The Contribution of Telugu People to Hindi Literature

                                                            The Contribution of Telugu People to Hindi Literature

The Telugu people have immense affection for the Hindi language. The contribution made by Telugu people to the development, literary creation and dissemination of Hindi, which has received recognition as the national language, is incomparable. While some eminent personalities of Telugu origin influenced Hindi literature, others demonstrated their talent in creating Hindi literature and made immense efforts for its development. Even today, many people are engaged in the service of Hindi literature.

The relationship between the Telugu and Hindi languages dates back several centuries. From the medieval period to the present day, Telugu people have continuously rendered service to Hindi. The Pushti Marg tradition has a very prominent place in promoting Krishna devotional literature. Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, the founder of the Pushti Marg tradition, belonged to Telugu origins. His family migrated from the banks of the Godavari in Telugu land to the banks of the Yamuna. Vallabhacharya, who had Telugu roots, inspired Surdas towards devotion to Krishna.

Surdas, who is regarded as the Sun of Hindi literature, was the foremost among the eight Krishna-devotional poets known as the Ashtachhap poets. Surdas, who played a major role in promoting Krishna devotion during the Bhakti period, was a disciple of Vallabhacharya and his son Vitthalanatha. It is a matter of pride for all Telugu people that an Acharya of Telugu origin significantly influenced the literature of one of the major devotional branches of the Bhakti period, which is regarded as the Golden Age of Hindi literature.

Hala Satavahana, the creator of Gathasaptashati, was also a Telugu. His work laid the foundation for the Satasai tradition in Hindi. Gathasaptashati inspired Bihari Lal, a famous poet of the traditional period known in Hindi as Ritikal, to write Bihari Satasai.

Padmakar Bhatt was another famous poet belonging to the Ritikal period. He possessed extraordinary command over the Braj language. He too was a Telugu. He wrote poetic works such as Himmat Bahadur Birudavali, Jagadvinod, Padmabharan, Jai Singh Birudavali, Hitopadesh, Ram Rasayan, Prabodh Pachasa and Ganga Laharen, among others. The contribution made by Padmakar Bhatt, who had Telugu roots, to the development of Hindi literature is commendable. Later generations carried forward the creative tradition established by the above-mentioned Hindi poets of Telugu origin.

In the Modern Era

During the Bharatendu era of modern Hindi literature, poet Nadendla Purushottam, who belonged to the Andhra region, wrote 32 plays in Hindi around 1880. This is an extraordinary achievement in literary service because the Hindi propagation movement had not even begun in Telugu land by that time. These plays were staged in several towns across Telugu land. In the Hindi-speaking region, the writing of plays had only just begun around that time. Poet Purushottam used to write Hindi plays in the Telugu script for the Hindu Theatre in Machilipatnam.

Since the establishment of the regional office of the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha in Vijayawada, hundreds of Hindi enthusiasts have been engaged in promoting Hindi. Large numbers of men, women, children and elderly people were attracted towards Hindi, which was regarded as the national language. They learned Hindi enthusiastically. Many of them acquired proficiency in the Hindi language and studied Hindi literature in depth. Such individuals also demonstrated their talent by writing in various genres of Hindi.

Although numerous Hindi books took shape in Telugu land through their efforts, Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, the pioneer of the Dwivedi era, is regarded as the father of modern Hindi prose. His contemporary, the Telugu scholar Jandhyala Sivannasastri, wrote numerous articles for publication in Saraswati, a leading Hindi literary magazine.

At a time when efforts were being made to establish Khari Boli as standard Hindi, Sivannasastri, who lived in the small village of Kornipadu Agraharam near the town of Gudivada, consulted many Hindi scholars in northern India on this subject. Sivannasastri also corresponded with Pandit Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi regarding the form and characteristics of Khari Boli.

Sivannasastri, who was a scholar not only in logic and grammar but also in literature, was the first to compile Telugu–Hindi and Hindi–Telugu dictionaries. He also wrote a Hindi–Telugu grammar and a grammar of the Braj language. Venkateswara Sharma also compiled a Hindi–Telugu dictionary. He authored the books Adhyatma Yoga and Chitta Vikalan. Among the compilers of dictionaries, Ayachitula Hanumachhastri and Kamakshirao were prominent. Moturi Satyanarayana, who had extensive experience in promoting Hindi in South India, edited Vishwa Hindi Kosh.

The Creation of Hindi Poetry by Telugu People

In modern times, talented Telugu poets demonstrated their abilities by writing poetry in Hindi. Lajapati Pingal is very famous among Hindi poets of Telugu origin. In 1929, he composed a poetic work titled Bhakta Ramadas in the Braj language. In this work, Lajapati beautifully portrayed the life story of Kancherla Gopanna, a devotee of Rama, and his unparalleled devotion to Rama. His gentle and melodious expression of emotions in this work is praiseworthy.

Karna Veeranageswara Rao wrote a poetic work titled Daliton Ki Vinati in couplets. In this work, he strongly condemned social inequalities and caste discrimination. This poem clearly reflects the progressive ideas of Hindi poets of Telugu origin.

Another Hindi poet from the Telugu region, B. Balakrishna Rao, wrote poetic works such as Kaumudi, Raat Beeti, Hamari Raah and Ardhshati. Varanasi Ramamurthy ‘Renu’ published a collection of poems titled Vihag, condemning social evils. In the poetry collection Geet Vihar, ‘Renu’ beautifully expressed the beauty of nature and patriotism.

