Express News Service
Hyderabad, October 18:
Dr Ravuri Bharadwaja, popular Telugu writer, school dropout and Jnanpith awardee for 2012, died on October 18, aged 87.
There were hundreds of novelists in Telugu literature. But, Ravuri stands out. Because, he was the only novelist to get prestigious Jnanpith award for a novel, Pakudu Rallu, for the year 2012. The two other Jnanpith awards for Telugu were given for classical and modern poetry.
Last Friday, on October 11, Dr Ravuri was presented Jnanpith at a simple function in Delhi. After he returned from Delhi he fell ill due to multiple health problems. He was admitted to a private hospital here for treatment to diabetes, BP, kidney trouble, infection in stomach and other problems. He breathed his last on Friday night in the hospital.
Bharadwaja born on July 5, 1927 at Moguluru in Krishna district, then in Hyderabad State. Later, he migrated to Guntur district.
The greatness of Ravuri was that though he studied up to eighth class, his books were prescribed as text books. The school dropout had experienced abject poverty and it was also one of the reasons for Ravuri to discontinue his studies.
When his school teacher wanted him to come in a neat uniform as there was inspection of the class, Ravuri went to school to a casual dress. The teacher scolded Ravuri for not wearing neat dress, Ravuri cited poverty as reasons. He threw his books on the face of the teacher and never entered school again.
Later, the entire universe became Ravuri's classroom. He studied the society and understood the poverty and other problems. The surroundings awakened a great writer in Ravuri at an early age. Ravuri worked as a technician, agricultural labour and other menial jobs to fend his family as an elder son. He observed the people and started writings on the happenings of the current day society.
The writer in Ravuri helped him to work as a sub-editor in Zameen Rytu and later he joined in All India Radio (AIR) in 1959. He also worked for various periodicals.
Ravuri started penning short stories at a tender age of 17 years.
His first published story was Vimala and his first book was Ragini in 1950. Initially, Ravuri was under the influence of Chalam. But, later he found his own style in Telugu literature.
He received Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi award twice, first in 1968 and again in 1983. He also got the prestigious Kendriya Sahitya Akademi award in 1983. He was the first recipient of the Gopichand award in 1968, Telugu University Award in 1981 and Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad of Kolkota in 1993.
MS Reddy produced the film, “O Prema Katha”, in 1987 based on Bharadwaja’s story “Karimingina Velagapandu”. His Jeevana Samaralu, a sketch on different caste professions, was a marvellous work. In all, Ravuri had to his credit more than 37 volumes of short stories and 17 novels among other works.
When he was selected for Jnanpith in Apirl, Ravuri reacted in a humble manner: “I am feeling like having been blessed with a healthy son after remaining childless for a decade. I am at a loss for words.
I struggled for food and clothing. I never asked for awards. Of course, I am happy for getting this award.”
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and several literary persons condoled the death of Ravuri.
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