Ponaka kanakamma
Encyclopedia
Ponaka Kanakamma was a social worker, activist and freedom fighter, imprisoned over a year, as a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi
, in India
.
She founded Sri Kasturidevi Vidyalam, a large school for girls in Nellore.
, on June 10, 1892 at Minagallu. Her father was Marupooru Konda Reddy and mother: Kaamamma.
She hailed from a very rich landlord community. She got married in her childhood. Though she had no formal schooling, she acquired proficiency in Telugu
, Hindi
and Sanskrit
by her own efforts. In 1913, she started 'Sujana Ranjani samajam' in Potlapudi village, near Nellore
to serve the society. She worked for the uplift of Harijans and poor. Her friends established 'Vivekananda Library' in Kottur in the year 1913, with the help of people Nellore Rama Naidu and others. For a brief period, she was under the spell of revolutionary politics and later became the ardent disciple of Mahatma Gandhi
.
Gandhiji inaugurated in Pallipadu village, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Nellore, the 'Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram' on 7 April 1921. Chaturuvedula Krishnaiah, Digumarti Hanumantu Rao and others founded the Ashram
and Kanakamma donated 13 acres of land to establish the Ashram. She participated in the non-cooperation movement
and Salt Satyagraha
. She underwent one and a half years rigorous imprisonment, in two installments at Rayavellore. She hosted Bipin Chandra Pal during his visit to Nellore in 1907.
In 1923, she founded Sri Kasturidevi Vidyalam as a part of Gandhiji's constructive programme, a school for girls in Nellore, and Gandhiji laid the foundation stone for the permanent building in 1929. This sprawling Kasturidevi Vidyalam campus, extended to about 23 acres (93,077.8 m²), is the living monument for Kanakamma. For some time, she acted as a member of AICC
. She also acted as vice-president of Andhra Congress committee. After she lost her only daughater, M.Venkatasubbamma who was a budding writer and social worker, she became a devotee of Ramana Maharshi
and Ramayogi (of Annareddy palem). Ponaka Kanakamma and Dronamraju Lakshmibaiyamma were the first twin poetesses. They wrote several philosophical poems on Ramana Maharshi
- important ones are Aradhana and Nivedyam. They translated Bhagavadgita in to Telugu by name "Gnana Netram". She wrote the auto-biography of Sri Rama Yogi, both in Telugu and English. She founded the Jameen Raitu, a Telugu weekly at Nellore in support of Zameendari Raitu movement in Nellore district. She lost her property due to the tyranny and repression of Venkatagiri Zameendar. Her short stories,essays and poems are published in Anasuya, Gruha Lakshmi, Hindu sundari, Bharati, Jameen raitu (newspapers ) etc. She established an industrial training centre for under-privileged women. During her life, she hosted many eminent freedom fighters and poets at her residence in Potalpudi. She is the recipient of 'Grulakshmi Swarnakankana' sanmanam (felicitation). In connection with the silver jubilee celebrations of Madras Mahila Sabha organisation, Smt. Durga Bhai Deshmukh honoured Kanakamma with a silver plank.
Ponaka Kanakamma died in Nellore
, on September 15, 1963.
In 2011, her auto-biography in Telugu by name "Kanakapushyaragam" was released by Dr.K.Purushotham.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, in 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 founded Sri Kasturidevi Vidyalam, a large school for girls in Nellore.
Life
Ponaka Kanakamma was born in Nellore districtNellore district
Sri Amarajeevi Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Nellore is famous for high paddy field, and so it got its name from "Nelli". The population of the district was 2,966,082 of which 22.45% were urban as of 2011....
, on June 10, 1892 at Minagallu. Her father was Marupooru Konda Reddy and mother: Kaamamma.
She hailed from a very rich landlord community. She got married in her childhood. Though she had no formal schooling, she acquired proficiency in 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...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and 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...
by her own efforts. In 1913, she started 'Sujana Ranjani samajam' in Potlapudi village, near Nellore
Nellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
to serve the society. She worked for the uplift of Harijans and poor. Her friends established 'Vivekananda Library' in Kottur in the year 1913, with the help of people Nellore Rama Naidu and others. For a brief period, she was under the spell of revolutionary politics and later became the ardent disciple of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
.
Gandhiji inaugurated in Pallipadu village, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Nellore, the 'Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram' on 7 April 1921. Chaturuvedula Krishnaiah, Digumarti Hanumantu Rao and others founded the Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
and Kanakamma donated 13 acres of land to establish the Ashram. She participated in the non-cooperation movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
and Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
. She underwent one and a half years rigorous imprisonment, in two installments at Rayavellore. She hosted Bipin Chandra Pal during his visit to Nellore in 1907.
In 1923, she founded Sri Kasturidevi Vidyalam as a part of Gandhiji's constructive programme, a school for girls in Nellore, and Gandhiji laid the foundation stone for the permanent building in 1929. This sprawling Kasturidevi Vidyalam campus, extended to about 23 acres (93,077.8 m²), is the living monument for Kanakamma. For some time, she acted as a member of AICC
All India Congress Committee
The All India Congress Committee is the Presidium or central decision-making assembly of the Indian National Congress Party. It is composed of members elected from State-level Pradesh Congress Committees and can have as many as a thousand members...
. She also acted as vice-president of Andhra Congress committee. After she lost her only daughater, M.Venkatasubbamma who was a budding writer and social worker, she became a devotee of Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi , born Venkataraman Iyer, was a Hindu spiritual master . He was born to a Tamil-speaking Brahmin family in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu. After experiencing at age 16 what he later described as liberation , he left home for Arunachala, a mountain considered sacred by Hindus...
and Ramayogi (of Annareddy palem). Ponaka Kanakamma and Dronamraju Lakshmibaiyamma were the first twin poetesses. They wrote several philosophical poems on Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi , born Venkataraman Iyer, was a Hindu spiritual master . He was born to a Tamil-speaking Brahmin family in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu. After experiencing at age 16 what he later described as liberation , he left home for Arunachala, a mountain considered sacred by Hindus...
- important ones are Aradhana and Nivedyam. They translated Bhagavadgita in to Telugu by name "Gnana Netram". She wrote the auto-biography of Sri Rama Yogi, both in Telugu and English. She founded the Jameen Raitu, a Telugu weekly at Nellore in support of Zameendari Raitu movement in Nellore district. She lost her property due to the tyranny and repression of Venkatagiri Zameendar. Her short stories,essays and poems are published in Anasuya, Gruha Lakshmi, Hindu sundari, Bharati, Jameen raitu (newspapers ) etc. She established an industrial training centre for under-privileged women. During her life, she hosted many eminent freedom fighters and poets at her residence in Potalpudi. She is the recipient of 'Grulakshmi Swarnakankana' sanmanam (felicitation). In connection with the silver jubilee celebrations of Madras Mahila Sabha organisation, Smt. Durga Bhai Deshmukh honoured Kanakamma with a silver plank.
Ponaka Kanakamma died in Nellore
Nellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
, on September 15, 1963.
In 2011, her auto-biography in Telugu by name "Kanakapushyaragam" was released by Dr.K.Purushotham.