Gurram Jashuva
Encyclopedia
Gurram Jashuva (గుర్రం జాషువ) (28 September 1895 – 24 July 1971) was a popular Telugu
poet. He belonged to a Yadav family but was also part Madiga
and so he was discriminated against as an untouchable in school, college and professional life.
, Guntur district
, Andhra Pradesh
, India
to Virayya and Lingamma. His father was Yadav and his mother Madiga
(an intercaste marriage). Due to their poverty and their caste, his childhood was spent in alienation from close relatives, undergoing severe hardships and being subjected to inhuman treatment from the society which considered his caste
untouchable. His parents raised him as a Christian. In spite of this, Jashuva often drew his inspiration from Hinduism
and Hindu mythological epics. This angered his Christian society, which was quick to proscribe Jashuva's family from their community. This did not deter Jashuva who continued to write excellent poetry in Telugu.
He graduated with Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena (scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit languages).
, Madras between 1946-1960.
Jashuva Sahitya Puraskaram was instituted by a literary foundation being annually presented to eminent poets from different Indian languages. The Founder secretary Hemalatha Lavanam is Jashuva's daughter.
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
poet. He belonged to a Yadav family but was also part Madiga
Madiga
Madiga is a social group or caste group of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra etc. found almost in all Indian states with different names. The people belonging to this community are most oppressed and exploited in the society. The term Madiga is derived from Sanskrit word Maha-Adiga which can be...
and so he was discriminated against as an untouchable in school, college and professional life.
Early life
Jashuva was born into a poor yaadava caste family in VinukondaVinukonda
Vinukonda is a town in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It had a population of 52,830 at the time of the 2001 Census. Local mythology holds a hill nearby as the place where Rama was informed of his wife Sita's abduction. The name therefore literally translates to "Hearing Hill". It is also...
, Guntur district
Guntur district
Guntur district is located in Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of Bay of Bengal. The district has a coastline of around 100 kilometers. Guntur City is the largest city in the district and administrative center of Guntur District. The district is a major center for learning.-Etymology:There are...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Virayya and Lingamma. His father was Yadav and his mother Madiga
Madiga
Madiga is a social group or caste group of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra etc. found almost in all Indian states with different names. The people belonging to this community are most oppressed and exploited in the society. The term Madiga is derived from Sanskrit word Maha-Adiga which can be...
(an intercaste marriage). Due to their poverty and their caste, his childhood was spent in alienation from close relatives, undergoing severe hardships and being subjected to inhuman treatment from the society which considered his caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
untouchable. His parents raised him as a Christian. In spite of this, Jashuva often drew his inspiration from Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Hindu mythological epics. This angered his Christian society, which was quick to proscribe Jashuva's family from their community. This did not deter Jashuva who continued to write excellent poetry in Telugu.
He graduated with Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena (scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit languages).
Career
He initially worked as primary school teacher. He worked as Telugu producer in All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, Madras between 1946-1960.
Writing career
Protests against untouchability and segregation have been common themes in all his works. His main works include Gabbilam (A bat), Firadausi (A rebel) and Kandiseekudu (A refugee). Some of Jashua's verses had been incorporated into popular mythological play Harischandra especially those in the cremation grounds scene.Literary works
- Gabbilam (1941) is his most famous work, fashioned after KalidasaKalidasaKālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
's Megha Sandesam. It is not a yakshaYakshaYaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology. The feminine form of the word is ' or Yakshini .In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist mythology,...
using the cloudCloudA cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
as a messenger to convey his longing to his loved one; instead it is a hunger and poverty stricken individual requesting a batBatBats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
visiting him from a nearby Siva temple, to convey his prayers to GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. He muses at the irony of his situation, where a bat is allowed inside a templeTempleA temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
but not a human being! He cautions the bat to convey his message to SivaShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
as it hangs from the roof close to his ear, at a time when the priest is not around. Jashuva used his other favorite emotion, "patriotismPatriotismPatriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
" as he describes the various historic places the bird will fly over en route to Lord Siva in KasiKasiKASI or Kasi may refer to:* Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, South Korea* Kingdom of Kashi, or Kasi, an ancient kingdom with Varanasi as its capital* 1430KASI, a radio station licensed to serve Ames, Iowa...
. He even takes the bird on detours to visit some historic place of pride for Indians. - Firadausi (1932) is his another major work. The story is about the Persian poet Firdousi, in the court of the King Mahmud of GhazniMahmud of GhazniMahmud of Ghazni , actually ', was the most prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty who ruled from 997 until his death in 1030 in the eastern Iranian lands. Mahmud turned the former provincial city of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which covered most of today's Iran,...
. According to the legend goes, king promises the poet, a gold mohur for every word in a work he commissions the poet to write. After the poet spends ten years of his life, toiling day and night to create a master piece, the king, coming under the influence of jealous courtiers, reneges on his promise and offers only silver coins. The poet heartbroken at this breach of trust commits suicide. Jashuva's depiction of the anguish of the poet is superb and moves the readers to tears. - Baapoojee (1948) is expression of his anguish on hearing of the assassination of Mahatma GandhiMahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. His enormous love and respect for Gandhiji is poignantly expressed in these 15 odd poems eulogising Bapuji's life and work and lamenting his death as this country's misfortune.
Timeline of his complete works
- Rukmini Kalyanam (1919)
- Chidananda Prabhatham and Kushalavopakhyanam (1922)
- Kokila (1924)
- Dhruva Vijayam, Krishna Nadi and Samsara Saagaram (1925)
- Shivaji Prabandham, Veera Bai, Krishna Deva Raayalu, Vemana Yogeendrudu and Bhaarata Maatha (1926)
- Bhaarata Veerudu, Suryodayam, Chandrodayam and Gijigaadu (1927)
- Ranachyuthi, Aandhrudanu and Thummeda Pendlikoduku (1928)
- Sakhi, Buddhudu, Telugu Thalli, Sishuvu and Baashpa Sandesham (1929)
- Deergha Nishwasamu, Prabodham, Shilpi, Hechcharika, Saaleedu and Maathru Prema (1930)
- Bheeshmudu, Yugandhara Manthri, Sama Dhrushti, Nela Baaludu, Nemali Nelatha, Loka Baandhavudu, Anasuya, Shalya Saaradhyamu and Sandeha Dola (1931)
- Swapna Katha, Anaadha, Firdousi, Mumtaj Mahal, Sindhuramu, Budha Mahima, Kreesthu, Gunturu Seema, Vivekananda, Cheetla Peka, Jebunnisa and Paschatthapam (1932)
- Ayomayamu, Akhanda Gouthami, Aashwasam, Meghudu and Smashana Vaati (1933)
- Aandhra Bhojudu (1934)
- Gabbilam (1941)
- Kandiseekudu (1945)
- Thera Chaatu (1946)
- Chinna Naayakudu, Baapuji and Nethaji (1948)
- Swayam Varam (1950)
- Kottha Lokam (1957)
- Christhu Charithra (1958)
- Raashtra Pooja and Musafirulu (1963)
- Naagarjuna Saagaram and Naa Katha (1966)
Awards
- He was presented the Sahitya AkademiSahitya AkademiThe Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
Award for the work 'Kreestu Charitra' in 1964. - He was appointed as Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council in 1964.
- He was awarded Kala Prapoorna by Andhra UniversityAndhra UniversityAndhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
in 1970. - He was awarded Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
by Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1970.
Jashuva Sahitya Puraskaram was instituted by a literary foundation being annually presented to eminent poets from different Indian languages. The Founder secretary Hemalatha Lavanam is Jashuva's daughter.