Sri Sri, The great poet

“Nenoka durgam, Nadoka Swargam, Anargalam Anitara Sadyam Naa Margam!”

(I am an Everest, I live in heaven and my journey is not for many)

These were the lines Mahakavi Sri Sri, wrote in his much acclaimed book ‘Mahaprasthanam’. He wrote these lines when he was in his early 20s and also lived his life in the same manner. Srirangam Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as Sri Sri, was born on April 30, 1910 in Visakhapatnam. He was educated in the same school where his father was a teacher. Sri Sri was introduced to literature at a very young age. He wrote poetry when he was a seven-year-old and his first book was published at the age of eight. Sadly no copies of this book were available then and even now.

After completing his higher education at Madras (now Chennai) in 1931, Sri Sri had a brief stint in teaching at Mrs AVN College. As a youngster, Sri Sri played football, as his father was an ardent supporter of a football club. Prabhava was his first work that was published in 1928. Sri Sri, in one of his interviews, admitted that he started writing in ‘Grandhikam’ (classical Telugu) and it was with the influence of Gurajada, he shifted to the language of common man.

Sri Sri, was the first one to introduce free verse in Telugu poetry. Most of his poems in ‘Mahaprasthanam’ were written in a metre and verse that were not used before in poetry. He successfully transformed poetry which ran on mythological themes to the one that reflected contemporary issues.

Though ‘Mahaprasthanam’ was first published in 1950, most of the poems in the book were written in 1930s. Those times were marked by draught, famines, inflation etc. The struggle of a common man in those times influenced his poetry. He was particularly influenced by French surrealist Jean Paul Sarte.

All the poems in the book ‘Mahaprasthanam’ show a revolutionary thought. The titular poem ‘Mahaprasthanam’

starts like this:“Maro prapancham maro prapanchamMaro prapancham pilichindiPadandi munuku padandi tosuku

Podaam podaam pai paiki...”Sri Sri called for a new world where everyone was equal. This poem reflects his communistic thought. Experts opine that his poem ’Kavita O Kavita’ reflects the views expressed in communist manifesto. He was the only poet who proudly declared, “Ee sathabdham naadi” (this century is mine).

Common man’s struggles were always a key element and theme of his poetry. In his poem ‘Bhikshu Varshiyasi’, he wrote about the plight of an old female beggar living on the streets. Noted poet Dasarathi once remarked, “Prapancham badha, Sri Sri badha...”

Apart from his stellar contribution to change the face of modern literature, Sri Sri had a tryst with films. He was the first writer who dubbed a film into Telugu, the film was ‘Aahuti’. Contemporary dubbing writers said it was Sri Sri who wrote grammar for dubbing and they are following it. Sri Sri, was a lyricist too and had a plethora of songs to his credit. He was the first lyricist from Telugu to win the National Award for ‘Teluguveera leveraa’ in the best song category, from the film ‘Alluri Seetharamaraju’.

As a prose writer, Sri Sri was known for his ability to pun. Not only did he change the face of poetry, he successfully adapted English literary techniques like limericks into Telugu. Though he is not an ‘Aasu Kavi’ (extempore), his friends would credit him as one. Late Mullapudi Venkataramana, recounts an experience in his autobiography, ‘Koti Kommacchi’ like this:“It was struggling days for all of us. We couldn’t even have a square meal a day. There used to be a hotel, where meals were cheap and it attracted huge crowds. People used to stand in queue behind the table, for their turn. One fine day, Sri Sri came here and stood in a queue. In a flash, he recounted these lines: ‘Kale Kadupulaku, quele dikkayyayi, sirisrimuvva’...(Even though you are dying of hunger, you have to stand in queue).”

Sri Sri was also famous for his crossword puzzles. Puzzle enthusiasts still remember how he gave a clue for a three letter word as, ‘Okati, Mariokati, Inkokati’ and the answer was ‘Ti Ti Ti’. Apart from his acclaimed book ‘Mahaprasthanam’, his other works were published in books like ‘Si Pra Li’ and ‘Khadga Shrushti’.

Sri Sri was also credited for starting ‘Viplava Rachyitala Sangham’ (Virasam). Later in his career, he wrote poems to classical Telugu meter called ‘Kandapadyam’. When he was asked about this in an interview, he remarked that it was only to enjoy the beauty of the meter (Kandala andala kosam).

It was Gutala Krishna Murthy, who took Sri Sri to London and made him recite all his poems and recorded them. Not only did Sri Sri change the face of literature, he also influenced future generations as well.

This great poet died on June 15, 1983 in Chennai. The poems of Sri Sri still holds good in current scenario and are widely quoted in many debates and speeches. Incidentally, the song for which Suddala Ashok Teja won the National Award, the first stanza is Sri Sri’s famous poem ‘Nenu saitham prapanchagniki samidhanokkati aahutichanu...”