In an agitation direction while presenting the Union Budget 2024The Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, invoked the timeless wisdom of the great literary Gurajada APPA RAO and the old text Tamil Thirukkural to underline the vision of the government to Viksit Bharat. Opening his speech with a deep appointment of the venerated poet and playwright Teluguada Appa Rao, Sitharaman declared:
“The great poet and playwright Teluguada Appa Rao had said: ‘heartbreak Matti Kaadoi, heartbreak manushuloi’; that is, ‘a country is not just its soil, a country is its people'”.
P cites the drawing parallel to this feeling, elaborated the government’s commitment to build a Vksit Bharat that prioritizes its people. Sitharaman described the key pillars of this vision, emphasizing:
- Zero poverty
- One hundred percent of good quality school
- Access to high quality, affordable and integral medical care
- One hundred percent qualified work with significant employment
- Seventy percent of women in economic activities
- Farmers position India as the ‘food basket of the world’
Who was Gurajada Appa Rao?
Gurajada Appa Rao (1862–1915) was an outstanding Indian playwright, poet and social reformer, better known for his contributions to Telugu Literature. Born in the village of Rayavaram in the Vizianaram district of Andhra Pradesh, APPA Rao grew in a period marked by the social transformation influenced by the British colonial domain and the Indian Renaissance. His literary works and reformist ideas left a lasting impact on the Telugu culture, which makes it a venerated figure in the annals of Indian literature.
The early education of APPA Rao took place in Vizianaram, where it was exposed to English literature and Western philosophies. He later conducted higher studies in MR College, affiliated with the University of Madras. His competence in English and Telugu allowed him to explore various literary traditions, which influenced his writing style and thematic elections. After completing his education, he worked as a professor and then as a government official, but his passion for literature and Social reform It was still his main approach.
The most famous work of Gurajada Appa Rao is the work “Kanyasulkam” (1892), widely considered one of the best works in the Drama Telugu. The title translates into “bride’s price”, and the work is a strong criticism of the social practices that prevail in the nineteenth -century Andhra society, particularly the custom of Kanyasulkamwhere older men paid money to marry girls. The work boldly challenged problems such as child marriage, dowry and exploitation of women, the use of satire and ingenuity to expose social hypocrisies. What made “Kanyasulkam” revolutionary not only its content but also its language. Appa Rao broke the traditional and strongly Sanskrit telugu used in the literature and used colloquial telugu, which makes the work relate to common people.
In addition to his contributions to the drama, Appa Rao was a distinguished poet. His poem “Desamunu Preinchumanna” (translated as “Love The Country”) is a patriotic call that reflects his nationalist fervor. Written in the context of the Indian Freedom Movement, the poem urges people to love and serve their country, emphasizing the importance of education, unity and progress. His poetry often combined romanticism with realism, addressing both personal emotions and social concerns.
Gurajada Appa Rao was also a defender of social reform. Influenced by contemporary reform movements, he believed that literature should serve as a tool for social change. It was associated with the Samaj Brahmo, which promoted progressive ideas such as the abolition of caste discrimination, women’s rights and educational reform. His writings and speeches often criticized social evils and encouraged rational thinking, self -respect and rejection of blind traditions.
In addition to his literary activities, APPA RAO contributed to language reform. He advocated the simplification of the Telugu script and promoted the use of telugu spoken in literature, falling the gap between the literary elite and the common people. His efforts laid the foundations for Modern Literature of Telugu, inspiring the future generations of writers and thinkers.
Gurajada Appa Rao died in 1915, but his legacy lasts. His works continue to be celebrated by their literary excellence and progressive spirit. The statues, memorials and educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh honor their contributions, and “Kanyasulkam” remains a basic element in the Teugu Theater. Through his powerful words and his reformist zeal, Appa Rao not only shaped Telugu literature, but also defended the cause of social justice, making it a timeless icon in the cultural history of India.