The Hindi poet Aluri Bairagi, who was of Telugu origin, is famous for expressing beautiful imaginative ideas. Bairagi was an expert in giving concrete form to the abstract. He possessed the talent to bring even lifeless and distorted objects to life through his imagination. His famous poetry collection Palayan was published in 1951. Another of his works is Toota Darpan. Bairagi’s maturity as a poet in this work earned him praise from many people. He translated the poems of Telugu poets into Hindi under the title Telugu Ki Adhunik Kavita.

Among Hindi poets of Telugu origin, Acharya P. Adeswara Rao is a renowned poet known for his gentle and melodious emotions. His poetry collection is titled Antaral. In this collection, the poet brought out extraordinary expressions of romantic feelings. This work received appreciation from many Hindi poets and poetry lovers. Through this poetic creation, Acharya Adeswara Rao attained a position equal to that of the Chhayavadi poets of the Hindi-speaking region.

In this sequence, the poetic works Bharatashri, Reshmi Kurta, Mrinalini and Hampi Ke Khandahar, among others, written by Budaraju Venkata Subbarao; Roop Raag, written by Suryanarayana Bhanu; Kamakshi Vilas, written by Ilapavuluri Panduranga Rao; Sati Urmila, by Chavali Suryanarayana; Suman Man, by Annapareddy Sriram Reddy; Sone Ki Raah, by Pullayya Rao; Antahsthal, by Kaja Venkateswara Rao; Andhere Ke Khilaf, Kuhase Ki Dhoop and Ehsaas Ke Saaye, written by Narendra Rai; Ve Hat Hote Hai, by Venugopal; and Shabd Dogale Nahin Hote, written by Acharya Rohitashwa, among others, reveal the poetic talent of Hindi poets of Telugu origin.

The efforts of all these poets greatly enriched Hindi poetry. Their greatness can be seen in both the subject matter and the artistic form of their poetry. This is an unparalleled contribution by Telugu poets to Hindi poetry. Although they have remained away from the limelight, the service rendered by Telugu poets to Hindi literature deserves appreciation.

The Contribution of Hindi Writers of Telugu Origin to Prose Writing

Telugu literary scholars have established themselves on par with Hindi writers of North India by producing works in almost all genres of Hindi prose. They have left their distinctive mark in writing Hindi novels, short stories, plays, literary criticism and research books. Hindi writers of Telugu origin have been particularly advanced in comparative studies.

Arigapudi Ramesh Chowdhary is one of the most famous Hindi novelists of Telugu origin. In his novels, he portrayed the culture and everyday life of South India in a highly vivid and effective manner. Many problems of human life and their solutions can be found in his novels. Chowdhary wrote a total of 25 novels.

His novels include Bhoole Bhatke, Apni Karni, Door Ke Dhol, Khare Khote, Dhanya Bhikshu, Adaraniya, Apne Paraye, Patit Pavani, Apavad, Mudraheen, Yah Bhi Hota Hai, Santh-Ganth, Sara Sansar Mera, Jhooth Fanus, Nirlajji, Ulti Ganga, Charitravan, Udhar Ke Pankh, Nadi Ka Shor, Chhote Bade Log, Chamatkar, Abhishap, Sab Swarthi Hai, Sarala and Antim Upay, among others.

He introduced the linguistic competence and creative talent of Hindi writers of Telugu origin to Hindi writers and readers in North India. Ramesh Chowdhary was a great novelist who wrote works equal in quality to those of Hindi writers and earned fame and recognition in the literary world.

Dr. Balashouri Reddy, who was also of Telugu origin, was another accomplished Hindi novelist. He wrote mythological, historical and social novels. Shabari is his mythological novel. Through the character of Shabari, the ideal and sacrificial life of women is portrayed in this work.

Lakuma, Davanala and Prakash Aur Parchhai are his historical plays. These works bring into focus the circumstances that led to the extraordinary sacrifices made by women. In addition, they shed light on the circumstances that led to the Palnati War (war of palnad) and on the values of life during the medieval period.

His social novels, including Zindagi Ki Raah, Bhagna Seemayen, Barrister, Swarn Aur Satya, Dharati Meri Maa and Professor, discuss issues relating to middle-class life, metropolitan life, the environment, love, marriage, universal consciousness and the influence of Western culture, among others. Balashouri Reddy became renowned as a Hindi literary figure of multifaceted talent.

Apart from the two novelists mentioned above, many Hindi writers of Telugu origin wrote novels exploring various dimensions of human life.

Dandamudi Venkata Krishna Rao wrote the historical novels Shakakarta Shalivahana and Chitrangi. Kishorilal Vyas wrote the novels Razakar and Naya Savera. Acharya Regulapati Madhava Rao wrote the novel Sakshi. Vinodini Goenka wrote the novel Desh-Videsh. Based on the Palnati War in Andhra history, Dr. K. Mallikarjuna wrote a dialect novel titled Pratishodh. Y. C. P. Venkata Reddy wrote a novel titled Nirnay. Budaraju Venkata Subbarao authored a novel titled Toofan.

In this manner, many Telugu people have attained considerable recognition in the world of Hindi literature.

— Dr. Venna Vallabha Rao Hyderabad, Cell: 9490337978