Socio Political Mentors

Gurram Jashuva (or G Joshua) (28 September 1895 – 24 July 1971) was a Telugu poet. He was recognized with awards by Government of India. His literature's impact on the society was studied by researchers. Literary awards were instituted in his memory.

Jashuva was born to Virayya and Lingamma in Vinukonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. His father belonged to the Yadava caste and his mother belonged to the Madiga caste. Due to poverty and the intercaste marriage of his parents, his childhood was difficult in a society in which some castes were considered untouchable. His parents raised him as a Christian, He graduated with Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena (as a scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit languages).

Jashuva initially worked as primary school teacher. He then worked as Telugu producer in All India Radio, Madras between 1946-1960.

Protests against untouchability and segregation have been common themes in all his works. His main works include Gabbilam (A Bat), Firadausi (A Rebel) and Kandiseekudu (A Refugee). Some of Jashua's verses had been incorporated into the popular mythological play, Harischandra, especially those in the cremation grounds scene.

Gabbilam (1941) is Jashuva's best known work, fashioned after Kalidasa's Megha Sandesam. It is not a yaksha using the cloud as a messenger to convey his longing to his loved one. Instead it is a hunger and poverty stricken individual requesting a bat visiting him from a nearby Siva temple, to convey his prayers to God. He muses at the irony of his situation, where a bat is allowed inside a temple but not a human being! He cautions the bat to convey his message to Siva as it hangs from the roof close to his ear, at a time when the priest is not around. Jashuva used his other favorite emotion, "patriotism" as he describes the various historic places the bird will fly over en route to Lord Siva in Kasi. He even takes the bird on detours to visit some historic place of pride for Indians.

Firadausi (1932) is his another major work. The story is about the Persian poet Firdousi, in the court of the King Mahmud of Ghazni. According to story, the king promises the poet, a gold mohur for every word in a work he commissions the poet to write. After the poet spends ten years of his life, toiling day and night to create a master piece, the king, coming under the influence of jealous courtiers, reneges on his promise and offers only silver coins. The poet heartbroken at this breach of trust commits suicide. Jashuva's depiction of the anguish of the poet is superb and moves the readers to tears.

Baapoojee (1948) is expression of his anguish on hearing of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. His enormous love and respect for Gandhiji is poignantly expressed in these 15 odd poems eulogising his life and work and lamenting his death as this country's misfortune.

The "Jashuva Sahitya Puraskaram" was instituted by the Jashuva foundation as an annual prize to poets from different Indian languages for enriching contribution to Indian literature with human values. The founder and secretary, Hemalatha Lavanam, is Jashuva's daughter. Nilmani Phukan, an Assamese poet, received the award in 2002.

Padma Bhushan Dr Gurram Jashuva Research Centre of Telugu Akademi has instituted three awards to poets and writers for contributions to Telugu literature. These are the "Jashuva Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram"s for male poets aged sixty or above; the "Jashuva Visishta Mahila Purasakaram" for female poets aged fifty or above; and the "Jashuva Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram" for any contributor to Dalita Sahityam (Dalit literature). The first of these awards was presented during the 118th birth anniversary celebrations on September 28, 2013. The award amount is Rs 2 lakh. Dasaradhi Rangacharya was awarded "Jashuva Jeevita Saphalya Puraskaram". Kolakakuli Swaroopa Rani received the "Jashuva Visishta Mahila Purasakaram". Kaluva Mallaiah received the "Jashuva Sahitya Visishta Puraskaram". Damodar Raja Narasimha, Deputy Chief Minister presented the awards. Yadagiri, Director, Telugu Akademy, presided over the function. Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad, Minister for Rural Development, Kaki Madhava Rao, former Chief Secretary, Medasani Mohan participated in the function. A commemorative book on the poet was released in the function.