Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak

For other people named Bal Gangadhar Tilak, see Bal Gangadhar Tilak (disambiguation).
Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak
Born Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak
August 21, 1921
Died July 1, 1966

Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak (21 August 1921 – 1966) was an influential Telugu poet, novelist and short story writer.

Initially his poetry, as in his first anthology, Prabhatamu-Sandhya (1945), was written in the romantic vein popular in Indian poetry of the early and mid-20th century. His style changed after he attended the All India Progressive Writers' Conference in Bombay.[1]

Background

Born on 21 August 1921 in Mandapaka village under Tanuku Taluq. He died on July 1, 1966 and was awarded by Sahitya Academy award in 1971 posthumously for his collection of poems entitled `Amrutham Kursina Ratri’. He studied Intermediate in AVN College Visakhapatnam and joined his BA course in Lyola College, Madras and discontinued on health reasons. He established Vigjnana Parishad in Tanuku later renamed it as `Sahiti Sarovaram’ and perused literacy activities. Tilak wrote his first story at the age of 11 years which said to have been published in `Madhuri’ magazine. He started his poetry at age of 16 years.

The Night the Nectar Rained: translated into English by: Dr. Velchala Kondal Rao. The Night of Nectar’, the English translation of, ‘Amrutam Kurisina Raatri’ of Tilak (1921- 1966), by B Indira, is a befitting tribute to the poet who reigned supreme in the Telugu literary world for decades. Tilak’s poems, divided between individual and social consciousness, brought to the fore the amalgamation of “the aesthetic sensibility” and “the proletarian sensitivity”. The underlying dualist nature in his persona can be read between the lines and dynamic imagination and intellectual realisation go hand in hand in many of his poems. He has the courage to declare that his poesy is no ism. According to him, his letters are triumphant elephants and the poem has people’s power.

Acknowledgement: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article584197.ece?service=print http://kinige.com/kbrowse.php?via=author&name=Devarakonda+Balagangadhara+Thilak&id=216

Literary contributions and recognition

Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak is best known for his posthumous collection of poems Amrutham Kurisina ratri, ("The Night When Nectar Rained")[1] published in 1969.[2] This book won the Andhra Pradesh state Sahitaya Academy Award and Central Government Sahitaya Akademy Award in 1970. The volume has been called a "milestone in modern Telugu" by Sisir Kumar Das, who added, "But for him, 'verse libre' or 'prose poetry' could not have gained so much of popularity."[1]

His collection of short stories include Sundari-SubbaRavu, Vuri Chivara Illu and Tilak Kadhalu. His stories were influenced by Maxim Gorky and Rabindranath Tagore.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Das, Sisir Kumar, "A Chronology of Literary Events / 1911–1956", in Das, Sisir Kumar and various, History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956: struggle for freedom: triumph and tragedy, Volume 2, 1995, published by Sahitya Akademi, ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9, retrieved via Google Books on 23 December 2008
  2. ↑ Microsoft Word - feb_2008_anaganagaOmanchikatha.doc

External links