Kokkonda Venkata Ratnam Pantulu

Kokkonda Venkata Ratnam Pantulu
Born Kokkonda Venkata Ratnam
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh,
India
Occupation Sanskrit and Telugu writer
Years active 1842-1915

Kokkonda Venkata Ratnam Pantulu 1842-1915 is a well-known Telugu and Sanskrit 19th century writer.

As a respect word pantulu meaning scholar was added. He known as Andhra Johnson and is remembered as the multifaceted Andhra genius, the pioneer of many movements in social reform, literature, publication, journalism.

In 1867 he published incomplete Mahasvetha. According to some scholars this could have been first Telugu novel.

His Narakasura Vijayam, a translation of Varanasi Dharma Suri's Sanskrit 'Vyayoga' was first published in 1872. It is believed to be the first Telugu drama to be printed. Since this was first ever translation to telugu he had to work out his own path for it. He tried to capture the meaning but also used the same sound (similar word) as far as possible. He also brought out the nuances of the style according to the situation in the original.

He also wrote verses using new meters named after metals like silver, gold,etc., for instance, a meter called Seesam (lead) in Telugu.

His other plays include Dhananjaya Vij'aya Vyayogam, Prasanna Raghavam, Panchatantram, Simhachala Yatra,Bilveswara Satakam, Bilveswareeya Prabhandham, Mangalagiri Mayathyam, Korukonda Mahathyam, Godavari Varnam, Godavari Manjari, Deekshita Charitram, Yuva Raja Paryatanam.

He was a die hard purist and follower of Paravastu Chinnayasuri style of prose writing and wrote Vigrahamu and Sandhi. He ensued a literary warfare with Kandukuri Veeresalingam, for whom linguistic reform was a part of his social reform movements.

He was the Editor of journal Andhra Bhasa Sanjivani (1871-91) which covered broad range of literary,social and contemporary issues. After him Kandukuri Veeresalingam took the post.

Magnum Opus, Bilveswareeyan with 3442 poems was reprinted by Sri Sri Ratna Kamalambika Seva Trust. On 26 March 2013, local TV DD Saptagiri channel broadcast a review of this book.

References

    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 6/8/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.