ ( Dhurjati ) :16 th century A.D.) : The poems contain a scathing criticism of the society, the ruling class, his own failings or even God himself, with a deep yearning for peace and divine help.

“Why do some people think of killing others and taking over their thrones? Don ’t they die themselves, doesn ’t their wealth leave them? Do they live for ever with their wives, sons and friends? Doesn ’t Death come some day, O God of Kalahasti ?” (from the translation by Heifetz , H and Narayana Rao,V )

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 48 TeluguTelugu literatureliterature :: mainmain referencesreferences

:: SamagraSamagra AndhraAndhra SahityamuSahityamu byby ArudraArudra -- 1414 volsvols ModernModern TeluguTelugu poetry:poetry: AA reviewreview inin EnglishEnglish byby V.MandeswararaoV.Mandeswararao KavyaKavya MalaMala :: AnthologyAnthology ofof TeluguTelugu poetrypoetry editor:editor: KaturiKaturi VenkateswaraVenkateswara RaoRao

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 49 TeluguTelugu poetrypoetry :: fromfrom thethe diasporadiaspora ‘‘AnAn immigrantimmigrant ’’ss angstangst ’’ ‘‘WhatWhat aa triptrip onon thethe U.S.U.S. highwayhighway LikeLike anan aimlessaimless castaway!castaway! AmidstAmidst ‘‘plentyplenty ’’ areare problemsproblems galoregalore EndlessEndless isis thisthis headhead --bangingbanging chore!chore!

WhatWhat areare ourour roots,roots, wherewhere areare wewe headedheaded InIn allall directionsdirections scattered;scattered; NeverNever inin ourour dreamsdreams diddid wewe imagineimagine ThisThis forlornforlorn exileexile foreign!foreign!

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 50 ‘‘AnAn immigrantimmigrant ’’ss angstangst ’’

WeWe plungedplunged headlongheadlong intointo lifelife westernwestern TastedTasted luxuryluxury stemstem toto stern;stern; ButBut moralmoral strifestrife betweenbetween EastEast andand WestWest HardlyHardly givesgives usus anan iotaiota ofof restrest

OurOur heartheart isis inin India,India, letlet ’’ss admitadmit ThoughThough wewe lacklack thethe couragecourage toto quitquit –– ThoughtsThoughts ofof ourour youngyoung onesones alwaysalways haunthaunt usus AndAnd advancingadvancing yearsyears frightenfrighten usus

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 51 ‘‘AnAn immigrantimmigrant ’’ss angstangst ’’

TheThe passingpassing awayaway wewe periodicallyperiodically hearhear OfOf thethe fewfew thatthat areare nearnear andand dear,dear, FromFrom stroke,stroke, heartheart attack,attack, byby --passpass surgerysurgery OrOr aa cancercancer casecase inin everyevery familyfamily

Alas!Alas! whowho isis therethere toto carecare forfor us?us? --Children?Children? TheirTheir prioritiespriorities arenaren ’’tt ours;ours; LeftLeft withwith socialsocial (( in)securityin)security areare wewe NursingNursing homehome residentsresidents --toto --bebe

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 52 ‘‘AnAn immigrantimmigrant ’’ss angstangst ’’

TheThe brighterbrighter halfhalf ofof ourour lifelife isis overover TheThe darkerdarker phasephase hashas begun,begun, moreovermoreover WhatWhat isis thethe pointpoint inin broodingbrooding nownow KnowingKnowing wewe reapreap whatwhat wewe sow?sow?

LifeLife maymay bebe cozycozy inin thethe U.S.U.S. mansionmansion ButBut uncertainuncertain thethe longlong --termterm prognosticationprognostication AmidstAmidst ‘‘plentyplenty ’’ areare problemsproblems galore!galore! UselessUseless isis thisthis headhead --bangingbanging chore!!chore!!

Harvard Outreach - Telugu 53 TeluguTelugu LanguageLanguage && LiteratureLiterature

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