Introduction
IN THE CAUSE OF THE PEOPLE
Pennepalli Gopalakrishna
Gurajada Venkata Apparao (1862-1915) was the harbinger of the modern era - Telugu literature. He was a pioneer and a crusader in the cause of people, simultaneously in more than one field. Renowned scholars, writers and historians have lauded him as a revolutionary in his thought and in his influence. He represents not merely a break away from the traditional thinking and writing, but also as one who brought a distinct change in direction.1 He “brought out bloodless revolution in both the literary and social spheres”.2 He “revolutionized theme and treatment, he rescued language from the learned and gave it back to people, the ultimate creators of language. He looked ahead of his time, with an outlook amounting to vision.” 3
K.V.R., who can be called the Boswell of Gurajada, in his well-researched and comprehensive biography, said that Gurajada became great not by being ahead of his times and being different from others, but because his thinking transcended his contemporary milieu. Such a man is called a universal writer whose writings are applicable to all nations and people. Even while retaining the characteristics particular to his people, he achieved universality. They are relevant even today.4
(Translation from Telugu by the Editor)
Reaffirming his unflinching faith in spoken Telugu, Gurajada in a letter to his disciple, as well a good friend, Ongole Munisubrahmanyam wrote :
“My cause is the cause of the people and I have cultured opinion at my back. I do not mind if those, who are incapable of understanding the subject, array themselves against me. Their conversion can do no good to the language. They are so hopelessly wedded to the old, highly artificial literary dialect.”5
Since Gurajada did not explicitly propagate his reformist views, some critics feel that he was not a votary of social reform.6 No doubt he
