Andhra Pradesh

A great son of Rayalaseema

Puttaparthi Narayana Charya, popularly known as ‘Puttaparthi’ in literary circles was a doyen among poets. His power of eloquence and grandeur of recitation won him high esteem both in the circles of the learned scholars and the younger generation. Puttaparthi was born on March 28, 1914, at Chiyyedu, a village near Anantapur.

His father, Srinivasacharyulu, was a great exponent of the epics and classics in Telugu as well as in Sanskrit. Even as a lad of 14, poetry flowed from his lips in praise of his hometown, Penukonda, which was once the seat of Vijayanagar kings.

He was self-taught mostly and a master of 14 languages.

After getting his Vidwan degree, he worked as a Sanskrit teacher in Kanyaka Parameswari temple at Proddatur and later as a pandit in Municipal High School, Proddatur, for some time. He authored more than 100 works and a few translations from Marathi to Malayalam, Hindi, etc.

Narayanachary’s ’Sivakarunamritham’ and ’Thyagaraja Suprabhatam’ are his finest works in Sanskrit. His collection of poems in English entitled, ’Leaves in the wind’ was much appreciated by Harindranth Chattopadhyaya.

His Greek-model tragedy, ’The Hero’, is on the fall of Duryodhana.

He received numerous honours and titles. The Government of India honoured him with Padmasri in 1972 and he was given the best teacher award by the Central Government in 1968.

Sri Venkateswara University

and Sri Krishnadevaraya University conferred D. Litt degrees on him in 1972 and 1985, respectively. His works received awards both from the State and the Central Sahitya Akademies.

He died on September 1, 1990, at Kadpa.

J. Hanumath Sastri,

Kadapa

With the rise in terrorist activities, the need of the hour is to identify the terrorist camps and their movements. Handsome rewards should be given to the people who provide authentic information. Next is to identify the admirers, sympathisers and supporters (of all kinds). The civil society in its entirety should be made to work as anti-terrorists. India should stop playing soft with criminals. Appeasement policy to minorities should end and let us demonstrate to the world that India is very strict in implementing the criminal justice system.

G. Azeemoddin,

Anantapur

These days we are observing the dilution of ethics of medical profession by the corporate hospitals. The rich and affluent classes are committing cold-blooded murders in broad daylight and are taking shelter in corporate hospitals. This reflects very badly on their behavioural parameters and makes them a laughing stock. All are equal before the law, irrespective of their class and status. This has to be proved by the ruling class, especially through their deeds and not by their words alone. The judiciary has got a very tough role to play in this regard.

G.L. Panchashrit Reddy,

Nizamabad

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