Praja Yodhudu Somasundaram no more

​Pithapuram: Prominent poet Avantsa Somasundaram (92), popularly known as ‘Praja Yodhudu’, died on Friday at a private hospital in Kakinada after undergoing treatment for a lung-related problem during the last several days.

The body has been kept at his house, Kalakeli Bhavan, on the Kunti Madhava Swamy Street, here for the people to pay last tributes to him.

He had left a will pledging his body to be donated to the Rangaraya Medical College and eyes to be donated to Balakrishna Eye Bank, which received the retina. The poet, who set up the Dr Somasundaram Literary Trust, has been giving away cash awards since 2000 to coincide with his birthday on September 18.

Beginning his career as a writer at 13, Somasundaram continued to do so till breathing his last in the process completing over 120 works, although unable to see and walk.

His last publication, ‘Sarath Chandrika’, was a compilation on poet SriSri, which was dedicated recently to Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly Mandali Buddha Prasad to mark his 60th birthday.

Somasundaram’s work ‘Vajrayudham’ against the Nizam’s rule, during the Telangana Armed Struggle, is well-known in literary circles for providing vigour to the movement. The book was banned in 1949.

His wife, Ramanamma, died many years back. ‘SoSu’ is survived by four sons and a daughter. Two of the elder sons have died. His son Avantsa Sasikanth is involved in the literary field. Another son, Vijay Seshendra retired recently as an engineer from Satakarni Coal Mines. His daughter Kalyani Kaumudi lives in Bengaluru.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock over the demise of the literary giant Avantsa Somasundaram and expressed condolence to the bereaved family. He said that the late poet’s literary works would be torch-bearers to the society.

Opposition leader and YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy expressed condolences to the bereaved family members of the great poet Avantsa Somasundaram.