January 16, 2014

Tataji's poem in the 1934 compilation Golkonda Kavula Sanchika

A glimpse of history for those who may not know it. Mudumba Venkata Raghavacharyulu writing in the Golkonda Patrika's ninth Ugadi edition commented "there are very few Telugu poets in the Nizam state" (నిజాము రాష్ట్రములో ఆంద్ర కవులు పూజ్యము).
Suravaram Pratap Reddy considered this to be the result of lack of awareness. As this was not the first time such opinions had been expressed by the residents of British India, he decided to dispel the notion once and for all.

Suravaram invited Telugu poets in Hyderabad state to contribute poems to a collection called Golkonda Kavula Sanchika (loose translation: a compilation from the poets of Hyderabad). Several conditions were placed both on the contributions themselves as well as the poems. Only poets from the Hyderabad state were permitted.

The response was tremendous: poems poured in from ten districts (including Gulbarga & Raichur). The poets hailed from as many as 20 different castes.

Dr. Phaneendra, a poet and an avid blogger, recently published a blog post with excerpts from Golkonda Kavula Sanchika. He included the contributions of three family elders whose poems were published in the compilation. VST Sayee, a commenter on the blog, kindly provided a link to a recent version of the book.

Gottimukkala Radhakishan Rao, my paternal grandfather, was a teacher, poet and an astrologer. Tataji's closely associates included several luminaries such as Garlapati Raghava Reddy, Udayaraju Sheshagiri Rao, Cholleti Narasimha Sharma and the Kaloji brothers. His students included Palla Durgaiah, PV Narahimha Rao, C. Narayana Reddy and the Dasaradhi brothers.

According to family anecdotes, Tataji was one of the contributors in the compilation. I could find Tataji's Telugu poem from the link quite easily thanks to the help.

The poem is titled వసంత ఋతువు (vasanta rutuvu, i.e. spring) based on Kalidas's ritusamhara. I am providing a rough transliteration (using web based tools) as well as a screenshot below. I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Phaneendra and Mr. Sayee for helping to uncover our family's role in an important historic milestone.

వసంత ఋతువు
కొదమ తుమ్మెద గమి ధనుర్గుణము చేసి
ఫుల్ల చూతాంకురముల సమ్ముల జేసి
కాముకుల డెందముల జీల్పంగా దలంచి
చావ! చనుజెంచె యోజ వసంతుడదుగో
రమ్య దీర్ఘికాంబులకు రత్నకాంచి
కావితతికి విలాసినీ గణములకు
సోమరుచులకు పుష్పిత చూతములకు
నొసగు సౌభాగ్యమీ వసంతోదయంబు
కర్ణములయందు నవకర్ణికారములను
కలితచంచల నీలాల కమ్ములందు
ఫుల్లనవమల్లికాశోక పుష్పవితతి
దాల్చి వెలయింతురౌ ప్రమదాజనమ్ము
చందనాద్ర హారంబులస్త సములందు
వలయముల నంగదంబుల బాహులందు
నవ్యకమనీయ కాంచుల నడుమలందు
తరుణులు ధరింత్రు కామసంతంప్తలగుచు
కామశిథిలంబు లైనట్టి గాత్రములను
వాడె యుచ్చాసచేవీడు బంధములను
గలిగి దగ్గరనేయున్న కాంతులందు

కమలనేత్రలు కడు ప్రేమ గలిగి యుంద్రు

36 comments:

  1. (దీనికన్న ముందు నేను రాసిన టపాలో కొన్ని దోషములు దొరలినవి. పూర్తి సవరణముతో నున్నదిది.)

    గొట్టిముక్కలవారూ! మీరు ప్రచురించిన "వసంత ఋతువు" తేటగీతులు చాలా బాగున్నవి. మీరు వీనిని ప్రతిలిఖించునపుడు కొన్ని టైపాటులు దొరలినవి. వానిని సవరించి ఈ దిగువ నొసగుచున్నాను. పరిశీలింపుడు.

