navayugakavicakravarti guRRam ja'shuva
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kRtulamduTaku pallakii mOy dora konna
kRshNara'yaDu ra'jyamEluna'Du
manumasiddhiyunu dikkana ganna ka'vyambu
kOracoopulu joocukonnana'Du
telugura'yani yoppuloluku guppiTilOna
lEta kasturi guba'Limcuna'Du
mutya'la mamdirambula satkavulamiida
bamga'ra mErulai pa'runa'Du
kavula palkulu vEdava'kyambu lagucu
kshititalamcunu gampimpa jEyuna'Du
ga'ravambunanannEla ga'mcavaiti
telupagadavamma ! nanuganna telugu talli !
alasa'nikulaju DooyalamamcamulanumDi
pasiDilEKini booni vra'yuna'Du
pOtana'ryuni gEhamuna Ba'ratiidEvi
cigurujEtula vamTa jEyuna'Du
Buvana BiikaruDu vEmulava'Da Biimanna
gamgra'junaku jOle gaTTuna'Du
Sriina'dhakavi pa'mDitii vaiBava miiRa
DimDimaBaTTu nODimcuna'Du
kanula jooceDu Ba'gyambu galigi yunna
nEDu na' kavitvambu ra'NimciyumDu
ga'ravambuna nannEla ga'mcavaiti !
telupagadavamma ! nanuganna telugu talli !
--guRRam ja'shuva
KamDaka'vyam, 1956
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Navayugakavicakravarti Gurram Jashuva was born in 1895 in Katragaddapadu.
Poverty was born before he emerged out into this world and was tightly
embrassed by that ferocious devil throughout his entire life.
Jashuva's father's name was Virayya and mother's name was Lingamma.
Jashuva's parents' marriage was an intercaste alliance. As a result of his
parents' intercaste marital life, Jashuva's relatives on either sides were
not close to his family. In spite of the social injustice enclothed by the
prevalent caste distinctions and alienation from the close relatives,
Jashuva's parents did a fantastic job in the upbringing of the children.
Jashuva had a brother whose name was Israil. Jashuva had to fight with
poverty and social cruelties in order to go to school. Ultimately he
graduated with Ubhayabhasha Praveena (Pundit in both Telugu and Sanskrit
languages).
Jashuva was inspired by Hinduism eventhough his religion was Christianity
(as Virayya, Jashuva's father accepted Christianity as his religion).
Jashuva was writing poetry taking Hindu epics as basis and as as a
consequence of this his Christian society was very furious (as Jashuva was
a Christian, he should not go near Hinduism). Finally Virayya and his
family were dismissed from their Christian society.
Upon listening to Jashuva reading his poetry, listeners used to praise him
and his poetry. On the other side of the coin when they came to know to
which caste did he belong, the listeners used to get disguested. Jashuva
explained this caste-evoked social volcanic eruption in one of his poems as
follows:
na' kavita' vadhooTi vadanambu nega'diga jooci roopurE
Ka' kamaniiya vaiKarulu ga'mci BaLiBaLii yannava'DE mii
dEkulamanna praSna velayimci civa'luna lEci pOvucO
ba'kuna gramminaTlagun pa'rdhiva camdra ! vacimpa siggagun.
Jashuva was determined to rescue those who were submerged in the quagmire
of untouchability. Just see another one of his poems below:
kulamata'lu giicukonna giitala cocci
pamjara'na kaTTupaDanu nEnu
niKila lOka meTlu nirNayimcina na'ku
tarugu lEdu viSvanaruDa nEnu.
Jashuva was a school teacher. Initially he lost his first job. While
suffering from unemployment, he still was writing wonderful poetry.
During those times he was recognized by the literary and poetry lovers.
He was employed again. Publishers came forward to publish his works.
He received donations to publish his books.. He was honored all over
India. As I mentioned in my previous article, Pamdita Cellapilla
Venkatasa'sty felicitated Jashuva and decorated his foot with
gamDapemDEram. Reacting to these honors and felicitations, Jashuva wrote
the following poem:
kavi diggajambannaGanamaina biruda ma
rpimce na'kum jeLLapiLLa sukavi
kavi cakravarti satkavi kOkilam banna
biruda'Li Siramuna durami kommu
TEnumgu miida noorEgimci kanaka'Bi
shEkambu cEsi ya'Siirvadimci
saKala'mdhra siimambu sanma'nambulu cEse
vElu vEl viSva vidya'laya'lu
sukaviga' gramdha kartaga' supratishTha
(This poem was rendered by Avadhani Medasani Mohan at Columbus, Ohio
while performing his Ashtavadhanam.)
Jashuva suffered hell during most part of his life. He battled with the
society with one weapon - his writings, his poetry. Jashuva cried loud
about the social atrocities in his poems. He tried to mend the degraded
society with his poetry. Examine another masterpiece of Jashuava below:
gavvakusa'Tira'ni paluga'kula mookalasooyacEta na
nnevidhi doorinan, nanu varimcina Sa'rada lEcipOvunE?
ivvasudha'sthalin boDamarE rasalubdhulu, GamTamoonedan
ravvalura'lcedan, garagaral savarimceda na'mdhrava'Nikin.
Jashuva followed strict meter in his poems. But, his poetry is
revolutionary (aByudaya) and reminds us of the poetry of Sri Sri on one
side and Gurajada Apparao on the other.
Just a reminder to the netters that Jashuva is still alive and immortal.
His poetry is still energetic and will inspire us all for ever.
----pa'lana
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POSTED TO NURTURE TELUGU CULTURE AND LITERATURE IN THE NORTH AMERICA.
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PALANA
CAS
COLUMBUS
OH
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed above are not those of the CAS.
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