Nayani Krishnakumari
Encyclopedia
Nayani Krishnakumari was born to Nayani Subba Rao and Hanumayamma on March 14, 1930 in Guntur
, a town in Andhra Pradesh
, India
. She is married to Canakapalli Madhusudana Rao, a lawyer and a distant relative in 1954. They have one daughter and two sons.
Krishnakumari has been an active participant in literary and cultural events. She worked on Telugu
ballads and obtained her doctorate in 1970. She has a master’s degree in Sanskrit
.
In her dissertation, Krishnakumari took the western critiquing tools and explained the narrative style in Telugu ballads and correlated their underlying philosophy to the Telugu culture scientifically.
Her first book, a story of the Andhra people, entitled Andhrula katha, was published when she was 18. The book was prescribed as textbook in schools. Her first collection of poetry, agniputri, was published in 1978, shortly after her father died.
Women’s College in Hyderabad, where she started out as lecturer, and became a reader and professor. During 1983-84, she served as Principal of Padmavathi Mahila University, Tirupati, and returned to Osmania University as Head of the Department of Telugu. She retired in 1990 after serving as the Chair of the Board of Studies in Osmania University for three years. Krishnakumari served as Vice Chancellor of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University
, Hyderabad, from 1996 to 1999. Currently, she is professor emeritus.
Krishnakumari’s Telugu Janapada Geya gaathalu, [Telugu ballads] is considered her major work. In this dissertation, published in 1977, Krishnakumari discussed at length the origin and development of Telugu ballads in the context of Telugu folk literature. She identified the folk literature as a separate and valuable part of our literatures, compared it to similar literatures in other cultures and countries, and produced a systematic classification chart of ethnology, ethnography and sociology. Further, she has shown how other branches such as songs and stories incorporated physical gestures and other theatrical paraphernalia in course of time. In this she also noted the inclusion of terminology from other languages, which happened with educated singers of the ballads.
During her tenure as professor at Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Krishnakumari published a textbook on folklore entitled Telugu janapada vijnanam: samaajam, samskruti, sahityam, containing articles by several scholars in folklore with topics for discussion and further research.
One of Krishnakumari’s innovations is to apply the straight line equation from mathematics to the storytelling methods in folklore. This is an innovating experiment in the studies of folklore in Telugu literature and marked Krishnakumari’s knowledge of mathematics and her erudition in research methodologies.
Krishnakumari publications include two anthologies of her poetry Agniputri [Daughter of Fire, 1978] and Em cheppanu nestam! [What Can I Say, My Friend!, 1988]; history books: Andhrula katha [The Story of Andhra People], manamuu, mana puurvulu [We and Our Ancestors], telugu bhasha charitra [History of Telugu language], ; two collections of short stories: Ayaatha (A Collection of short stories), Gautami (novel), Aparajita (A collaborative novel with three other writers), pariseelana [An Anthology of reviews], parisodhana [A Collection of research papers], kashmira deepakalika (A travelogue, recounting her experiences of a tour in Kashmir with a group of students), and Telugu Janapada geya gaathalu (Ph.D. dissertation on ballads in Telugu folklore) among several others. Numerous articles on Telugu people’s customs, lifestyles, and culture also attest to her comprehension and knowledge in the areas in question.
Her travelogue, kashmira deepakalika, is considered unique in Telugu literature for its style. It is an account of her experiences, her response to the beauty of nature in the Kashmir valley during a tour with a group of students she had accompanied. Chekuri Ramarao stated that the book, unlike usual travelogues, is a literary masterpiece brimming with poetry.
Marking her sixtieth birthday and retirement, several scholars and the elite in Andhra Pradesh honored Krishnakumari. The festschriften volume, vidushi, features several articles from reputable scholars in Andhra Pradesh.
Translations:
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
, a town in 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...
. She is married to Canakapalli Madhusudana Rao, a lawyer and a distant relative in 1954. They have one daughter and two sons.
Life
Krishnakumari is a distinguished scholar, poet, researcher, speaker and an active participant in literary and cultural organizations. She served several Institutions in various capacities. She received several awards such as Swarnakankanam instituted by Desoddharaka Kasinathuni Nageswara Rao, Best Telugu Writer award from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, and Sahitya Akademi among others.Krishnakumari has been an active participant in literary and cultural events. She worked on Telugu
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...
ballads and obtained her doctorate in 1970. She has a master’s degree in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
.
In her dissertation, Krishnakumari took the western critiquing tools and explained the narrative style in Telugu ballads and correlated their underlying philosophy to the Telugu culture scientifically.
Her first book, a story of the Andhra people, entitled Andhrula katha, was published when she was 18. The book was prescribed as textbook in schools. Her first collection of poetry, agniputri, was published in 1978, shortly after her father died.
