The pioneer of people’s literature in Telangana

Among the pioneers of modern Telangana, Vattikota Alwarswamy occupies a unique place, as he inaugurated the era of popular literature. The cultural and literary resurgence in Telangana was spearheaded by Komarraju Laxmana Rao, Ravichettu Ranga Rao and others at the turn of the 20th century. The founding of Sri Krishnadevaraya Andhra Bhasha Nilayam heralded a new epoch in literary renaissance in vernaculars and spread of socio-cultural awakening. The assertion of Telugu identity in terms of ethnicity and language gave rise to the growth of library movement and Andhra Mahasabha.

To begin with, the Andhra Jana Sangam was established in 1921 with the objective of establishing more libraries in Telangana region of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. It organised several conferences and established Telugu medium schools, reading rooms in order to spread literacy among the Telugus. During the first quarter of the 20th century, library movement in Telangana emerged as one of the most significant socio-cultural movements and contributed to public awakening. Several individuals and scholars like Madapati Hanmantha Rao, Suravaram Pratapa Reddy, Kodati Narayana etc., played a significant role in the spread of the library movement and Telugu journalism in Telangana.

Vattikota Alwarswamy, known as the Father of Telangana Grandhalaya Udyamam, single-handedly championed the cause of people’s library and literary movement. He occupies a unique place in the literary and intellectual world of modern Telangana for his contribution to the spread of libraries in the villages of Telangana. Although the Telangana region has the famous libraries of more than 100 years old, such as Krishna Deva Raya Andhra Bhasha Nilayam, Raja Raja Narendra Andhra Bhasha Nilayam, the credit for starting village and mobile libraries goes to Vattikota Alwarswamy.

In order to make available the printed literature to village people, he personally carried books on his head and toured the villages and enabled the village folk to access modern knowledge. He also established the Deshoddaraka Granthamala and published low-cost books and distributed them among the people. The popularisation of library movement at the gross-level by Swamy had contributed to the new socio-cultural and political awakening in the Telangana rural areas. Thus, it also contributed to the growth of anti-feudal struggles under the leadership of Andhra Mahasabha.

As an active participant in the people’s movement, Alwarswamy also produced popular literature depicting the socio-economic conditions of peasantry in Telangana as well as the social evils like Vetticahkiri, Jogini, Adapapa, and championed the cause of emancipation of oppressed classes and communities. He wrote the famous novel, Prajalamanishi, in which he portrayed the socio-economic conditions in Telangana villages, feudal exploitation, the role of educated middle classes, Andhra Mahasabha and progressive forces in anti-Nizam struggles.

The novel realistically represented the prevailing socio-economic-cultural conditions, customs, traditions, and people’s resistance movements against autocratic-feudal domination in the villages. Hence, Alwarswamy was considered the first Novelist of Telangana. In the making of modern Telangana, the role and contribution of intellectuals like Vattikota Alwarswamy is immense and praiseworthy. He was instrumental in facilitating the growth of public awakening through the popularisation of libraries, journalism and popular literature.

In the context of the formation of new state of Telangana, and its reconstruction, it is appropriate to remember the unique contribution of Telangana Muddubidda and pay homage on his 101st birth anniversary. On this occasion, it is hoped that the Telangana government would launch ‘Mission Vattikota’ to spread knowledge among the rural and downtrodden people by establishing more village-level libraries. It is also not out of place to suggest to the present government to restore, renovate and maintain the dilapidated/ruined libraries like the Andhra Bhasha Nilayam and preserve resources of Telangana cultural heritage. (Writer is a retired History Professor of Osmania University)

By Prof Adapa Satyanarayana