Gurram Jashuva

Gurram Jashuva

Portrait of Gurram Jashuva
Born 28 September 1895
Vinukonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died 24 July 1971
Guntur
Occupation Poet
Spouse(s) Mariyamma[1]
Children Hemalatha Lavanam

Gurram Jashuva (or G Joshua) (28 September 1895 – 24 July 1971) was a Telugu poet. He was recognized with awards by Government of India. His literature's impact on the society was studied by researchers. Literary awards were instituted in his memory.

Early life

Jashuva was born to Virayya and Lingamma in Vinukonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India to a community of leather workers.[2] His father belonged to the Yadav caste and his mother belonged to the Madiga caste.[3][4][5] Due to poverty and the intercaste marriage of his parents, his childhood was difficult in a society in which some castes were considered "untouchable." His parents raised him and his brother as Christians. Jashuva graduated with Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena (as a scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit languages).[6]

Career

Jashuva initially worked as primary school teacher. He then worked as Telugu producer in All India Radio, Madras between 1946-1960.

Protests against "untouchability," Dalit rights, and segregation have been common themes in all his works. His main works include Gabbilam (A Bat), Firadausi (A Rebel) and Kandiseekudu (A Refugee). Some of Jashua's verses had been incorporated into the popular mythological play, Harischandra, especially those in the cremation grounds scene.[7]

Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh consider Jashuva as the first modern Telugu Dalit poet, and protest the erasure of Jashuva from many Telugu and Indian literary histories. In 1995, Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh organized birth centenary celebrations for Jashuva and have begun efforts to rehabilitate his literary contributions.[8]

Literary works

In one stanza, Jashuva writes:[10] To this friendly bat he began telling his life-story with a heart scorched by sorrow. In this senseless and arrogant world, other than lowly birds and insects, do the poor have any intimates or neighbors, any noble swans to explain his warm tears?

The man in the poem muses at the irony of his situation, where a bat is allowed inside a temple but not a human being. He cautions the bat to convey his message to Siva as it hangs from the roof close to his ear, at a time when the priest is not around. Jashuva used his other favorite emotion, "patriotism" as he describes the various historic places the bat will fly over en route to Lord Siva in Kasi. He even takes the bat on detours to visit some historic place of pride for Indians. (Mohanty, Manoranjan (2004-05-24). Class, Caste, Gender. SAGE. p. 236. ISBN 9780761996439. ) [6][11]

Timeline

Awards

Critical studies

Endluri Sudhakar researched Gurram Jashua's literature and published a book on his outlook and impact.[15]

Awards instituted in his memory

The "Jashuva Sahitya Puraskaram" was instituted by the Jashuva foundation as an annual prize to poets from different Indian languages for enriching contribution to Indian literature with human values. The founder and secretary, Hemalatha Lavanam, is Jashuva's daughter.[16] Nilmani Phukan, an Assamese poet, received the award in 2002.[17]

Padma Bhushan Dr Gurram Jashuva Research Centre of Telugu Akademi has instituted three awards to poets and writers for contributions to Telugu literature. These are the "Jashuva Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram"s for male poets aged sixty or above; the "Jashuva Visishta Mahila Purasakaram" for female poets aged fifty or above; and the "Jashuva Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram" for any contributor to Dalita Sahityam (Dalit literature).[18] The first of these awards was presented during the 118th birth anniversary celebrations on 28 September 2013. The award amount is Rs 2 lakh.[19] Dasaradhi Rangacharya was awarded "Jashuva Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram". Kolakakuli Swaroopa Rani received the "Jashuva Visishta Mahila Purasakaram". Kaluva Mallaiah received the "Jashuva Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram".[20] Damodar Raja Narasimha, Deputy Chief Minister presented the awards. Yadagiri, Director, Telugu Akademy, presided over the function. Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad, Minister for Rural Development, Kaki Madhava Rao, former Chief Secretary, Medasani Mohan participated in the function. A commemorative book on the poet was released in the function.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Reformist's life to be chronicled".
  2. ↑ Rao, Velcheru Narayana (2003). "Hibiscus on the Lake". University of Wisconsin Press. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  3. ↑ Vepachedu Education foundation article on Jashua, Accessed 27 Oct 2013
  4. ↑ Suprasiddula jeevita viseshalu, Hanumcchastri Janamaddi
  5. ↑ Satajayanti saahitimoortulu, Sastri D (DN Sastri)
  6. 1 2 A blog post
  7. ↑ DV Subbarao renders Jashua's poems in the play on YouTube
  8. ↑ "Gurram Jashuva remembered".
  9. ↑ Pattem, Sundeep (2010). "Gabbilam I". Yemanna. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  10. ↑ Pattem, Sundeep (2010). "Gabbilam II". Yemanna. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  11. ↑ Report on Tamil translation of Gabbilam
  12. ↑ Jashuva Rachanalu: First Volume, Gabbilam, Vishalandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad, 2006.
  13. ↑ Sahitya Akademi awards Archived 23 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ Padma Bhushan Awards Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ "Jashuva Jeevitham -Drukphadham-Parinamamu "- Endluri Sudhakar (Accessed: 27 Oct 2013
  16. ↑ Hemalata Lavanam passed away Accessed:12 Nov 2013
  17. ↑ Assamese poet presented Joshua award -The Hindu 2002-07-27, Accessed 27 October 2013
  18. ↑ Jashuva Lit Awards(New Indian Express
  19. 1 2 News item on Jashua awards function and his literary contributions
  20. ↑ Sakshi Telugu Newspaper, 29 Sep 2013, Hyderabad Edition, Page 3
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