Sunday, November 16, 2008

My favourite Telugu scholar: Rallapalli Ananthakrishna Sarma

Spotlight on Rallapalli in The Hindu He turned the spotlight on Annamayya  http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/He-turned-the-spotlight-on-Annamayya/article15400783.ece (via J.K. Mohana Rao in Racchabanda):
"Born on January 23, 1893, at Rallapalli in Anantapur District to Sanskrit and Telugu scholar Karnamadakala Krishnamacharyulu and Alamelumangamma, Sarma was initiated into Sanskrit, Telugu and music by his parents. Resenting unchavriti (ritual alms seeking) he ran away from home at the age of 13. Reaching Mysore, he placed himself under the guardianship of the chief of the Parakala Mutt. Guided by the seer, he studied Sanskrit and Prakrit at the Chamaraja Pathasala and became a master in both languages. He also studied music under the palace vidwans such as Chikka Rama Rao, Bidaram Krishnappa and Karigiri Rao. He could sing and also play the violin and the flute.

When Sarma was barely 18, his talent in Telugu was noticed by Sir Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy, the Principal of the Maharajah’s College, who appointed him Telugu Pundit. His love for teaching and his mastery over his subjects ensured he received the love and affection of his students. During his tenure there, Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar, though many years his senior, often consulted him on the musical and lyrical aspects of the project that he was then working on – Chamundamba Ashtottara kritis. "
Rallapalli is one of my favourite Telugu scholars. I read his 'Vemana' and 'salivahanagathasaptasati' long ago but could not get hold of his other writings like 'rayalanati prajajeevitamu'. Some of his writings seem to be available in western libraries and I hope that efforts will be made to make them more accessible. I remember nice accounts of him in ‘Na Smritipadhamlo’ and “Sagutunna Yatra’ by Achanta Janakiram (Search for author "aachan't'a jaanakiraam"
at http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/ ), available digitally now from central libraries.
P.S. Krishnapriyan has kindly sent this:
Here is the list of books from the appendix of S. K. Ramachandrarao's
biography -

taaraadevi (1911) kaavya
raghuvaMsha kAvya anuvAda, svapnavAsavadatta anuvAda (1912) unpublished
mIraabaayi (1913) kaavya
liilAdEvi (1913) novel
shamiipUja kaavya (no date)
penugoMDa pATa kaavya (no date)
shrI kRUShNabhUpAlIyaM (1924) pariShkaraNa
shrI mahIshUru rAjyAbhyudayAdarshaH (1925) saMskRuta kAvya
bhArgavi paMchaviMshati (1926)
vEmana (upanyAsagaLu) (1929) vimarshe
shAlivAhana (hAla) gAthAsaptashatIsAramu (1932) prAkRutadiMda anuvAda
tALlapAka saMkIrtanamulu (1951-76) pariShkaraNa, saMpAdana
sAhitya mattu jIvanakale - (1954) kannaDa vimarshe
sArasvatAlOkamu - (1954) vimarshe
tenAlirAma virachita pAMDuraMgamAhAtmyaM (1967) pariShkaraNa, saMpAdana
jAyapa sEnAniya nRuttratnAvaLi (1969) pariShkaraNa, anuvAda
anaMta bhAratI (1977) saMkRuta kAvya
rALlapalli pIThikalu - (1978) munnunuDIgaLu,
mattu asaMkhya prakaTita kavanagaLu, munnuDigaLu, biDilEkhanagaLu

7 comments:

turanga said...

Interesting article on someone who I knew as a Kannada literary figure! His grandson was a friend and classmate during my school and college days. I learned the art of orange peeling from him through his grandson.
--Krishnapriyan

gaddeswarup said...

Krishnapriyan,
Achanta janakiram too mentions about the art of orange peeling.
If you are still in touch with his grandson, would it be possible to find out about his books and articles. If they are available and if there are no copy right problems, it should be possible to digitize them and make them available to the general public. Vemana is available from a digital library in Hyderabad but some of the pages are difficult to read. Some of them seem to be in USA and possibly digitized.

Unknown said...

Dear sir,

On behalf of Rallapalli family, I am happy to infrom you that a new website has been launched on my grandfather Late Sangeeta Kalanidhi Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma. I thought it might be of interset to you. The URL address is at

http://sites.google.com/site/rallapallisharma

regards
nanda nandan Rallapalli

Phani said...

Hi...I came across this blog while searching about my maternal great grandpa (grandpa to Nandan,who has also left a comment on this page).Thank you Gaddeswarup for blogging about him.
Regards

Phani said...

It's sheer coincidence Sir that like me,you reside in Melbourne too.It would be a pleasure to meet you.

Regards.

Unknown said...

sir, i am vamsi from hyderabad. i am looking for" SARASWATA LOKAM" by Rallapalli ananthakrishna sharma. can u please guide me where to get it from. i am doing graduation from bharathiar university for which , i need that book in soft copy or hardcopy . my contact number is +919030019047 and my email is smilyvamsi@rediffmail.com

Unknown said...

sir, i am vamsi from hyderabad. i am looking for" SARASWATA LOKAM" by Rallapalli ananthakrishna sharma. can u please guide me where to get it from. i am doing graduation from bharathiar university for which , i need that book in soft copy or hardcopy . my contact number is +919030019047 and my email is smilyvamsi@rediffmail.com