Telugu language, poets and literature
This path follows Telugu writing from the first records in the language to the modern writers who changed how it is written. It has 15 pages and takes about 1 and a half hours to read.
- ThemesLanguage & literature
The big picture: from Prakrit inscriptions and the first Telugu records to modern prose.
- DynastiesTelugu Cholas of Renadu
The kings of Renandu, whose stone inscriptions are among the earliest written wholly in Telugu.
- PeopleNannaya
The poet of the earliest surviving Telugu literary work, the first books of the Telugu Mahabharata.
- PeopleNannechoda
The prince-poet of the Kumarasambhavamu, and the argument over his date.
- PeopleTikkana Somayaji
The poet who translated fifteen books of the Mahabharata, completing Nannaya's work.
- PeoplePalkuriki Somanatha
The Shaiva poet whose dvipada works founded Telugu Virashaiva literature.
- PeopleErrapragada
The third of the poets who completed the Telugu Mahabharata.
- PeopleSrinatha
The poet of the Reddi courts, whose works are a main source for their history.
- PeopleBammera Potana
The poet of the Telugu Bhagavata, and the story of his refusal to dedicate it to a king.
- PeopleAllasani Peddana
The chief poet of Krishnadeva Raya's court, whose Manucharitramu became the model of the prabandha.
- PeopleMolla
The woman poet of the potter caste and her short verse Ramayana.
- PeopleVemana
The poet of short moral verses that were the moral schoolbook of the Telugu country.
- PeopleKandukuri Veeresalingam
The reformer and writer of an early Telugu social novel.
- PeopleGurajada Apparao
The writer of Kanyasulkam, the first important social play in Telugu.
- PeopleGidugu Venkata Ramamurti
The scholar who led the movement to write books in modern spoken Telugu.