Forgotten pioneer Madipaga Balaramacharya

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In rebuilding the Telangana culture and heritage it is very important to record the contribution of our pioneers in this field. However we have achieved Telangana state, but the things have not changed much, especially in the literary front. I have written a number of articles on Telangana pioneers during the Telangana movement. The articles were published in various journals and newspapers. I have found one such article on Madipadaga Balaramacharya in this lockdown period. Originally this article was published in “Telanganatimes” (Telugu) which was edited by noted activist Sridhar Deshpande in the year 2006 August Issue.

Madipadaga Balaramacharya is a versatile poet, painter, philanthropist, Book publisher, and a noted social activist in Telangana Rachayithala Sangham at Secunderabad, above all he is a famous sculptor of his time. He is a multi talented person. Versatile in many art forms including music, and singing. Balaramacharya first came to limelight in the 1950's, when he established a book publishing centre called “Arunasri Granthamala”. In 1953 he established this Granthamala with the help of his friends like Somavaram Ramamurthy and Dubbaka Gopalacharyulu, Thota Naryana, and Kataram Sriramulu. Like Deshodharaka Granthamala of Vattikota Alwarswamy, Ana Granthamala of K.C.Gupta this Granthamala brought out many of Dasharadhi Krishnamacharya and C. Narayana reddy books. He not only published the Narayana reddy’s “Jalapatham”, “Ajanta sundari”, Dasharadhi’s “Mahodyam” he painted beautiful images and designed them modern style, which brought eminence to their books.

While organizing Telangana Rachyithala Sangham between 1950-56 he inspired a number of young talents. Vattikota Alwar Swamy stood like a rock behind him in his activities. He was closely associated with the literary personalities like Dasharadhi, Burugula ramakrishana rao, Vanamamalai Varadacharya, Biruduraju Ramaraju, Kaloji Naryana rao, C. Narayana reddy, Keshavapanthula Nrsihma Shastry, K.V. Ramakoti Shastry and Muraya.

Apart from C. Narayana reddy, Dasharadhi book’s Balaramacharya published many books like K.V.Ramakoti Shastry’s Anandachetana, Muraya’s Silk cheera. He himself a versatile poet. His poetry is published under the title “Muraleeravam’ in the year 1959. In this book more than 50 poems on various subjects were included. Telangana, Pothana, Keshtryya, Buddhadevudu, Laila Majnu, Bapuji, Tajmahal, Anarkali, Matrubhoomi, Chanchala, Kashtajeevulu, Rasapipaasi, Palleseema are some of the titles of these poems. Dasharadhi, Biruduraju Ramaraju, Kappaganthula Laxmana shastry, Vanamamali Varadacharyulu, Burgula Ramakrishna rao wrote the foreword to this anthology Muraleeravam. Kethavarapu ramakoti shastry appreciated the poet with his poem. Madipadaga’s poetry was published in various newspapers of his times including Golconda daily. Apart from “Muraleeravam”, he published the books under the titles of “Gudigantalu”, Edukondalu”, “Srishailamu”, Menaka vishvamitram”, Panchajanyam”, Bhadragiri” and others.

Proud son of the soil Madipadga Balaramacharya was born on 11th August 1926 in a Vishvabrahmin family. He breathed his last on june 8th 1992 at Secunderabad.

I sincerely pay my tributes to this multi-talented personality of Telangana on his 94th Jayanthi. And request the friends to strive hard to reprint his poetry books especially Muraleeravam. His poetry should be included in the Textbooks, so that the younger generation have a chance to know and study this forgotten pioneer.

In the end I must congratulate my friends Chamakura raju, Vadlani Shankar yadav, and Ettyala Ksihan who were active in celebrating this August month as “BC Pioneers Month”. As Part of this celebration Iam compelled to write this piece.. thank you once again friends..

- sangishetty srinivas