telugu, mana saMskriti (our culture)

Achyutarao Tekumalla (1880-1947)

Achyutarao Tekumalla was born in a Brahmin family of poets in Potanavalasa village in Visakhpatnam District in Andhra Pradesh on April 18, 1880 (Vikrama Year on Sri Rama Navami). His parents were Kamayya and Venkamma. His father Kamayya was uneducated and their's was a poor family.

Achyutarao was educated in Parlakimidi and Vijayanagaram. He was awarded McDonald Award for attaining first rank in BA, in the northern British Districts of Andhra. He married Visalakshi Dvarakabhamidipati in 1900. He had two sons and a daughter. His eldest son is Kameswararo Tekumalla, who authored "na vangmaya mitrulu."

He obtained training at Government Training College in Rajamahendravaram and jined the same college as a teacher. Later he served as Sub-Assistant Inspector of Schools and then Head Master of various Teacher Training Schools. He traveled on the job to various cities like Bandaru, Nelluru, Ballari, Rajamahendravaram etc. He did MA at Kolkatta University, which didn't help promote him in his job. He retired in 1934.

He started writing poetry in English at a young age and was very much interested in English literature. While working as teacher he developed an interest in Telugu literature and studied under the supervision of great Pundit Veerabhadrasastri Gunturi. He became interested in the writings of poet Surana Pingali. He applied his knowledge in English literary criticism to Telugu literature and wrote about poets of Vijayanagar Kingdom. His works include aamdhra padamulu-paatalu, aamdhra naatakamulu-ramgasthalamulu, vijayanagara saamraajyamandali aamdhravangmaya charitra (two volumes), Pingali Surana (English Critique) etc.

Source: "naa vaangmaya mitrulu" by Kameswararao Tekumalla.

Mana Sanskriti (Our Culture)