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Gurram Jashuva
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Gurram Jashuva | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 28, 1895 |
| Died | July 24, 1971 (aged 75) Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Spouse(s) | Mariyamma[1] |
| Children | Hemalatha Lavanam |
Gurram Joshua (or G Joshua) (September 28, 1895 – July 24, 1971) was a Telugu poet. A Legendary figure in the Telugu literary world. With his immense wisdom and through the struggle he faced due to the Caste-based discrimination Joshua has written the poetry with a Universal approach. For his contribution to Telugu poetry and Society, he was called the "Poet of the Millennium" for his timeless pieces of poetry and Literature.
Early life[edit]
Joshua was born to Virayya and Lingamma in Vinukonda, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India to a community of leather workers.[2] His father belonged to the Yadav caste and his mother belonged to the Madiga caste.[3][4][5] Due to poverty and the intercaste marriage of his parents, his childhood was difficult in a society in which some castes were considered "untouchable." Joshua and his brother were raised by his parents as Christians. In order to fulfill the requirements of higher education, Joshua obtained the diploma Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena as a scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit languages later in his life.[6]
Career[edit]
Protests against "untouchability," Dalit rights, and segregation have been common themes in all of Joshua's works. Some of the more notable entries into his literary canon include Gabbilam (A Bat), Firadausi (A Rebel) and Kandiseekudu (A Refugee). A number of verses from Joshua's work have been incorporated into the popular mythological play, Harischandra, most notably during a scene set in the midst of a cremation ground.[7]
Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh consider Joshua to be the first modern Telugu Dalit poet, and actively protest his erasure from Telugu and Indian literary history. In 1995, Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh began to organize various centennial celebrations for Joshua's birth, and have recently begun efforts to revive the remembrance of his literary contributions.[8]
Literary works[edit]
- Gabbilam (1941) is Joshua's best known work, fashioned after Kālidāsa's Meghadūta (The Cloud Messenger), in which an exiled lover attempts to communicate his affections to his beloved wife.[9]
In one stanza, Joshua writes, "To this friendly bat he began telling his life-story with a heart scorched by sorrow. In this senseless and arrogant world, other than lowly birds and insects, do the poor have any intimates or neighbors, any noble swans to explain his warm tears?"[10]
The man in the poem muses at the irony of his situation, wherein a bat is allowed inside a temple, yet not within a human being, requesting that the bat convey his message to Siva with caution. As the bat travelled to Lord Siva in Kasi, Joshua utilized the feeling of patriotism, another theme significant to his work, through vivid descriptions of various historical locations throughout India from the perspective of the bat.[6][11]
Timeline[edit]
- Rukmini Kalyanam (1919)
- Chidananda Prabhatham and Kushalavopakhyanam (1922)
- Kokila (1924)
- Dhruva Vijayam, Krishna Nadi and Samsara Saagaram (1925)
- Shivaji Prabandham, Veera Bai, Krishna Deva Raayalu, Vemana Yogeendrudu and Bhaarata Maatha (1926)
- Bhaarata Veerudu, Suryodayam, Chandrodayam and Gijigaadu (1927)
- Ranachyuthi, Aandhrudanu and Thummeda Pendlikoduku (1928)
- Sakhi, Buddhudu, Telugu Thalli, Sishuvu and Baashpa Sandesham (1929)
- Deergha Nishwasamu, Prabodham, Shilpi, Hechcharika, Saaleedu and Maathru Prema (1930)
- Bheeshmudu, Yugandhara Manthri, Sama Dhrushti, Nela Baaludu, Nemali Nelatha, Loka Baandhavudu, Anasuya, Shalya Saaradhyamu and Sandeha Dola (1931)
- Swapna Katha, Anaadha, Firdousi, Mumtaj Mahal, Sindhuramu, Budha Mahima, Kreesthu, Gunturu Seema, Vivekananda, Cheetla Peka, Jebunnisa and Paschatthapam (1932)
- Ayomayamu, Akhanda Gouthami, Aashwasam, Meghudu and Smashana Vaati (1933)
- Aandhra Bhojudu (1934)
- Gabbilam (1941) [12]
- Kandiseekudu (1945)
- Thera Chaatu (1946)
- Chinna Naayakudu, Baapuji and Nethaji (1948)
- Swayam Varam (1950)
- Kottha Lokam (1957)
- Christhu Charithra (1958)
- Raashtra Pooja and Musafirulu (1963)
- Naagarjuna Saagaram and Naa Katha (1966)
Awards[edit]
- Joshua was presented the Sahitya Akademi Award for his work titled Kreesthu Charitra in 1964.[13]
- Joshua was appointed to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council as a member in 1964.
