Vyaavahaarika Telugu BhaashaContributions of Gidugu and Veturi

Prof. Veturi Anandamurthy

Today is an auspicious occasion for triple reasons of Prayer, Remembrance and Celebration both in India and abroad as well.

151st Birth Anniversary Day of Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy Pantulugaru (29th August,1863 – 22nd January,1940)

64th Vardhanti occasion of Gurudev Veturi Prabhakara Sastry garu (7th February, 1888 – 29th August, 1950),

This is also a day of Celebration for the Telugu Brothers of Mauritius who also have a share in the beneficial efforts of our elders in the past

Telugu language progressed from Mother Tongue, Regional Language, Official Language to the present status of “Classical Language”

Hurdle of the diglossia between Spoken (Vyaavahaarika) and Written (Graandhika) form of the language was surpassed before reaching the classical language status.

Modern Telugu Language

Gidugu was like ‘Varadagodaavari’, and Veturi was like ‘Prasanna Krishnavenna’ in their temperaments.

GVR – a great vocal leader of the language movement. VPS was a silent supporter and active participant.

Their mutual support gave Life and Vitality to the language movement at that time.

Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy after a great fight – seeing his own success of the war waged, on the Telugu language front, died peacefully in 1940, “like President Roosevelt after the second world war.”

Gidugu and Veturi

“It was Veturi Prabhakara Sastry who first observed that our ancient and medieval writers employed a certain colloquial register of functional language in their explanatory type of prose writings, while they followed a different grammatical style in their creative writings. To prove this fact he used to unearth and quote copious examples from earlier palm leaf sources which went unnoticed by scholars even, including my (Dr. Sitapati’s) father Gidigu Venkat Ramamurthy and Gurajada Venkata Appa Rao. While that being the case such writings were at times tampered with by some leading publishing houses in getting the spoken form transformed into grammatical usage, and thus harmed the beauty of the language,- revealed Prabhakara Sastry.”

- Dr. Gidugu Sitapati, the distinguished scholar and son of Gidugu Venkata Rama Murthy

Excerpt from a special note on Veturi

The literary effort of Gurajada and Gidugu was mainly responsible for founding the ‘Navya Sahitya Parishat’and launching of ‘Pratibha’ patrika.... Both Gurajada and Gidugu were my close friends. I was also one who joined hands with them those days, in what you are all now enjoying joyously and celebrating the eventful achievements of modern Telugu renaissance.

I do not think there is anyone in this assembly here who is witness to our friendship those days. Because, that was nearly three decades back (1947 minus 30yrs =) much prior to1916-17.

I was the one to celebrate with ecstasy the launching of Gurajada’s new poetry like ‘Kanyaka’ or ‘Puurnamma’. I know that many more of his other writings which are yet to be published. I was personally aware of certain of his poetic nuances and excellences which many of you gathered here may not know. At the instance of my friend Gidugu, Gurajada Appa Rao’s son Ramadasu wanted me to pen my foreword for a poetry compilation of his father. I promised him that I would. But that did not happen the way we wanted.

As far as the VaDukabhasha movement was concerned I totally agree with the views of my friend Gidugu. During 1912and 1913 I published some books in Vadukabhasha when there was stiff opposition to the use of such style. Leave alone writing it was a taboo to speak in Vadukabhasha in public forums....

Although Gurajada passed away long back, Gidugu continued waging war single handed to see the successful end of a long drawn battle like President Roosevelt, hero of the Second World War.

Like Bhushanabhattu, son of Banabhattu Dr.Gidugu Sitapati son of my friend Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy is fully equipped to fulfil all the ambitions of his father.

Veturi’s Reflections on Language movement

GV Apparao’s Kanyasulkam drama written in spoken Telugu First edition- 1897 / Second edition 1907.

1910 – GVR established “Andhrabhasha pravartaka sangham” at Rajahmundry

Madras Government constituted the ‘Composition Committee” in 1913. ◦ After a tough debate the motion in favour of Spoken Language Reform was

finally defeated.◦ GVAR presented a strongly worded “minute of Dissent” to the Committee, which

was a landmark achievement in the progress of the movement. 1919 – Slowly perceptible change in attitudes appeared in favour of

the movement. Savara tribal upliftment program by GVR 1936 - ‘Navya Sahitya Parishat’ established and the journal ‘Pratibha’

launched towards promotion of the movement. 1937 –Tapi Dharmarao launched another organ called ‘Janavani’ in

support. 1940 – GVR’s Final Appeal published in “Prajamitra” won over the

debate. GVR died peacefully on 22nd January, the same year(1940)

Story of the Spoken language movement in its various stages.

Other three pivotal pillars

P T Srinivasa Iyengar (1863 – 1931)

J A Yates (1874 – 1951

Gurajada Venkata Apparao (1861 – 1915)

Situation before 1965 – Telugu language survived magically from extinction, purely on local efforts with occasional outside support. Pundit Ramamurti; Pundit Gunnaiah Ottu; Pundit Gooraiah are some names to reckon with, besides scores of other enthusiast teachers in 1966 and thereafter

MAMS inspired by SAAMS 1966 –70 Arrival of ITEC Experts of Indian languages – phase

one. 1976 –79 : Introduction of Spoken Telugu at Primary and

Secondary levels.◦ Establishment of Mahatma Gandhi Institute

2014 and now : Invigorating situation with increasing Governmental support – establishment of Telugu Speaking Union, jointly under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts & Culture.

Love for Mauritian Nationalism, Love for Telugu Language and Love for Dharma are the Body, Mind and Spirit

The Mauritian parallel

Thank YouYou can contact me at:

605, 2nd Cross, BEML Layout 3rd Stage,Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore – 560098

E-mail: aveturi@yahoo.co.inPhone: +919742486122