- By Ravi Valluri
IRTS (Retd), Former CEO – Chhattisgarh East Railway Ltd. & Chhattisgarh East-West Railway Ltd., Author & Faculty, Art of Living
“Language comes first. It’s not that language grows out of consciousness, if you haven’t got language, you can’t be conscious,” wrote the legendary British author Alan Moore.
From “Madrasi” Identity to Telugu’s Distinction
Until the onset of liberalisation and Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao becoming the Prime Minister, people south of the Vindhyas were often generically referred to as Madrasi. Even today, few know that Telugu is a vowel-ending language, one of the four major Dravidian tongues, and acclaimed as the “Latin of the East” for its mellifluous quality. It is the second-most spoken language in India after Hindi.
Celebrated Telugu Literature and Jnanpith Awards
Telugu has produced two Jnanpith awardees—Viswanatha Satyanarayana (1970, Ramayana Kalpavriksham) and Dr. C. Narayana Reddy (1988, Viswambhara). These literary gems remain treasures for the Telugu-speaking community spread across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and beyond.
Roots of Telugu Sahityam
Telugu literature (Sahityam) spans poems, novels, dramas, short stories, ghazals and puranas. Its embellished tradition dates back to inscriptions of the early 10th century. Notably, Prabandha Ratnavali (1918) documents Jain-Telugu literature from 850 BC–1000 BC.
Recognising its depth, the Government of India accorded Telugu the coveted classical language status, along with Sanskrit, Tamil and Kannada.
Kavitraya and the Mahabharata in Telugu
The earliest great Telugu authors were Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana—together called Kavitraya. They translated Vyasa’s Mahabharata into Telugu, beginning in 1053 AD. Nannaya initiated the work, Tikkana carried it forward, and Errana completed the Aranya portion. This translation stands as the first comprehensive Telugu literary text.
Literary Evolution: 11th to 18th Century
The dominant genres of this period were:
- Itihasam – Ballads of kings and divine myths, highlighting dharma.
- Puranam – Narratives of creation and avatars, inspiring devotion.
- Kavyam – Blending myth and fiction, with ornate style.
Performative literary arts like Sataka, Yakshagana and Padakavita also flourished. This era produced illustrious poets including Palkuriki Somanatha, Nannechoda, Nachana, Srinatha, Pothana, and pioneering women writers like Molla, Rangajamma, Muddupalani, Tharigonda Vengamamba and others.
Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Literary Harmony
The Bhakti movements of Vaishnavism and Shaivism deeply influenced Telugu writing. In fact, poet Tikkana proposed Hariharadwaita (unity of Shiva and Vishnu) to counter sectarian rivalries—a vision akin to Tulsidas invoking harmony in his Ramcharitmanas.
Golden Era under Krishnadevaraya
The reign of Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire is hailed as the golden age of Telugu literature. The celebrated Ashtadiggajas (eight great poets) enriched Telugu with their diverse creations. Krishnadevaraya himself was an eminent scholar and patron of literature and arts.
Satire, Bhakti and Performing Arts
From the 16th to 18th century, Telugu literature diversified further.
- Vemana ushered in biting satire.
- Annamacharya composed devotional Padakavita in praise of Lord Venkateswara.
- Saint Tyagaraja’s Kritis left a profound impact on Carnatic music and Kuchipudi dance.
- Saint Ramadasa authored Dasarathi Satakam.
- The Surabhi Theatre tradition evolved as a vibrant cultural form.
Modern Awakening and Reformist Thought
Telugu literature later witnessed decline, but was revitalised during the Bengal Renaissance, with the advent of the printing press and spread of English education. Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu pioneered reformist writing through novels, plays, essays and biographies. Gurazada Apparao’s Kanyasulkam heralded modern Telugu drama.
Romanticism to Revolutionary Voices
Influenced by Wordsworth, Shelley and Keats, Telugu writers embraced Romanticism—celebrating love, women’s dignity, lyricism and spirituality. Rayaprolu Subbarao, Devulapally Krishna Sastry, Nayani Subba Rao, Nanduri Subba Rao and Gurram Joshua emerged as torchbearers. Works like Krishna Paksham by Krishna Sastry epitomise this era.
Subsequently, Telugu literature reflected India’s nationalist, progressive, feminist, Dalit and revolutionary movements, producing a vast spectrum of voices.
The Power of Words
As Patrick Rothfuss reminds us:
“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can bring tears from the hardest hearts.”
The story of Telugu—its language and literature—continues to be a saga of resilience, creativity and cultural pride.