Dasaradhi Rangacharya (24 August 1928 – 7 June 2015), also spelled Dasarathi Rangacharya,[1] was an Indian poet and writer in the Telugu language. He participated actively in the Telangana armed struggle against the rule of the Nizams.[2] His writings incorporated the lifestyle of the people of Telangana under the rule of the Nizams. He was conferred with Kala Ratna award in 2006.

Dasaradhi Rangacharya
Born (1928-08-24) 24 August 1928 (age 96)
Hyderabad State, British India
Died7 June 2015(2015-06-07) (aged 86)
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Occupation
  • Poet
  • writer
NationalityIndian
Notable awardsKala Ratna
SpouseKamalamma
Children3
RelativesDasarathi Krishnamacharya (brother)

Personal life

edit

Dasaradhi Rangacharya was born on 24 August 1928 in Hyderabad State (in present-day Telangana). Upon being expelled from school, he moved to Vijayawada for further education.[2][3] He was married to Kamalamma and had a son and two daughters. His brother, Dasarathi Krishnamacharya, was also a writer.[4]

Career

edit

Dasaradhi started working as a teacher during 1951 to 1957. Later he moved to Hyderabad and worked between 1957 and 1988 in the municipal corporation in Secunderabad Division.[2]

Writings

edit

Dasaradhi incorporated the lifestyle of the people of Telangana under the rule of Nizam of Hyderabad in his novels, and he became a great writer in Telangana. He came into prominence after his trilogy novels Chillara Devullu [te] (transl. The lesser deities), Modugu Poolu (transl. Fire flowers) and Janapadam. He wrote them in the Telangana dialect against the counsel of his peers. These are considered "rarest of the great novels produced in Telangana" on the account of feudalism and lower literacy rate present in then Telangana region.[2][5] Chillara Devullu was published in 1969 and was adapted into a 1977 Telugu movie by the same name–Chillara Devullu [te].[4]

Other novels that he wrote include Srimadramayanam (Ramayana), Sri Mahabharatam (Mahabharata), Devadasu Uttaralu (transl. Letters from Devdas (character)), Chaturveda Samhita, Amrutha Upanishathu and Amruthangamaya among others. "Maya Jalataru", "Sara Talpam" and "Ranunnadi Edi Nizam". He translated the four Vedas into the Telugu language. He wrote his autobiography under the title Jeevanayanam (transl. Journey of life).[6]

Awards

edit

Dasaradhi was conferred with Kala Ratna in 2006 by the government of United Andhra Pradesh.[7]

Death

edit

Dasaradhi died on 8 June 2015 in Yashoda Hospitals in Somajiguda and was given a state funeral by the Government of Telangana.[6][3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Dasarathi passes away". The Hans India. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Krishnamoorthy, Suresh (8 June 2015). "Well-known writer Dasaradhi Rangacharya dead". The Hindu.
  3. ^ a b "Poet Dasaradhi Rangacharya, who fought Nizam, is dead". Deccan Chronicle. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Telangana's Voice Dasarathi No More". The New Indian Express. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  5. ^ Indian literature, vol. 42, New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, 1999, p. 117
  6. ^ a b "ప్రముఖ రచయిత దాశరథి రంగాచార్య కన్నుమూత" [Renowned writer Dasarathi Rangacharya passed away]. Eenadu (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Hamsa awards are now Kalaratna". The Hindu. 15 August 2006. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 December 2022.

Further reading

edit
edit