Noted scholar ‘Mahasahasravadhani” Garikapati Narasimha Rao was presented the ninth Kopparapu Kavula Pratibha Puraskaram in the presence of Courtalam Peethadhipati Sri Siddheswarananda Bharati Mahaswami and Sadguru K. Sivananda Murthy here on Friday evening.
The award is presented every year by Kopparapu Kavula Kalapeetham in memory of brothers Kopparapu Venkata Subbaraya Kavi and Venkata Ramana Kavi.
Former Governor of Karnataka V.S. Rama Devi who was the chief guest said literature should transcend barriers of caste and creed. She said the possibility of getting an entry, posthumously, into record books for the poets who were said to have written three lakh poems should be explored,
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Former Chairman of A P Press Academy Potturi Venkateswara Rao who presided said Kopparapu kavulu and Tirupati Venkata kavulu brought fame to ‘avadhanam,' a unique Telugu literary feat in 20{+t}{+h} century. He regretted that the works of Kopparapu kavulu who were ‘asukavis' (spontaneous poets) were not available to posterity like those of Tirupati Venkata kavulu. He urged A P Hindi Academy Chairman Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad to install the busts of Tirupati Venkata kavulu along with those of Kopparapu kavulu.
Sri Siddheswarananda Mahaswamy recited poems of Vedam Venkata Raya Sastry, Vasudasu and Veturi Prabhakara Sastry in praise of Kopparapu kavulu. He said Mr. Narasimha Rao who was known as “Dharana Brahmarakshasudu” and ready wit richly deserved the award.
Sadguru Sivananda Murthy wanted the writings of the poets to be published so as to bring them to prominence. He also lauded the efforts of Kopparapu Kavula Kalapeetham to preserve their legacy.
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Mr. Lakshmi Prasad said the busts of Kopparapu kavulu could not be installed on the Beach Road as the official nod was not given. However, it would be done in November to mark the birth anniversary of one of the poets. He regretted that the post of the chairman of Official Language Commission had been vacant for nearly two years now.
A P High Court judge N.R.L. Nageswara Rao lauded Mr. Narasimha Rao's absorbing discourses on devotional channels.
Former Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad described Mr. Narasimha Rao as true inheritor of the legacy of Kopparapu kavulu.
Kopparapu Kavua Kalapeetham founder Maa Sarma thanked Mr. Lakshmi Prasad for the assistance he was extending to the kalapeetham.
Replying to the felicitation, Mr. Narasimha Rao said if ‘kavyam' was science ‘avadhanam' was technology that took poetry to people. With the experience of Kopparapu kavula poems not being available, he was recording his poems, he said. S. Vijay Kumar of Vijay Nirman presented the cash award.