>Filedelinkerbot at 01:11, 27 May 2021

2021-05-27T01:11:20Z

New page

{{More citations needed| date= June 2012}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gurram Jashuva
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = September 28, 1895
| birth_place = [[Vinukonda]], [[Guntur]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| death_date = July 24, 1971 (aged 75)
| death_place = Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
| occupation = Poet
| salary =
| networth =
| spouse = Mariyamma<ref>{{cite news|title=Reformist's life to be chronicled|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/reformists-life-to-be-chronicled/article5360473.ece}}</ref>
| children = [[Hemalatha Lavanam]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Gurram Joshua''' (or '''G Joshua''') (September 28, 1895 – July 24, 1971) was a [[Telugu language|Telugu]] poet. A Legendary figure in the Telugu literary world. With his immense wisdom and through the struggle he faced due to the Caste-based discrimination Joshua has written the poetry with a Universal approach. For his contribution to Telugu poetry and Society, he was called the "Poet of the Millennium" for his timeless pieces of poetry and Literature.

==Early life==
Joshua was born to Virayya and Lingamma in [[Vinukonda]], [[Guntur]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]] to a community of leather workers.<ref>{{cite web
| url =http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/2028.htm
| title =Hibiscus on the Lake
| last =Rao
| first =Velcheru Narayana
| date =2003
| website =
| publisher =University of Wisconsin Press
| access-date=2015-04-05
}}</ref> His father belonged to the [[Yadav]] caste and his mother belonged to the [[Madiga]] caste.<ref name="vepachedu">[http://www.vepachedu.org/Gurram.html Vepachedu Education foundation article on Jashua, Accessed 27 Oct 2013]</ref><ref>Suprasiddula jeevita viseshalu, Hanumcchastri Janamaddi</ref><ref>Satajayanti saahitimoortulu, Sastri D (DN Sastri)</ref> Due to poverty and the intercaste marriage of his parents, his childhood was difficult in a society in which some [[caste]]s were considered "untouchable." Joshua and his brother were raised by his parents as Christians. In order to fulfill the requirements of higher education, Joshua obtained the diploma ''Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena'' as a scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit languages later in his life.<ref name=rksanka-blog/>

==Career==

Protests against "untouchability," [[Dalit]] rights, and [[Ethnic segregation|segregation]] have been common themes in all of Joshua's works.
Some of the more notable entries into his literary canon include ''Gabbilam'' (A Bat), ''Firadausi'' (A Rebel) and ''Kandiseekudu'' (A Refugee). A number of verses from Joshua's work have been incorporated into the popular mythological play, [[Harischandra]], most notably during a scene set in the midst of a cremation ground.<ref>{{YouTube|1V8ziRcnR58|DV Subbarao renders Jashua's poems in the play}}</ref>

[[Dalit]] communities in [[Andhra Pradesh]] consider Joshua to be the first modern Telugu Dalit poet, and actively protest his erasure from Telugu and Indian literary history. In 1995, Dalit communities in Andhra Pradesh began to organize various centennial celebrations for Joshua's birth, and have recently begun efforts to revive the remembrance of his literary contributions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/gurram-jashuva-remembered/article6454887.ece|title=Gurram Jashuva remembered }}</ref>

==Literary works==

*''[[Gabbilam]]'' (1941) is Joshua's best known work, fashioned after [[Kālidāsa]]'s [[Meghadūta]] (The Cloud Messenger), in which an exiled lover attempts to communicate his affections to his beloved wife.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yemanna.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/gabbilam-i/ |title=Gabbilam I |last1=Pattem |first1=Sundeep|date= 2010 |website= Yemanna|access-date= 2015-04-05}}</ref>
In one stanza, Joshua writes,
"To this friendly bat he began telling his life-story
with a heart scorched by sorrow. In this senseless and arrogant world,
other than lowly birds and insects, do the poor have any intimates or neighbors,
any noble swans to explain his warm tears?"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yemanna.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/gabbilam-ii/ |title=Gabbilam II |last1=Pattem |first1=Sundeep|date= 2010 |website= Yemanna|access-date= 2015-04-05}}</ref>

The man in the poem muses at the irony of his situation, wherein a bat is allowed inside a [[temple]], yet not within a human being, requesting that the bat convey his message to [[Shiva|Siva]] with caution. As the bat travelled to Lord Siva in [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kasi]], Joshua utilized the feeling of [[patriotism]], another theme significant to his work, through vivid descriptions of various historical locations throughout India from the perspective of the bat.<ref name=rksanka-blog>[http://rksanka.tripod.com/telugu/Jashuva_Intro.html A blog post]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131005102746/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-02/chennai/34217534_1_untouchables-bat-tamil-avatar Report on Tamil translation of Gabbilam]</ref>

