Dasaradhi Rangacharya

Dasaradhi Rangacharya Biography

Dasaradhi Rangacharya was a prolific writer belonging to Telugu literature. A well-known poet and writer, who minced no words in expressing his impatience with the autocratic rule of the Nizam in the pre-independent and post-independent era, he contributed a few works to Telugu literature in the 20^th century. He also had a stint with Telugu politics. Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu, a Telugu poet and writer who lived during the period, 1925–1987 was his elder brother, who also protested against Nizam’s rule, and got arrested in 1947 following the state-wide protests. Krishnamacharyulu is also referred to as Aasthana Kavi of the Andhra Pradesh Government.

Dasaradhi Rangacharya was born as Daasarathi on 24 August 1928 into a Telugu speaking middle-class family. Chinna guduru village of Khammam district is his native village. Noted Telugu writer Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu was his elder brother, known for his leftist activism and protests against Nizam rule in the 1940s. Dasaradhi Rangacharya too was associated with Telangana movement against the autocratic rule of the Nizams, and went underground for his struggles for a free state for Telugu speaking people. He was rusticated from the school and was forced to go to Vijayawada to pursue higher education.

After studies, Dasaradhi Rangacharya worked as a teacher, before he joined Secunderabad Municipal Corporation, where he worked for more than three decades till his retirement. He was quite active in his writing career as well. 'Chillara Devullu' in 1969 was his first major work. His book - Modugu Poolu won Kendra Sahitya Academy Award in 1971. Other noted books are Janapadam, Maya Jalataru, Sara Talpam and Ranunnadi Edi Nizam. He translated 4 Vedas into Sanskrit language, and published his autobiography work titled Jeevanayanam. He wrote his novels in the typical Telangana dialect, so that they can easily reach common man. He passed away on 8 June 2015, aged 86.

Published: October 06, 2018

Updated: October 06, 2018