Adivi Baapiraju (1895–1952) was an Indian

polymath A polymath ( el, πολυμαθής, , "having learned much"; la, homo universalis, "universal human") is an individual whose knowledge spans a substantial number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific pro ...

, who was a novelist in

Telugu language Telugu (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken by Telugu people predominantly living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian language fami ...

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

, painter, art director, and anti-colonial nationalist known for his works in Telugu theater, and cinema.Encyclopedia of Indian Literature Sahitya Akademi He is known for his literary works such as Gonaganna Reddy, Narayana Rao, and Himabindu.

Life

Baapiraju was born on 8 October 1895, at Sarepalle, near

Bhimavaram Bhimavaram is a city and headquarters of West Godavari district of the Andhra Pradesh state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bhimavaram mandal in Bhimavaram revenue division. It is a part of Bhimavaram Urban Development Aut ...

in West Godavari district of

Andhra Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

. He obtained primary education in Bhimavaram and higher education at Narsapur and

Rajamahendravaram Rajahmundry, officially known as Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and District headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the sixth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the District of Rajah ...

. He visited tourist places around the country like Ajanta, Hampi etc. and that is how his interest in arts and paintings developed. Inspired by the likes of

Bipin Chandra Pal Bipin Chandra Pal ( bn, বিপিন চন্দ্র পাল ; 7 November 1858 – 20 May 1932) was an Indian nationalist, writer, orator, social reformer and Indian independence movement freedom fighter. He was one third of the “L ...

, Baapiraju participated in the

Non-cooperation movement The Non-cooperation movement was a political campaign launched on 4 September 1920, by Mahatma Gandhi to have Indians revoke their cooperation from the British government, with the aim of persuading them to grant self-governance.

in 1921 and was jailed from 1922 for about a year. He remembered his experiences in jail in his book "tolakari". After his release Baapiraju attended the Law college in Madras. He practiced law in Bhimavaram for anyear and then he later gave it up. Adavi Baapiraju Statue at RK Beach 01

Baapiraju served as the principal of Jateeya Kalasala of

Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar, is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the Tehsil, mandal he ...

for a brief period. In 1934 he gave up the job of principal to enter the Telugu film industry as an art director. He directed Dhruva Vijayam, Meerabhai, and Anasuya. Baapiraju edited the Telugu daily ''Mijan'', published from

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...

from 1943 to 1946. Baapiraju wrote over a hundred stories. He also provided paintings for

Viswanatha Satyanarayana Viswanatha Satyanarayana (10 September 1885 – 18 October 1976) was a 20th-century Telugu writer. His works included poetry, novels, dramatic play, short stories and speeches, covering a wide range of subjects such as analysis of his ...

's ''Kinerasani Patalu'' and Nanduri's ''Enkipatalu''. Baapiraju died in 1952. Family Tree of Sri Adivi Baapiraju Family Tree of Adivi Baapiraju

Works

As writer

* HimaBindu *

Gona Gannareddy Gona Ganna Reddy (1262–1296 CE), son of king Gona Budda Reddy who contributed to the Ranganatha Ramayanam as Dwipada Kavyam in the Telugu Language and a military chieftain to one of the few ruling queens Rani Rudrama Devi in Indian history. ...

* Adivi Shantisree * Anshumathi * Ottunga Srungam * Narayana Rao * Konangi * Thoofanu * Jajimalli * Narudu * Shailabala * Bhogiraloya * Veena * Ragamalika * Tarangini * Nelathalli * Anjali * Narasanna Papayi * Vadagallu * Gaalivaana * Rajakar * Goduli * Shashikala * Tholakari

As Painter

* Sasikala * Shabda Bramha * Sundari Nandudu * Bhagavatha Purushudu * Suryadeva * Samudragupta * Mruthyunjaya * Thikkana * Paintings for 'Kinnerasani patalu' of

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baapiraju, Adavi 1895 births 1952 deaths Telugu writers Telugu people People from West Godavari district 20th-century Indian poets Novelists from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian novelists Painters from Andhra Pradesh Indian male painters 20th-century Indian painters Indian male dramatists and playwrights Indian male novelists Indian male poets Dramatists and playwrights from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian male writers 20th-century Indian male artists