- Joshua was awarded the honorary doctorate degree of Kala Prapoorna by Andhra University in 1970.
- Joshua was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1970.[14]
Critical studies[edit]
Endluri Sudhakar researched Gurram Joshua's literature and published a book on his outlook and impact.[15]
Awards instituted in his memory[edit]
The Joshua Sahitya Puraskaram was established by the Joshua Foundation to distribute an annual prize to poets from varying Indian backgrounds for enriching Indian literature with their contributions. The founder and secretary, Hemalatha Lavanam, is Joshua's daughter.[16] Nilmani Phukan, an Assamese poet, received the award in 2002.[17]
Padma Bhushan Dr Gurram Joshua Research Centre of Telugu Akademi distributes three awards to poets and writers for contributions to Telugu literature. These are the "Joshua Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram" for male poets aged sixty or above, the "Joshua Visishta Mahila Purasakaram" for female poets aged fifty or above, and the "Joshua Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram" for any contributor to Dalita sahityam (Dalit literature).[18] The first of these awards was presented on September 28, 2013, during the one-hundred-and-eighteenth anniversary of Gurram Joshua's birth. A payment of two-hundred-thousand rupees are included with each award.[19] Dasaradhi Rangacharya was awarded the "Joshua Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram" award, Kolakakuli Swaroopa Rani the "Joshua Visishta Mahila Purasakaram" award, and Kaluva Mallaiah the "Joshua Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram" award.[20] Damodar Raja Narasimha, Deputy Chief Minister of India, Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad, Minister for Rural Development of India, Kaki Madhava Rao, former Chief Secretary of India, and Medasani Mohan all either hosted or participated in various award-related functions. A commemorative book on the poet was released during one of the functions.[19]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Reformist's life to be chronicled".
- ↑ Rao, Velcheru Narayana (2003). "Hibiscus on the Lake". University of Wisconsin Press. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ↑ Vepachedu Education foundation article on Jashua, Accessed 27 Oct 2013
- ↑ Suprasiddula jeevita viseshalu, Hanumcchastri Janamaddi
- ↑ Satajayanti saahitimoortulu, Sastri D (DN Sastri)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 A blog post
- ↑ DV Subbarao renders Jashua's poems in the play at YouTube
- ↑ "Gurram Jashuva remembered".
- ↑ Pattem, Sundeep (2010). "Gabbilam I". Yemanna. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ↑ Pattem, Sundeep (2010). "Gabbilam II". Yemanna. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ↑ Report on Tamil translation of Gabbilam
- ↑ Jashuva Rachanalu: First Volume, Gabbilam, Vishalandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad, 2006.
- ↑ Sahitya Akademi awards Archived 23 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Padma Bhushan Awards Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Jashuva Jeevitham -Drukphadham-Parinamamu "- Endluri Sudhakar (Accessed: 27 Oct 2013
- ↑ Hemalata Lavanam passed away Accessed:12 Nov 2013
- ↑ Assamese poet presented Joshua award -The Hindu 2002-07-27, Accessed 27 October 2013
- ↑ Jashuva Lit Awards(New Indian Express
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 News item on Jashua awards function and his literary contributions
- ↑ Sakshi Telugu Newspaper, 29 Sep 2013, Hyderabad Edition, Page 3