    వసంత ఋతువు

    కొదమ తుమ్మెద గమి ధనుర్గుణము చేసి
    ఫుల్ల చూతాంకురముల నమ్ములనుఁ జేసి
    కాముకుల డెందములఁ జీల్పఁగాఁ దలంచి
    చాన! చనుదెంచె యోజ వసంతుఁడదుగొ!

    రమ్య దీర్ఘికాంబువులకు రత్నకాంచి
    కా వితతికి విలాసినీ గణములకు
    సోమరుచులకు పుష్పిత చూతములకు
    నొసఁగు సౌభాగ్యమీ వసంతోదయంబు!

    కర్ణములయందు నవకర్ణికారములను
    కలిత చంచల నీలాలకమ్ములందు
    ఫుల్లనవమల్లికాశోక పుష్పవితతిఁ
    దాల్చి వెలయింతురౌ ప్రమదాజనమ్ము!

    చందనార్ద్ర హారంబుల స్తనములందు
    వలయముల నంగదంబుల బాహులందు
    నవ్యకమనీయ కాంచుల నడుమలందు
    తరుణులు ధరింత్రు కామసంతప్తలగుచు!

    కామశిథిలంబు లైనట్టి గాత్రములను
    వాఁడి యుచ్ఛ్వాసచేవీడు బంధములను
    గలిగి దగ్గఱనేయున్న కాంతులందు
    కమలనేత్రలు కడు ప్రేమఁ గలిగి యుంద్రు!.

    (కాళిదాసు ఋతుసంహారమునుండి)

    పై విధముగ చేసిన నా సవరణమును గాంచి అన్యధాభావింపవలదని మనవి.
    తెలంగాణ కవివతంసులకు జై!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. మధు గారూ, నాకు కవిత్వం గురించి అవగాహన తక్కువ. మా కుటుంబ పెద్దల కవిత్వం దొరికిందనే ఆనందంలో transliteration లోని తప్పులు గమనించలేకపోయాను. తప్పులు సవరించినందుకు చాలా థాంక్సండీ.

      Delete
  2. Congratulations on finding your granpa's poem

    Please provide a translation into English or easier Telugu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot.

      My knowledge of grandhikam is not strong enough to translate this poem. Sorry about that.

      Delete
  3. Email from Dileep Konatham:

    Great find Jai. I am happy that you could unearth this rare ancestral property!

    ReplyDelete
  4. why u drag telangana into everyting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am only recounting history. What makes you believe I am dragging Telangana into this?

      Delete
  5. Jai, such is the narrow mind of Dr Acharya Phanindra who try to portray a region in bad light based on an individual's opinion. No, I am not judging on his blogpost on Golconda kavula sanchika, but thats how he usually thinks.. There are enough cordial relations between the poets of two regions even those days.

    One of my paternal grand father (sri Ambatipudi Venkata Ratnam) is the 1st one to start a literary established called 'Sahiti Mekhala' in Nalgonda dist of telangana during Nizam days.

    http://namasthetelangaana.com/News/Article.asp?category=1&subCategory=7&ContentId=246244

    He did a great work in literary collection & publication of telangana poets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the info. You are indeed lucky to be born into the family of such a great pioneer.

      I will refrain from reacting to your criticism of Dr. Phaneendra.

      Delete
    2. Why you ignored satya's comment about cordial relation between 2 regions?

      Delete
    3. Satya is entitled to his opinion that there were cordial relations between the poets of Hyderabad & Madras in those days.

      However we also note Mudumba (and others) believed there were no Telugu poets in Hyderabad. How can non-existent poets have relations, cordial or otherwise? If the relations existed, this mistaken belief would not have taken root.

      Satya's grandfather moved to Hyderabad in 1934, the year Golkonda Kavula Sanchika was published. I guess the situation changed after this. Poets of the two states got to know each other both due to an appreciation of mutual work (thanks to Suravaram) and personal relations (thanks to Ambatipudi & other pioneers)

      Delete
    4. Jai, you are trying to draw parallel between 2 unrelated things ie. publication of Golconda Kavula Sanchika & Venkataratnam garu's work, based on an ignorant statement of mudumba.. are you indirectly trying to suggest only after Golconda kavula sanchika, Venkataratnam garu or entire andhra poets came to know about the telangana poets and everything changed all of a sudden? Come on.. you need not justify every popular belief just because you are supporting a cause. yeah.. probably you may entitled to define your own theory of events..

