Butchi Babu

Butchi Babu
Butchi Babu
Born	Sivaraju Venkata Subbarao; 14 June 1916; Eluru, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	1967 (aged 51)
Occupation	Short story writer, novelist and painter
Language	Telugu
Notable works	Chivaraku Migiledi
Spouse	Subbalakshmi (m. 1937)

Dear reader, We need your support to keep the flame of knowledge burning bright! Our hosting server bill is due on June 1st, and without your help, Bharatpedia faces the risk of shutdown. We've come a long way together in exploring and celebrating our rich heritage. Now, let's unite to ensure Bharatpedia continues to be a beacon of knowledge for generations to come. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Together, let's preserve and share the essence of Bharat.

Thank you for being part of the Bharatpedia family!
Please scan the QR code on the right click here to donate.

0%

transparency: ₹0 raised out of ₹100,000 (0 supporter)

Sivaraju Venkata Subbarao (14 June 1916 – 1967), known by his pen name Butchi Babu, was an Indian short story writer, novelist and painter known for his works in Telugu literature.^[1]

Early life[edit]

Butchi Babu was born in 14 June 1916 at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh.^[2] He initially served as an English lecturer in Anantapur and Vizag. He also served in the All India Radio (AIR) from 1945 till his death in 1967. He did his master's degree (M.A.) in English literature.

He married Subbalakshmi in 1937.^[3]

Chivaraku Migiledi[edit]

The novel Chivaraku Migiledi is Butchi Babu's most famous work. The protagonist's quest involves him in a conflict with society and results in an agonizing reappraisal of life's values and finally leads him to self-knowledge, acceptance and peace.

Chivaraku Migiledi was serialized in the Telugu magazine Navodaya between 1946–47. It was published in book form in 1952. Chivaraku Migiledi, published by Adarsha Grandha Mandali in 1957, became a best seller. The book is now published by Visalaandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad.

Katyayani Vidmahe did extensive research on the novel in Chivaraku Migiledi - Manasika Samajika Jeevana Sravanti Navala Vimarsa (Kakateeya University, Warangal, India) and was awarded a doctorate (PhD) for it. The novel has been translated into English by Kakani Chakrapani in Four Classics of Telugu Fiction (Dravidian University, Kuppam, India).

Other works[edit]

Stories[edit]

Butchi Babu was a prolific short story writer. Two of his well-known short stories are "Nannu Gurinchi Kadha Vrayavoo?" ("Won't you write a story about me?") and "Ame Needa" ("Her shadow"). Some of the other stories include "Maratunana marapu raru", "Tadi mantaku podineellu", "Kaviraja virajitam", "Desam Nakichina Sandesam", "Nosantan Vrasina vrata", "Intayina into aidu", "Vudina chakram-vaadani pushpam", and "Naa gajumeda".

70 of his stories were published as seven volumes with the following titles:

Meda metlu
Nannu Gurinchi Kadhavrayavu
Kalalo jarina kanneru
Nirantara Trayam
Teerpu Cheshina vadike Siksha
Tadi mantaku podi neeluu
Jnana netram

Essays[edit]

Butchi Babu wrote essays in Telugu like "Nannu Marchina Pustakam" ("The Book That Changed Me") and "Neenu Shankarnarayan Nighantuvu" ("Me and Shankar Nararayan Dictionary"). A collection of his essays has been published by Visalaandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad.

Radio plays and stage dramas[edit]

Butchi Babu wrote several radio plays and stage dramas. Noted film personalities like Savitri and Pundarikakshayya acted in his stage dramas like Atma Vanchana.

Paintings[edit]

Butchi Babu was a prolific painter. Most of his paintings are landscapes. The paintings were inspired by what was around him and depict the country side of Southern India in 1940–1960. The painting shows All India Radio Office in Vijayawada in 1955.

Awards[edit]

Butchi Babu's Shakespeare Sahiti Paramarsa (A Critique on Shakespeare's literature) won him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award (awarded posthumously).

In a competition arranged by Andhra Kala Parishath, Kakinada, Butchi Babu received the best drama award from Prithviraj Kapoor for his drama Atma Vanchana.

Death[edit]

Butchi Babu died in 1967, aged 51.^[4]

References[edit]

↑ "Graded Readings in Modern Literary Telugu, page 130. -- Digital South Asia Library". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
↑ "The genius of Butchi Babu". The Hans India. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑ Varma, P. Sujatha (22 November 2015). "Doing the write thing to relish life". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
↑ "'బుచ్చిబాబు' చిరంజీవి" [Butchi Babu is immortal]. Sakshi (in తెలుగు). 11 June 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Dutta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian literature. Vol. 1. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 9788126018031.
Sisir Kumar Das (2005). A History Of Indian Literature 1911-1956. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 9788172017989.
Krishnamurti, Bhadriraju; Vijayasree, C. Gold Nuggets: Selected Post-independence Telugu Short Stories by Bhadriraju Krishnamurti.

External links[edit]

[1] "Graded Readings in Modern Literary Telugu, page 130. -- Digital South Asia Library". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 12 May 2021.

[2] "The genius of Butchi Babu". The Hans India. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[3] Varma, P. Sujatha (22 November 2015). "Doing the write thing to relish life". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 May 2021.

[4] "'బుచ్చిబాబు' చిరంజీవి" [Butchi Babu is immortal]. Sakshi (in తెలుగు). 11 June 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]