Lakshminarasimham Chilakamarti (1867-1946)
Lakshminarasimham Chilakamarti
was born into a Brahmin family in Khandavalli village in Godavari district
in 1867. His father was Venkanna and mother was Ratnamma. He had his
primary education in Veervasam and Narasapuram towns. He graduated
from the high school in Rajamandri in 1889. He took up a teaching position
in 1889 and taught Telugu in Rajamandri Aryan School. Later he worked as an
assistant teacher at Innispet School and then as a teacher at a municipal
high school. Later he worked as a sub-editor in the journal Saraswati
for one year. After quitting this job he started the Hindu Lower Secondary
School in 1899 and administered it for 9 years. In 1907, he handed over
the school to Viresalingam Kandukuri. Later, the school was upgraded
and renamed as Viresalingam High School.
Lakshminarasimham wrote many dramas and novels.
His first drama was "Keechaka Vadha." Later he wrote Droupadi Parinayamu,
Gayopakhyanamu, Sri Rama Jananamu, Sitakalyanamu, Parijaatapaharanamu and
Navanaatakamu. Apart from these dramas he also wrote several novels.
Ramachandra Vijayam, Hemalata, Ahalyabai, and Sudha Saratchandramu
are some of his reputed novels. While working for Saraswati journal
he wrote "Soundarya Tilaka and Parvathi Parinayamu". In the year 1908
he started a press. He made remarkable contribution to telugu literature
and his repertoire includes dramas like Prasanna Yadava and Chandrahasa
and books like Rajastana Kathavali, Karpuramanjari, Mahapurushula
Jeevita Chritralu, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Charitra and Kalidasa
Charitra. In 1916 he started a journal Manorama. Through
this journal he published Ganapathi, Rajaratnamu, Raghukula Charitra (translation
of Raghuvams) and Siddartha Charitra.
Apart from being a writer he was also a great social
reformer. He started a school for socially backward people in the year 1909
and administered it for 13 years. He also campaigned for widow remarriages,
a social problem and a taboo at that time. He participated in social reformation
activities as a member of Brahmo Samaj and Hitakarani, reputed organizations
for social work. He also started a weekly called ‘Desamaata’ and
used to write articles criticizing British policies.
Though he was night-blind and had other eyesight problems, he overcame these
obstacles with his dedication and made a huge contribution to Telugu literature.
Most of his wrings were compiled and published in 10 volumes. He was honored
with Kalaprapurna award by Andhra University in the year 1943.
Chilakamarti Lakshminarasimham was a great literateur, dramatist, a journalist,
and a social reformer who immensely contributed to the renaissance of Telugu
people.
Visit also:
Ramarao Vepachedu, 08/06/2001
Back to Mana Sanskriti