      Delete
    5. Which event are you referring to? I am not referring to Mudumba's statement but the publication of the compilation published at Suravaram's initiative.

      Suravaram in his introduction states the following:

      1. There are many Telugu poets in Hyderabad state
      2. However due to various reasons, their work is largely unknown

      You may kindly note the reasons stated by Suravaram are unrelated to the people of Madras province. He specifically states he is not surprised by Mudumba's (and that of others) statement.

      It therefore emerges the compilation introduced Hyderabad Telugu poets to the rest of the world.

      The fact that Madras pioneers like Ambatipudi started interactions with Hyderabad around the same time helped enhance increase the awareness and mutual respect.

      In sum, these are unrelated events that however resulted in complimenting each other as they (coincidentally) occurred at the same time.

      Delete
    6. I must add I fully admire Ambatipudi's contribution as much as that of Tataji & Suravaram. They were all great men deserving our respect.

      Delete
  6. nice to go through d poem written by taataaji.Thanks for ur link

    ReplyDelete
  7. WOW!!! That's so amazing that you found Tataji's Poem and thank you so much for sharing!!Balam Annayya, can you simplify the language for a paamaru raalu like me? That would help me enjoy this literary gem!!! -Shailu

    ReplyDelete
  8. Friends, just to provide an insight on the two comments above.

    Dr. Palla Ratnakar is a doctor by profession and a poet by inclination. The latter is probably derived from the fact he is the son of the legendary late Dr. Palla Duraiah garu.

    Please see the following for more info on Dr. Palla Durgaih:

    http://www.bookerworm.com/resources/authors/1598547-dr-palla-durgiah.html
    http://orlabs.oclc.org/identities/lccn-n81-108567

    ReplyDelete
  9. i am very happy to see this poem. i have the copy of the golakonda kavula sanchika with me. i have already studied it. its very beautiful poem. i congrats u protect your grand pa's poem and bring it into lime light . this is ur real tribute to your grand pa.

    ReplyDelete
  10. వసంత ఋతువు ఆగమనాన్ని..ప్రకృతి ప్రేరేపించే కామోద్దీకరణాన్ని తద్వారా ప్రియుడికి లభించే ప్రియురాలి ప్రేమానురాగాల్ని అద్భుతంగా వర్ణించారు కాళిదాసు గారు..అంతే అద్భుతంగా తెలుగున అనువదించారు మీ తాతగారు తాతాజీ గారు..వారిద్దరితో బాటు మీకు ధన్యవాదములు..

    ReplyDelete
  11. Email from Radha Macherla:

    nice that you found such precious information from 1934 edition. in fact we have copies of all books Tataji wrote now with us. Andhrikruta Rutusamharam he himself read for us while i was still in high school. Ranganayaka Shatakam and Srishaila Malleshwara Taravali books were in tens then and a few still with us today.His Chatuvulu in his hand writing is alive. he wrote hundreds of other poems and articles. as you wrote all poets were his friends and their regular meeting place was the open place ,garden & lawn of VEYISTAMBHALA GUDI the famous Thousand Pillared Temple of Hanamkonda. the story of library agitation is known to all in which he played an important role. there was a great co-operation between the Nizam area poets. they spoke their mind without fear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My response to Radhakka:

      It is a great news Tataji’s books are available with you. We will try to get them reprinted and brought back to circulation.

      Delete
  12. Looks like t-people in those days used the word andhra a lot

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes.

      Did you notice the context? The word "Andhra" was *only* used for the Telugu language. It was *never* was used for the region (i.e. the then 8 districts of Telangana).

      Delete
    2. The reason Andhra was used is because Andhras started migrating to the region ever since Secunderabad was administrated by the British. Gottimukkalas, Pullamrajus (Burgula Ramakrishna Rao's surname) migrated to this region during that time. Mudumbai's are from Chittoor.

