Role of Annamayya in Telugu literature recalled

Saint poet's contribution to new literary trend hailed

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Need for in-depth research on krithis stressed

Decline in love for Telugu among youth deplored

Coordination in research efforts suggested

LITERARY CONCLAVE: Avula Manjulatha, Vice-Chancellor of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, is all attention to a point made by her counterpart at Sri Padmavathi Women's University, Veena Noble Dass, at a seminar in Tirupati on Friday. The TTD's Annam acharya project director, Medasani Mohan, is on the right.

TIRUPATI: Speakers at the seminar "Tallapaka Annamacharya Sahiti Sadassu" threw light on the role of the great saint poet in ushering in a refreshingly new trend in Telugu literature so that it reaches the common man.

The two-day seminar, conducted jointly by Annamacharya Project, a propagation arm of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and the Sri Padmavathi Women's University's (SPMVV) Telugu Department, was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Avula Manjulatha, here on Friday.

Krithis important

In her inaugural address, Ms.Manjulatha explained the need to take up extensive research on Annamacharya krithis, as an in-depth study of these would present an all-encompassing picture on Telugu literature. Deploring the declining love for Telugu among the younger lot, she said that that academicians and policy makers too were adding to the language's woes, referring to the instances of taking the language subjects often to the chopping block.

"Ancient Telugu grammar always gets the axe, whenever there is need for syllabus change," said Ms.Manjulatha, who was earlier associated with the Telugu Academy.

The director of the Annamacharya Project and a renowned "Sahasravadhani," Medasani Mohan, explained the way in which Annamayya opted for prose form and even folk style, in order to take the essence of his compositions to the common man, even when poetic form of literature was at its peak.

Detachment, devotion

He stated that Vedic literature was a treasure trove of knowledge very much relevant for contemporary society, which, however, could not be deciphered and put to use as they were in Sanskrit.

The records unearthed by the TTD revealed that the then ruler Achyuta Devaraya had gifted a number of villages to Annamayya's family, which his eldest son, Peda Tirumalacharya, gave back to the Lord's coffers, that revealed the Tallapakas' sense of detachment and devotion.

Maintaining that a whopping 7,300 plus websites on Annamayya's works were available on the Net and a number of research projects were in progress with various universities, Dr.Mohan stressed the need for increased cohesion in order to come out with a comprehensive output.

Veena Noble Dass, SPMVV Vice-Chancellor, presided over the inaugural session, while D.Krishnakumari, head of the Telugu Department, welcomed the dignitaries.

Courtesy: The Hindu