Telangana Vythalikudu Suravaram Prathap Reddy 125th Birth Anniversary (1896 - 1953).
27th May marks the 125th birth anniversary of Suravaram Pratap Reddy who is popularly known as “Telangana Vythalikudu (Torch Bearer)”. He was a Freedom Fighter, Social Historian, Writer, Poet, Scholar, Social Reformer, Lawyer, Journalist, Editor and Founder of various Socio-Cultural & Educational Organisations.
At a time when Telugu language, culture and identity, especially in the Nizam / Telangana region was fast disappearing, SPR took it upon himself to revive and rejuvenate it. He struggled relentlessly in this mission of the renaissance of Telugu Language, Literature, Education, Social Development and Journalism during challenging times of Nizam's Rule.
His very name epitomises the struggle to bring about social awareness and social reforms in the Telangana region during his times. He was a strong proponent of women's education, eradication of caste-system, allowing entry for all into temples, abolishing child marriages, encouraging widow remarriage etc.
Amidst great difficulties and the displeasure of the Nizam, he started the first Telugu newspaper – Golakonda Patrika – as he felt that a newspaper was the most effective and efficient means to reach out to the people at large. His incisive and sometimes rebellious writings in “Golakonda Patrika” had instilled a fighting spirit in the hearts of the Telangana people.
As an editor, as an avid researcher, as a promoter of several institutions, as a writer with good sense and as a leading light of the Visalandhra Movement, his work was highly lauded.
Suravarm Prathap Reddy was a man of erudite scholarship and yet unpretentious and unostentatious. He authored more than 40 Books. Prominent among them being Andhrula Sanghika Charitra (which won him the first-ever Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for Telugu), Ramayana Viseshalu, Hinduvula Pandugalu, Haindava Dharmaveerulu etc.
He was a scholar in Telugu, Sanskrit, Urdu, Persian, Kannada & English languages with BA and BL degrees from The Presidency College, Madras.
He was elected as an MLA from Wanaparthy (Mahbubnagar) in the first Assembly in 1952. Tragically, at a relatively young age of 57, he passed away, leaving a lasting legacy and impact.
For all his achievements and the lasting benefits it provided to the Telugu people in general, his statue was installed on Tank Bund Road (Hussain Sagar Lake) in Hyderabad, during the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh, along with the doyens who contributed to the region over the last many centuries.
There are several biographies written of him and the quotations in literature from his books even to this day are a testimony to his genius. His books are prescribed for Civil Services examinations. His life story is part of the School and College syllabus.
At various times he has been honoured with statues in Mahbubnagar, Wanaparthy, Gadwal, Itikyalapadu. His name has been adopted for the Telecom Building in Secunderabad, a main road in Hyderabad, a Post Graduate College, the Press Club in Hyderabad etc. The Telugu University is now proposed to be named after him.
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Press release by: Indian Clicks, LLC