Positions held
She started her academic career as lecturer in a women’s college in Madras in 1951. 1952, she moved to Osmania UniversityOsmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
Women’s College in Hyderabad, where she started out as lecturer, and became a reader and professor. During 1983-84, she served as Principal of Padmavathi Mahila University, Tirupati, and returned to Osmania University as Head of the Department of Telugu. She retired in 1990 after serving as the Chair of the Board of Studies in Osmania University for three years. Krishnakumari served as Vice Chancellor of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University
Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University
Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University or simply Telugu University , is one of the few language universities in India.-University:...
, Hyderabad, from 1996 to 1999. Currently, she is professor emeritus.
Literary works
Krishnakumari is a pioneer in Folklore studies and women’s literature.Krishnakumari’s Telugu Janapada Geya gaathalu, [Telugu ballads] is considered her major work. In this dissertation, published in 1977, Krishnakumari discussed at length the origin and development of Telugu ballads in the context of Telugu folk literature. She identified the folk literature as a separate and valuable part of our literatures, compared it to similar literatures in other cultures and countries, and produced a systematic classification chart of ethnology, ethnography and sociology. Further, she has shown how other branches such as songs and stories incorporated physical gestures and other theatrical paraphernalia in course of time. In this she also noted the inclusion of terminology from other languages, which happened with educated singers of the ballads.
During her tenure as professor at Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Krishnakumari published a textbook on folklore entitled Telugu janapada vijnanam: samaajam, samskruti, sahityam, containing articles by several scholars in folklore with topics for discussion and further research.
One of Krishnakumari’s innovations is to apply the straight line equation from mathematics to the storytelling methods in folklore. This is an innovating experiment in the studies of folklore in Telugu literature and marked Krishnakumari’s knowledge of mathematics and her erudition in research methodologies.
Krishnakumari publications include two anthologies of her poetry Agniputri [Daughter of Fire, 1978] and Em cheppanu nestam! [What Can I Say, My Friend!, 1988]; history books: Andhrula katha [The Story of Andhra People], manamuu, mana puurvulu [We and Our Ancestors], telugu bhasha charitra [History of Telugu language], ; two collections of short stories: Ayaatha (A Collection of short stories), Gautami (novel), Aparajita (A collaborative novel with three other writers), pariseelana [An Anthology of reviews], parisodhana [A Collection of research papers], kashmira deepakalika (A travelogue, recounting her experiences of a tour in Kashmir with a group of students), and Telugu Janapada geya gaathalu (Ph.D. dissertation on ballads in Telugu folklore) among several others. Numerous articles on Telugu people’s customs, lifestyles, and culture also attest to her comprehension and knowledge in the areas in question.
Her travelogue, kashmira deepakalika, is considered unique in Telugu literature for its style. It is an account of her experiences, her response to the beauty of nature in the Kashmir valley during a tour with a group of students she had accompanied. Chekuri Ramarao stated that the book, unlike usual travelogues, is a literary masterpiece brimming with poetry.
Marking her sixtieth birthday and retirement, several scholars and the elite in Andhra Pradesh honored Krishnakumari. The festschriften volume, vidushi, features several articles from reputable scholars in Andhra Pradesh.
List of important Literary works
- Agniputri. Hyderabad: Author. 1978
- Andhrula katha: A History of Andhras for children
- Ayaathaa. A Collection of short stories.
- Em cheppanu nestam. Hyderabad: Author. 1988
- Janapada geyaalu.
- Kashmira deepakalika, A Travelogue
- Kathala kadali: Retold storie of Katha Saritsagaram
- McKenzie kaifiyats (A Critical Evaluation)
- Nalgonda zilla uyyaala paatalu
- Pariseelana. Hyderabad: Author, 1977
- Parisodhana. Hyderabad: Andhra Saraswata parishad, 1979.
- Telugu Bhasha Charitra. Hyderabad: Telugu Akademi.n.d.
- Telugu Janapada Geya Gaathalu: Telugu Folk Ballads
- Telugu Janapada Vijnanam: society, culture and literature. Hyderabad: Potti Sreeramulu
- Jaanapada saraswati. Hyderabad: Janapada Sahitya Parishat, 1996. Telugu University, 2000 (Krishnakumari, Nayani. Ed.)
Translations:
- Toru Dutt (from English to Telugu)
- Folklore of Andhra Pradesh (from English to Telugu)
Awards
Krishnakumari has received several prestigious awards such as -- Gruhalakshmi Swarnakankanam
- Best Woman Writer of Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi
- Best Writer from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University
- Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University Award in the best literature produced by women