Dasu Sriramulu

He was born on 8 April 1846 in Kuraada village, Krishna District, Madras Presidency (presently the Andhra Pradesh state), India. Sriramulu's parents were Kannayya and Kamamma. He had early education in Sanskrit, Telugu, Vyakarana (grammar) and Scriptures in the traditional manner. He mastered these arts from his close association with exponents in these arts and by natural instinct rather than by formal percept under a guru. In his tenth year he studied Telugu, Sanskrit classical literature and Hindu Astronomy, by his twentieth year attained proficiency in these subjects and after another six years secured a teacher's place. Later he began his English education and qualified for setting up his law practice as 'first grade pleader'. He continued in the profession until 1895. He died in his sixty-second year in his own house at Eluru (Andhra Pradesh) state. == Literary activity ==

He dominated the literary world in later half of the 19th century. The encyclopaedias of Telugu literature devoted a chapter to Dasu Sriramulu. Malladi Brothers, Malladi Suribabu, Voleti Venkateswerlu, Sriramgam Gopalaratnam etc. rendered his compositions in public concerts, at All India Radio national level programmes, television. His compositions were sung by musician Y. Ramaprabha and brought out as CD under the title 'Dasu Sreerama Ganasudha'. Dance compositions The poet, composer Dasu Sriramulu's association with traditional dancers, their patrons (kings, landlords) and devadasis (temple dancers resulted in his treatise Abhinaya Darpanam, padams and javalis. Kuchipudi gurus, and choreographers consulted Sriramulu for their dance performances. Temple dancers performed his compositions and paid public tribute to him. Kuchipudi expert Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry reveals: "Kuchipudi gurus like Bhagavathula Vissaiah were enriched by his inputs." There was a dance programme on his compositions choreographed by Swapnasundari, which was performed by her disciples. == Social reformer ==

His long time association with Social Reform Movement, enabled him to render meritorious services to a magazine 'Social Reform', in addition to his works on the subject. Devadasis dances were arranged during temple festivals and marriages. They were taking his help in learning the lyrics of javalis, padams, music and dance. They were seeking his permission and blessings to perform dances. He wrote these javalis and padams for them and also found a school of music in Eluru appointing teachers. He was participating in many literary social gatherings, taking his wife along with him, which was against the social customs during his time. He taught music to his daughter Saradamba, - a taboo in those days. He allowed his daughter to give concerts also. His daughter's education became hindrance to her wedding as per then social norms, even though he followed liberal practices in his son's marriages. He did not follow meaningless social injunctions set in the name of tradition and customs. He wrote ‘mundan khandana’ opposing the religious practice of shaving the heads of widows and wrote articles like ‘duracaara pisaach bhaMjani’, condemning these evil practices. To propagate the correct views on traditions and started a monthly journal ‘analpa jalpita kalpavalli’ to propagate the correct views on traditions. == Personal life ==

Sriramulu married Janakamma at the age of his 13. They had six sons and a daughter. They are - Kesava Rao, Narayana Rao, Madhava Rao, Govinda Rao, Vishnu Rao, Madhusudhana Rao and daughter Saradamba, whom he taught Sanskrit and music. == Legacy ==

Sriramulu died on May 16, 1908. Most of his works were lost. In this centenary year, an effort was made to restore his legacy. Mahakavi Dasu Sriramulu smaraka samithi had been undertaking the mission to resurrect this forgotten genius, who was hailed by scholars as ‘second Srinadha’ and restore on the pedestal that he richly deserves. Dasu Sriramulu's descendants formed Dasu Sriramulu Smaraka Samithi in 1973 in Hyderabad, India. The samiti retrieved and also published his works. A doctoral work on his musical compositions was done by his great-granddaughter V. Vaidehi and the thesis was also published as book 'Mahakavi Dasu Sriramulu Gari Kruthulu Oka Sameeksha' in 2013. To commemorate his 150th birthday, All India Radio broadcast a talk on Mahakavi “A multifaceted glory of Dasu Sriramulu”. To mark the death centenary of Srirama kavi, the department of culture had set the rolling long programmes for the year. `Sri Dasu Srirama Kavi Saraswata Vaibhavam' was organised on the last day of the `Sahiti Saptaham' of `Sataroopa' festival of the Department of Culture and State Cultural Council. Presiding over the function Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam, the chairman suggested holding a `Dasu Sriramulu Day' every year and conduct seminars and programmes under the aegis of Cultural Council. Acharya Bethavolu Ramabrahmam, Vakula Bharanam Ramakrishna, journalist Potturi Venkateswara Rao, Dwa.Na.Sastry etc. spoke on the versatile genius of Sriramalu. == Bibliography ==