      Delete
    3. Anon, not sure if you are the same as the one who posted the original comment. Welcome back if so and thanks in any case.

      The term "Andhra" was used in those days as equivalent to Telugu. The people whom we call Andhras today (i.e. the people of Seemandhra) were referred as Toorpollu.

      The so called English "administration" of Secunderabad was highly restricted both in terms of territory & powers, more or less akin/related to the present day Secunderabad Cantonment Board.

      English intervention in civilian matters was very low. The cantonment employee strength was low. In fact even the English army contingent was quite thin. I am skeptical if this created much migration.

      Delete
  13. జై,

    మీతాతగారి పద్యాలు ఆణిముత్యాల్లా ఉన్నాయి.అమూల్యమైన పద్యాలను కనుగొని మాకు అందించినందుకు మీకు అభినందనలు.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Points to note for the current Telangana people:
    1) In Suravaram Pratapa Reddy's book there are Poets of all regions that have settled in the then Nizam area. Therefore do not make a regional issue of everything.
    2) The current Telangana region is just a part of the bigger Telangana, that is the entire Telugu region that was under the Nizams previously. And the most surprising fact is that If you judge by maps, some of the earliest of the maps drawn by european cartographers show Telangana as a region indicating only the Northern Coastal Districts above the Godavari river.Therefore do not make a regional issue of everything mindlessly.
    3) Mudumba is a Sri vaishana name and no body really knows where he belonged to. Most of the Mudumbas were in the current Tamil Nadu region of Madras Province. Today there are several Mudumbas in Rayalaseema, South Coastal Districts and Warangal and Khammam -- some of whom are close friends or relatives (found in Dr.Phanindras close associates list) of Dr.Phanindra who seems to hate the Mudumba of unkown origin.
    4) The Telugu people of other regions have been migrating to the current Telangana region since early 19th century because Secunderabad was directly under control of the Madras's British adminsitrators. Therefore several Sri Vaishnavas migrated to the Nizam region since then. Today most of the people in Secunderabad from Alwal to the Station are Tamilians. Even Vattikota Alwar, Mudumbai, Madabhushi, are Srivaishnavas of the Tamil region of today.
    5) Gottimukkala is a very non-telangana sounding name. There are places in south coastal districts (Guntur and Krishna districts) by the name of Gottimukkala. There is also a place named Gottimukkal close to Nizamsagar in Telangana. V6 has reported with all poison one day that Farmers in Nizamsagar migrated from the coastal districts decades back even before the integration of Telugu regions.
    Therefore stop your mindless hatred and behave like worthy of progeny of great people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. Suravaram laid down the condition that only Nizam state poets were allowed to submit. Every poet had to declare his address in order to verify compliance.

      2. You are free to impute the term Telangana to any region of your choice. There is no reason why anyone should agree to your definition. I see many maps floated on the web but hardly anyone provides source and/or provenance.

      3. Please direct this question to whoever raised the "Mudumba question"

      4. FYI Secunderabad was *not* under British control.

      5. Thanks but no thanks. I currently have no interest in tracing the history of my family name. If I feel so inclined in the future, I will research it myself without unsolicited half baked stuff from hostile strangers.

      Finally did you notice this post has nothing to do with the Telangana movement? You may like to redirect your statement "stop your mindless hatred and behave like worthy of progeny of great people" to your good self.

      Delete
  15. Can you guys leave us alone and find somebody else to whine or exploit? "Assume that Seemandhras are very rational and Telangana people are not?", if that makes you happy take it and run with it and leave us alone!
    It is this attitude and arrogance and exploitation of 60yrs finally got what should have been done in 1969!
    Please don't waste our time any more, we like to see any constructive criticism for Telangana people and Seemandhra's (unless agree to be obnoxious), a decent person shouldn't indulge here.
    Just leave us alone please!! I am sick and tired these attitudes and responses for the last 10yrs!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please note this post is unrelated to the Telangana movement.

      Delete

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