Gurram Jashuva

He is legendary figure in the Telugu literary world. He was called the "Poet of the Millennium" for his timeless pieces of poetry and literature.

• Name — Gurram Jashuva • Born — September 28, 1895 • Birthplace — Vinukonda, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India • Died — July 24, 1971 (aged 75) • Place of death — Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India • Occupation — Poet • Spouse — Mariyamma • Children — Hemalatha Lavanam

Jashuva was born to Virayya and Lingammaa in Vinukonda, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India to a community of leather workers. His father belonged to the Yadav caste and his mother belonged to the Madiga caste. Due to poverty and the intercaste marriage of his parents, his childhood was difficult in a society in which some castes were considered "untouchable." Jashuva and his brother were raised by his parents as Christians. In order to fulfill the requirements of higher education, Jashuva obtained the diploma Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena as a scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit languages later his life.

Protests against untouchability, Dalit rights, and segregation have been common themes in all of Jashuva's works. Some of the more notable entries into his literary canon include Gabbilam (A Bat), Firadausi (A Rebel) and Kandiseekudu (A Refugee). A number of verses from Jashuva's work have been incorporated into the popular mythological play, Harischandra, most notably during a scene set in the midst of a cremation ground. Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh consider Jashuva to be the first modern Telugu Dalit poet, and actively protest his erasure from Telugu and Indian literary history. In 1995, Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh began to organize various centennial celebrations for Jashuva's birth, and have recently begun efforts to revive the remembrance of his literary contributions.

This is Jashuva's best known work, fashioned after Kālidāsa's Meghadūta (The Cloud Messenger), in which an exiled lover attempts to communicate his affections to his beloved wife. In one stanza, Jashuva writes, "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, wherein a bat is allowed inside a temple, yet not a human being, requesting that the bat convey his message to Siva with caution, when the priest is not around. As the bat travelled to Lord Siva in Kasi, Jashuva utilized the feeling of patriotism, another theme significant to his work, through vivid descriptions of various historical locations throughout India from the perspective of the bat.

• Rukmini Kalyanam (1919) • Chidananda Prabhatham and Kusalavopakhyanam (1922) • Kokila (1924) • Dhruva Vijayam, Krishna Nadi and Samsara Saagaram (1925) • Sivaji Prabandham, Veera Bai, Krishna Deva Raayalu, Vemana Yogeendrudu and Bhaarata Maatha (1926) • Bhaarata Veerudu, Suryodayam, Chandrodayam and Gijigaadu (1927) • Ranachyuthi, Aandhrudanu and Thummeda Pendlikoduku (1928) • Sakhi, Buddhudu, Telugu Thalli, Sishuvu and Baashpa Sandesam (1929) • Deergha Niswasamu, Prabodham, Silpi, Hechcharika, Saaleedu and Maathru Prema (1930) • Bheeshmudu, Yugandhara Manthri, Sama Drushti, Nela Baaludu, Nemali Nelatha, Loka Baandhavudu, Anasuya, Salya Saaradhyamu and Sandeha Dola (1931) • Swapna Katha, Anaadha, Firdousi, Mumtaj Mahal, Sindhuramu, Budha Mahima, Kreesthu, Gunturu Seema, Vivekananda, Cheetla Peka, Jebunnisa and Paschatthapam (1932) • Ayomayamu, Akhanda Gouthami, Aaswasam, Meghudu and Smasaana Vaatika (1933) • Aandhra Bhojudu (1934) • Gabbilam (1941) • Kandiseekudu (1945) • Thera Chaatu (1946) • Chinna Naayakudu, Baapuji and Nethaji (1948) • Swayam Varam (1950) • Kottha Lokam (1957) • Christhu Charithra (1958) • Raashtra Pooja and Musafirulu (1963) • Naagarjuna Saagaram and Naa Katha (1966)

Yendluri Sudhakar researched Gurram Jashuva's literature and published a book on his outlook and impact.