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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian Telugu-language poet and journalist (1951–2020)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox writer<br />
| name = Devi Priya<br />
| birth_name = Shaik Khaja Hassan<br />
| birth_date = 15 August 1951<br />
| birth_place = [[Guntur]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India<br />
| death_date = 21 November 2020 (aged 69)<br />
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India<br />
| occupation = Poet, journalist, cartoonist<br />
| notable_works = ''Gaali Rangu, Adhyakshaa Mannichandi, Gareebi Geetaalu, Amma Chettu Chepa Chiluka.''<br />
| awards = [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] (2017)<br />
|language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Shaik Khaja Hassan''' (15 August 1951{{Spaced en dash}}21 November 2020), popularly known by his [[pen name]] '''Devi Priya''', was an Indian [[Telugu-language]] poet and journalist known for his [[political satire]]. He was a recipient of the 2017 [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for his work ''Gaali Rangu'' (English: ''Color of the Wind''). Some of his famous works included ''Adhyakshaa Mannichandi'' (English: ''Pardon Me, President''), ''Gareebi Geetaalu'' (English: ''Songs of Poverty''), and ''Amma Chettu Chepa Chiluka'' (English: ''Mother, Tree, Fish, and Parrot'').<br />
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== Early life ==<br />
Priya was born as Shaik Khaja Hassan in [[Tadikonda]], [[Guntur district]], in the southern state of [[Andhra Pradesh]] in India on 15 August 1951.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=22 November 2020|title=Sahitya Academy award winner Shaik Khaja Hussain, popular as Devi Priya, passes away|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/221120/sahitya-academy-award-winer-shaik-khaja-hussain-popular-as-devi-priya.html|access-date=21 November 2020|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=21 November 2020|title=Renowned Telugu poet, Sahitya Akademi Award winner Devi Priya dies|url=https://zeenews.india.com/regional/renowned-telugu-poet-sahitya-akademi-award-winner-devi-priya-dies-2325839.html|access-date=22 November 2020|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref> He studied Telugu and English literature at the [[Andhra Christian College]] in Guntur.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=21 November 2020|title=Noted writer Devipriya passes away at 69|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/noted-writer-devipriya-passes-away-at-69/article33150553.ece|access-date=22 November 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><br />
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== Career ==<br />
As a journalist, Priya was known for his political satire including a running piece on current political events titled "''Running Commentary"'' in the Telugu newspaper, ''Udayam''. He later went on to provide the same commentary on local Telugu language news channels. He was also known for his satirical cartoons.<ref name=":0" /> A collection of his newspaper editorials was published as ''Adhyakshaa Mannichandi'' (English: Pardon me, President). Per ''[[The Hindu]]'', the book is considered one of the most popular books for vernacular language journalists, writers, and politicians.<ref name=":1" /> Through his career he had worked as a journalist with Telugu newspapers ''Udayam'', ''[[Andhra Prabha]]'', and ''Hyderabad Mirror'', and the English newspaper ''[[The Hans India]].<ref name=":3" />'' A statement from the Andhra Pradesh government on his death noted him as amongst the state's first and finest political commentators.<ref name=":4" /><br />
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As a poet, he was noted to bring along a fine balance between 'direct and ornamental' verse in his poetry. He drew from [[Hindu mythology|Indian mythology]], including epics, for his poetry. Some of his famous works included ''Gareebi Geetaalu'' (English: Songs of poverty), and ''Amma Chettu Chepa Chiluka'' (English: Mother, Tree, Fish, and Parrot)''.''<ref name=":0" /> He was also a lyricist for Telugu movies including the song ''"Jambal Bhari Bhari"'' for ''[[Maa Bhoomi]]'' (English: Our land) and other movies including ''[[Raguluthunna Bharatham]]'' (English: Raging India) and ''Pallaki'' (English: Palanquin).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Telugu poet-journalist Devi Priya passes away at 71 in Hyderabad|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2020/nov/21/telugu-poet-journalistdevi-priya-passes-away-at-71-in-hyderabad-2226239.html|access-date=22 November 2020|website=The New Indian Express|date=21 November 2020 }}</ref> His versatility in themes across his works had him be compared with classical Telugu writer and poet [[Sri Sri (writer)|Sri Sri]].<ref name=":2" /><br />
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He had also produced a full-length English language documentary, ''Music of a Battle,'' based on the life of balladeer and activist [[Gaddar]].<ref name=":1" /><br />
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He was awarded the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] in 2017 for his collection of poems ''Gaali Rangu'' (English: Color of the Wind).<ref name=":0" /> He also received a [[UNICEF]] award for his documentary film script for saving the girl child.<ref name=":1" /><br />
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== Personal life ==<br />
Priya was married and had a son and a daughter.<ref name=":2" /> He died on 21 November 2020 at the [[Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences]] in Hyderabad after a brief illness.<ref name=":0" /> He was aged 69.<ref name=":1" /> He was suffering from [[diabetes]] and had one of his legs amputated earlier in the month after a [[gangrene]] infection.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=21 November 2020|title=Devi Priya, celebrated poet and Sahitya Akademi award winner, passes away|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/devi-priya-celebrated-poet-and-sahitya-akademi-award-winner-passes-away-138140|access-date=22 November 2020|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Works ==<br />
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=== Books ===<br />
<small>Source(s):<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://kinige.com/author/Devipriya|title=Devipriya {{!}} Authors {{!}} Home – తెలుగు పుస్తకాలు Telugu books – Kinige}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pavan|first=P|date=21 November 2020|title=Telugu poet, journalist Devi Priya passes away in Hyderabad|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/telugu-poet-journalist-devi-priya-passes-away-in-hyderabad/articleshow/79337700.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203143801/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/telugu-poet-journalist-devi-priya-passes-away-in-hyderabad/articleshow/79337700.cms |archive-date=3 December 2020 |access-date=22 November 2020|website=Bangalore Mirror|language=en}}</ref></small><br />
{{div col}}<br />
* ''Gaali Rangu''<br />
* Running Commentary<br />
* ''Aranya Puranam''<br />
* ''Poornamma''<br />
* ''Adhyakshaa Mannichandi''<br />
* ''Inko Appudu''<br />
* ''Amma Chettu Chepa Chiluka''<br />
* ''Neeti Putta''<br />
* ''Chepa Chiluka'' <br />
* ''Tuphanu Tummeda'' <br />
* ''Gareebu Geetaalu''<br />
* ''Samajananda Svaami''<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
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=== Movies (as a lyricist) ===<br />
<small>Source(s):<ref name=":4"/><ref name=":1" /></small><br />
{{Div col}}<br />
* ''[[Maa Bhoomi]]''<br />
* ''[[Raguluthunna Bharatham]]'' <br />
* ''Rangula Kala''<br />
* ''Pallaki'' <br />
{{div col end}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Priya, Devi}}<br />
[[Category:1951 births]]<br />
[[Category:2020 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Guntur district]]<br />
[[Category:Telugu poets]]<br />
[[Category:Telugu-language journalists]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Telugu]]</div>OnitaCrespo4