Rich tributes paid to legendary poet Gurram Jashuva in Anantapur

Anantapur: The 124th birth anniversary of legendary social poet Gurram Jashuva was celebrated here on Saturday. Addressing the participant, Minister for BC Welfare Malagundla Sankara Narayana pointed out that the works of the great poet exposed the atrocities perpetuated by the upper castes on the Dalit community.

`` The subject of his poetry was humanity and rationalism. He likened himself to Karna of Mahabharat mythology. Karna was not allowed to participate in a competition along with the ruling class because he was a commoner.

Like that Jashuva was not allowed to read his poetry in Vinukonda. Joshua condemns this discrimination and his poetry involves revolt against the exploitation of the poor by the rich,'' he said.

Jashuva waged a war against both poverty and segregation with his poetry and succeeded. His famous works are Piradausi, Gabbilamu, Kandiseekudu, Mumtajmahal, Swapnakatha, Netaji, Kreestu, Charitra, Kottalokamu, and Naakatha, the minister said.

Telugu Head of Department in Sri Krishnadevaraya University Balasubramanyam stated that Joshua had worked for sometime (1915-16) as a story teller for the silent movies in Rajahmundry and as a dramatist in 'chintamani nataka mandali.'

Later he worked for ten years as a teacher in a teacher-training institute run by Lutheran Church in Guntur. From 1928 through 1942 he was a Telugu pundit in a High School in Guntur. The Union Government bestowed upon Gurram Jashuva the Padma Bhushan Award in 1970 in recognition of his works. Retired Arts College Principal Rangaswamy also spoke.