==Timeline==
*''Rukmini Kalyanam'' (1919)
*''Chidananda Prabhatham and Kushalavopakhyanam'' (1922)
*''Kokila'' (1924)
*''Dhruva Vijayam, Krishna Nadi and Samsara Saagaram'' (1925)
*''Shivaji Prabandham, Veera Bai, Krishna Deva Raayalu, Vemana Yogeendrudu and Bhaarata Maatha'' (1926)
*''Bhaarata Veerudu, Suryodayam, Chandrodayam and Gijigaadu'' (1927)
*''Ranachyuthi, Aandhrudanu and Thummeda Pendlikoduku'' (1928)
*''Sakhi, Buddhudu, Telugu Thalli, Sishuvu and Baashpa Sandesham'' (1929)
*''Deergha Nishwasamu, Prabodham, Shilpi, Hechcharika, Saaleedu and Maathru Prema'' (1930)
*''Bheeshmudu, Yugandhara Manthri, Sama Dhrushti, Nela Baaludu, Nemali Nelatha, Loka Baandhavudu, Anasuya, Shalya Saaradhyamu and Sandeha Dola'' (1931)
*''Swapna Katha, Anaadha, Firdousi, Mumtaj Mahal, Sindhuramu, Budha Mahima, Kreesthu, Gunturu Seema, Vivekananda, Cheetla Peka, Jebunnisa and Paschatthapam'' (1932)
*''Ayomayamu, Akhanda Gouthami, Aashwasam, Meghudu and Smashana Vaati'' (1933)
*''Aandhra Bhojudu'' (1934)
*''Gabbilam'' (1941) <ref>Jashuva Rachanalu: First Volume, Gabbilam, Vishalandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad, 2006.</ref>
*''Kandiseekudu'' (1945)
*''Thera Chaatu'' (1946)
*''Chinna Naayakudu, Baapuji and Nethaji'' (1948)
*''Swayam Varam'' (1950)
*''Kottha Lokam'' (1957)
*''Christhu Charithra'' (1958)
*''Raashtra Pooja and Musafirulu'' (1963)
*''Naagarjuna Saagaram and Naa Katha'' (1966)

==Awards==
*Joshua was presented the [[Sahitya Akademi]] Award for his work titled ''Kreesthu Charitra'' in 1964.<ref>[http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10321.htm#telugu Sahitya Akademi awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623044454/http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10321.htm |date=23 June 2006 }}</ref>
*Joshua was appointed to the [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council]] as a member in 1964.
*Joshua was awarded the honorary doctorate degree of [[Kala Prapoorna]] by [[Andhra University]] in 1970.
*Joshua was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]] by the [[Government of India]] in 1970.<ref>[http://india.gov.in/myindia/images/pb_awards.pdf Padma Bhushan Awards] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183649/http://india.gov.in/myindia/images/pb_awards.pdf |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

==Critical studies==
Endluri Sudhakar researched Gurram Joshua's literature and published a book on his outlook and impact.<ref>[http://kinige.com/kbook.php?id=150 "Jashuva Jeevitham -Drukphadham-Parinamamu "- Endluri Sudhakar (Accessed: 27 Oct 2013]</ref>

==Awards instituted in his memory==
The Joshua Sahitya Puraskaram was established by the Joshua Foundation to distribute an annual prize to poets from varying Indian backgrounds for enriching Indian literature with their contributions. The founder and secretary, [[Hemalatha Lavanam]], is Joshua's daughter.<ref>[http://www.atheistcentre.in/HemalataLavanampassedaway.html Hemalata Lavanam passed away Accessed:12 Nov 2013 ]</ref> [[Nilmani Phukan]], an Assamese poet, received the award in 2002.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192033/http://www.hindu.com/2002/07/27/stories/2002072705960400.htm Assamese poet presented Joshua award -The Hindu 2002-07-27, Accessed 27 October 2013 ]</ref>


Padma Bhushan Dr Gurram Joshua Research Centre of Telugu Akademi distributes three awards to poets and writers for contributions to Telugu literature. These are the "Joshua Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram" for male poets aged sixty or above, the "Joshua Visishta Mahila Purasakaram" for female poets aged fifty or above, and the "Joshua Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram" for any contributor to Dalita ''sahityam'' (Dalit literature).<ref>[http://newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Jashuva-Lit-Awards/2013/08/23/article1747409.ece Jashuva Lit Awards(New Indian Express]</ref> The first of these awards was presented on September 28, 2013, during the one-hundred-and-eighteenth anniversary of Gurram Joshua's birth. A payment of two-hundred-thousand rupees are included with each award.<ref name="hansindia">[http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2013-10-04/Gurram-Jashuva--A-universal-poet-73122 News item on Jashua awards function and his literary contributions]</ref> [[Dasaradhi Rangacharya]] was awarded the "Joshua Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram" award, Kolakakuli Swaroopa Rani the "Joshua Visishta Mahila Purasakaram" award, and Kaluva Mallaiah the "Joshua Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram" award.<ref>Sakshi Telugu Newspaper, 29 Sep 2013, Hyderabad Edition, Page 3</ref>
[[Damodar Raja Narasimha]], Deputy Chief Minister of India, [[Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad]], Minister for Rural Development of India, Kaki Madhava Rao, former Chief Secretary of India, and Medasani Mohan all either hosted or participated in various award-related functions. A commemorative book on the poet was released during one of the functions.<ref name="hansindia" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jashuva, Gurram}}
[[Category:1895 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:Telugu poets]]
[[Category:Indian Christians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Telugu]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Guntur district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

Gurram Jashuva - Revision history

>Filedelinkerbot at 01:11, 27 May 2021