A Brief outline of Modern Telugu literary movements

A Brief outline of Modern Telugu literary movements

The history of modern Telugu literature can be divided roughly into three periods (1) Modern poetry (2) Progressive poetry (3) Neoclassical poetry.

Telugu poetry has such history of more than a millennium. Many number of classical poets have enriched the poetry and the literature with their works. The modern poetry has influenced the Telugu poetry in the first half of twentieth century. Urbanization, Industrialization, strained relations with the nature and in family, lack of love and unity between human beings etc., have created a fear psychosis and loneliness in the modern man which was unknown to him earlier. Modern poets have reacted to this pathetic condition of man and expressed their feelings in poetry. Basically the modern poetry has drawn inspiration from the western literature. But the influence of freedom struggle, patriotism, National spirit and Indian esthetics has Indianised the modern poetry most vibrantly.

Simultaneously the reformists who opposed the superstitions and lifeless traditions and other social evils have started a big movement to create a new society which also influenced the poetry and the literature. Some of the writers were inspired by this movement and wrote poetry and novel with the spirit of reformation. KANDUKURI, GURAJADA, CHILAKAMARTI were noted writers. The spirit of Renaissance has reached its peak in the works of ‘VISWANATHA SATHYANARAYANA’ who is the leader for NEOCLASSICAL MOVEMENT in Telugu literature. He published ‘VEYIPADAGALU’ and other novels and started writing SRI MADRAMAYANA KALPA VRIKSHAMU’. He encroached and dominated the different movements of Telugu literature. The root and base of the ‘Neoclassical trend’ lies in the protection of cultural values. The goal of this movement is to protect the tradition of pure poetry from the onslaught of literary movements started by political parties. This movement has not restricted the writers in choosing the form. It has invited all trends and styles in literature. Numbers of poets were influenced by this movement and wrote great poetry and epics. The ‘FREEVERSE’ trend has paved the way to many poets to express their feelings experiences and moods. This trend has liberated itself from the ideology of Marxism. Bairagi, Madiraju, Suprasanna, SampathKumar, Jagannatham, Durganath, Mohan Prasad, Ismail, SatyaSrimannarayan and others were prominent poets who wrote poetry in free verses and strengthened the literature. They fought against social evils, lack of values, demoralization of social and political life etc., Following this trend in 1965 some of the poets wrote poetry ignoring all human values, with obscene language in the name of ‘Digambara kavulu’. They wrote absurd and destructive poetry. This trend collapsed in a short period.

In 1967 with Integral National reconstructive spirit and also respecting the democratic values, unifying the earthly life with Divine life ‘CHETANAVARTAMU’ has been published by four poets (SUPRASANNA, SAMPAT, JAGANNATHAM, NARASIMHA REDDY) which has a clear vision and propagated to reconstruct India with socio, political, religious, cultural and spiritual values and established pure poetry in the literature. It was an historical event when some writers started creating anarchy in the field of poetry and also restricted poetry to slogans.

In 1970 ‘VIRASAM’ took birth. It revolted, opposed and criticised traditional and democratic values. Opposing this destructive revolutionary trend ‘NATIONAL LITERARY PARISHAT’ (JATEEYA SAHITYA PARISHAT) has been established to strengthen the National Democratic values and cultural nationalism in literature. In 1982 ‘POTHANA PANCHASATI’ festivals were celebrated which awakened the literary spirit in thousands of people. During this period eminent poets MADIRAJU RANGARAO, SESHENDRA, SIVA REDDY, NAGNAMUNI, PENNASIVARAMAKRISHNA, NARAYANA REDDY, and SUPRASANNA have come to the stage and published excellent poetry works and strengthened the human values in Telugu literature. Their approach is integral easthetic and democratic.

DALIT MOVEMENT, STHREE (WOMEN) MOVEMENT are spordic movements in Telugu literature. They could not influence and their impact is very little and could not produce best literary works.

Another flow of the pure traditional and classical poetry has started to take new form and the entire Indian literature has been newly interpreted according to the contemporary situation prevailed and the birth of neo-classical trend started emerging. CHEELLPILLAVENKATASASTRY, SRIPADAKRISHNAMURTHY RAYAPROLU, DASARADHI, PUTTAPARTI, KARUNASRI, KRISHNASASTRI, VISWANATHA and others were predominant poets during the periods. . In the year 1943 progressive writers association was formed with the illusion that entire Indian literature has done great harm to common man. It got inspiration from the leftist ideology and started criticizing every thing that belonged to Indian tradition. Parallel to this movement there was ‘Telengana’ liberation movement which influenced the writers and the poets. Powerful expression of national spirit, self confidence, and other positive forces ruled the Telengana liberation writers. DASARADHI, KALOJI, were the famous poets of this movement. The patriotic spirit of DASARADHI is praiseworthy and his powerful poetical expression is unique and it has made an imprint in the Telugu literature.
A great awakening at national level in the form of Renaissance and Freedom struggle has also strongly and powerfully influenced the writers and poets of Telugu literature. NAYANISUBBARAO, RAYAPROLU, VISWANATHA, PUTTAPARTI NANDURI, VIDWANVISWAM, MUDIGONDA VEERABHADRA, MURTHY, SESHENDRA AND others are the prominent poets of this trend, they got inspiration from the writings and speeches of Personalities of Renaissance movement. If we summarize the above trends of movements in Telugu literature, the progressive writers, revolutionary writers and other spordic trends in Telugu literature could not visualize the life in total. Their approach to the socio-political, religious problems are peripheral and not integral. They were bounded by a political and social philosophy which was alien to this nation and the people. Further their approach towards national movements and renaissance was negative. However they tried to express their ideology through poetry written in free verses. Some poets who belonged to progressive writers slowly abandoned the movement and started expressing their poetry freely as per their choice.
The modern poets (NAVYAKAVITVAM) were an exception to the above and their approach towards life was also confined to love, pangs of separation, sorrow, loneliness, love towards nature, patriotism etc., some poets wrote most easthetic imaginative poetry. They were not against the national democratic values and have strengthened the cultural nationalism, through their works. Their approach towards life was positive and constructive. Some of the poets belonged to this trend slowly adopted ‘Neo classical ideology’.
‘The Neo classical movement’ assimilated all trends of the contemporary world. They have visioned the life in total and their approach is integral. Hence totality of life has been vibrantly projected in their works. They respected the highest socio, political, religious, spiritual values and opposed all social evils like exploitation, poverty, illiteracy, suppression, terrorism corruption, bankruptcy in values etc., They visioned and aspired a birth of great and new humanity and society in turn nation. Apart from this socio political aspect they had universal approach for every human problem. The Neo Classical moment has not been driven by any political party or single political ideology. They have imbibed the vision and thought of ancient / modern great Rishis, Thinkers, Philosophers, Writers and Poets.
The Neo Classical poets have explored the inner planes of consciousness. Hence the universe has become their canvas. Human beings, nature, animals, semi Gods, God, have all enacted a universal drama in their works. Experiences recorded in three planes of human consciousness have overflowed in their writings. They have projected a universal picture through symbols, archetypes, images etc. A vastness of sea and sky can be experienced through their works and their approach is not confined to past and present as they have visioned a future immortal being who conquers the death while living on this earth and who divinise the matter.
With this back drop one has to view Suprassana’s achievement in the field of modern epic and poetry.