The genius of Butchi Babu

I delivered in Bangalore on June 14 a lecture on the literary works of Butchi Babu. June 14 happens to be his 97th birthday. Butchi Babu's wife, Shivaraju Subbalakshmi, now lives in Bengaluru and arranges a lecture that day every year at Bengaluru or Hyderabad. Many have already spoken on the novel 'Chivaraku Migiledi' (only novel written by Butchi Babu) and his short stories. She wanted me to speak on 'Plays and playlets', 'Literary Essays' and ' A critical Appreciation of Shakespeare's works' - all written by Butchi Babu. Tangirala Subba Rao, a well-known poet and critic who also lives in Bengaluru, arranges literary and cultural meetings for Telugu people there. He asked me to speak on these three books spending half an hour on each of them.

Subbalaksmi is also a writer and has written short stories and three novels. She is a painter too. Above all, she is a great devotee of her husband who died on September 20, 1967. Butchi Babu was not only a writer of great books but also a great painter. He painted hundreds of landscapes. Prof TV Subbarao, presiding, spoke on the life and works of Butchi Babu who was born at Eluru in West Godavari district. He took his M.A degree in English Literature from Nagpur University, worked for sometime as lecturer in English. But very soon he joined All India Radio as programme executive, worked in AIR, Madras, for some time and was transferred to AIR, Hyderabad. During a short span of life, he was successful in producing many volumes of short stories, one path-breaking novel, 14 plays and playlets, nearly 50 literary essays and an excellent book on Shakespeare's plays. Most Telugu readers know him as a novelist and a short story writer. His book on Shakespeare introduces all plays to make them understandable even to common readers.

I started with a critical appreciation of Butchi Babu's plays. 'Rayala Karuna Krithyam', (A kind deed of Sri Krishna Devaraayulu) is a historical play. The theme is: The famous Vijayanagara Emperor, Sri Krishna Devaraayulu, pardons the lovers Swarupini and Shyama Raju, even though they acted against the rules and norms of his Queen's world.

They were to be hanged for the indiscretion, but moved by their genuine love for each other, Krishna Devaraayulu pardons them and allowed them to get married. This story of Butchi Babu made famous film director B.N. Reddy produce 'Malleswari' that brought international laurels to its director.

Unfortunately, B.N. Reddy did not mention Butchi Babu's name in the credits. Subbalakshmi told me that B.N. Reddy had visited their house and discussed with Butchi Babu the story of Rayala Karuna Krithyam which formed the main theme of Malleswari. B.N.Reddy requested Butchi Babu to write the screenplay and dialogues. But later he changed his mind and the job was entrusted to Devulapalli Krishna Sastry.

'Trisha Rakshathi' is also a historical play which takes us to the days of Emperor Asoka. Thishya Rakshathi was the third wife of Asoka. He married her before he embraced Buddhism. After Asoka became an ardent follower of Buddhism, he became a sanyaasi and never visited Thishya Rakshathi. Thishya Rakshathi was deeply hurt and made a scathing attack on Buddhism and Asoka. She says that Buddhism had made people unworldly and timid. Ultimately, Thishya Rakshathi kills herself by falling under a huge statue of Buddha. The play, 'Atma Vanchana' (self-deception) is the best of all Butchi Babu's plays. It depicts the split personality of a woman, 'Koumudhi Rani'.

She and Raja Shekharam are the main players. Raja Shekharam hails from a very poor family. He spends his childhood at the family of Koumudhi Rani, as an orphan begging food and clothes. Rani's father is a District Collector who gives shelter to Raja Shekharam in his house. Being very good at studies, Raja takes B.A.(honours) degree and succeeds in obtaining an officer's job. Rani loves and wants to marry him. But outwardly, she always heckles Raja as he depends on her family.

Raja is convinced that Rani can never love him. He decides to marry a Bengali girl, Purnima. When Rani learns that Raja is going to marry Purnima, she tells her that she and Raja are going to get married soon, as they have been in love since their childhood. Purnima feels cheated by Raja and commits suicide. This play 'Atma Vanchana' is a tragedy as Raja too commits suicide when he learns that Rani had poisoned the mind of Purnima.

Butchi Babu's literary essays are highly analytical; particularly those on some great writers like Bertrand Russell, Somerset Maugham, Aldous Huxley, T.S. Eliot, and Wordsworth. Butchi Babu was a great admirer of Bertrand Russell and had written two or three short stories based on his ideas. He dedicated these stories to Russell and sent them to him. Russell acknowledged them and thanked Butchi Babu. His lengthy essay on Russell discusses all ideas of Russell.

The essay on Somerset Maugham too runs into more than 100 pages. Though Butchi Babu was a great admirer of Maugham, he could not help making some harsh comments on him. Butchi Babu says that a writer should have respect for life. He should love life. But he never had any respect for life. He was a cynic. He had very little respect for men and women. Maugham was particularly critical of his women characters. Maugham's writings, according to Butchi Babu, lack poetic flavour.

Butchi Babu wrote 'A Critical Appreciation of Shakespeare's works' to mark the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Shakespeare in 1964. In the first part, he gives biographical details. In other chapters, he analyses the historical plays, comedies and tragedies. Butchi Babu deeply influenced me.

Though Butchi Babu was a great admirer of Maugham, he could not help making some harsh comments on him

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