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Duvvuri Ramireddy

Duvvuri Ramireddy (1895–1947), known by the title Kavi Kokila ('the poet cuckoo'), was a Telugu poet of Pemmareddipalem in Nellore district. One of the romantic poets (bhavakavis) of the early 20th century, he wrote Krishivaludu (The Cultivator) and Panasala, a Telugu version of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat, and some of his poems appeared in English as Voice of the Reed.

Duvvuri Ramireddy was a Telugu poet of the first half of the 20th century, from a village in Nellore district.1 His readers gave him the title Kavi Kokila, “the poet cuckoo”, and Bharati thought it a fitting one.1 P. T. Raju counts him among the bhavakavis, the new poets of feeling, and K. Sitaramaiya among the early writers of lyric and song.23

A poet of the village

The monthly Bharati printed a tribute to him in October 1947. It says he was born on 9 November 1895.4 His home was Pemmareddipalem in Nellore district, where he lived all his life as one of the village people.1 He was a farmer’s son by birth and a wealthy man.1

He began his career as a poet with Nalajaramma Agnipravesamu.1 After that, Bharati says, he wrote many short poems, plays, stories and essays without seeking fame.1 He died at midnight on 11 September 1947.1

His works

The Bharati tribute lists his best-known works:4

  • Panasala
  • Krishivaludu (The Cultivator)
  • Kumbharana
  • Vanakumari
  • Sitavanavasamu
  • Nalajaramma Agnipravesamu
  • Matrusatakamu4

It says these books pleased scholars and common people alike.4 His collection of poems in English, Voice of the Reed, was warmly praised by English readers.4

Translations

Ramireddy also brought Persian poetry into Telugu. K. Sitaramaiya names him among the poets who translated Omar Khayyam, and adds that he translated the Gulistan as well.5 P. T. Raju says his version of the Rubaiyat, called Panasala, “is unsurpassed in charm by other attempts”.2

What later writers said

In 1944 P. T. Raju wrote that Ramireddy “needs special mention” among the bhavakavis. He was the one most influenced by Tagore.2 Raju called his pastoral poem Krishivaludu the most popular and beautiful of his works.2 His language was pure, and he had few of the faults of the other bhavakavis.2 Raju also notes that Dr. J. H. Cousins thought highly of the English versions of his poems.2

Footnotes

  1. “Kavikokila Sri Duvvuri Ramireddi” (tribute), Bharati, Vol. 24, No. 10 (October 1947), p. 323 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  2. P. T. Raju, Telugu Literature (1944), p. 66 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  3. K. Sitaramaiya, A Hand Book of Telugu Literature (1943), p. 93 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  4. “Kavikokila Sri Duvvuri Ramireddi”, Bharati (October 1947), p. 324 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  5. Sitaramaiya, Hand Book of Telugu Literature (1943), p. 111 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

References

Sources (3)
  1. P. T. Raju, Telugu Literature (Andhra Literature) (The P. E. N. Books, The Indian Literatures, No. XV) (opens in a new tab), International Book House, Bombay, for the P. E. N. All-India Centre, 1944, pp. 66. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  2. K. Sitaramaiya, A Hand Book of Telugu Literature (opens in a new tab), Hyderabad Telugu Academy, Hyderabad (Deccan), 1943, pp. 93, 111. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  3. Bharati (భారతి), Vol. 24, No. 10 (October 1947) (opens in a new tab), 1947, pp. 323–324. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

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