Thread by @scarysouthpaw

February 21st. International Mother Tongue Day. Celebrate your langue maternelle and be proud of being part of such a beautiful culture and heritage #Telugu . A thread of poets/authors who have embellished my mother tongue

Adi Kavi Nannaya. Poet from the 10th century during the Vengi Chalukya times. Known as Shabda Sasanudu ( Law Giver for the Language), since he codified Telugu grammar and started translating the Mahabharata into Telugu.

Thikkana Somayaji, poet laureate during the Kakatiya empire, translated the rest 15 chapters of Mahabharata into Telugu (Nannaya had expired after completing 2.5 chapters)

Errapragada, the third poet who completed the translation of the Mahabharata into Telugu. The Aranya Parvam, left half translated after the death of Nannaya was completed by him. Lived during the Reddy dynasty of Andhra in the 13th century. #Telugu

Bammera Pothana, well known to ever Telugu student for translating the Bhagavatham into Telugu as the "Andhra Maha Bhagavatham". All of us have read Gajendramoksham in our childhood.
#Telugu

Yogi Vemana, the philosopher who abandoned wordly pleasures the extent of his clothing is well known for this four line couplets as the Vemana Satakam. #Telugu

Baddena Bhupaludu, the creator of the Sumati Satakam ( compilation of 100 poems) was a poet in the vassal court of the Kakatiya Queen, Rani Rudrama Devi.

Remember "vinadagu nevvaru cheppina?" :) #Telugu

Allasaani Peddana, called Andhra Kavita Pitamahudu ( Grandfather of Telugu poetry) was among the AshtaDiggajaas of KrishnaDevaraya's court. Started the Prabandha age of Telugu literature #Telugu

Tenali Ramakrishnudu, popular all over for his witty tales is also a great contributor to the Telugu language. He was another of the great courtiers of Krishna Devaraya #Telugu

Tuluva Srikrishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara Emperor ushered in the Golden period for Telugu literature. According to legend, he composed his magnum opus "Amuktamalyada" in Telugu as Goddess Sarawati instructed him in his dream.#Telugu

Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhowma (King of Poets) is best remembered for his Srungaranaishadham. A well known couplet of his admonishes Shiva during a drought, taunting as to why a beggar would need two wives. Legend says that Ganga (water) flowed out immediately after his utterance.

Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swami, author of the prophetic "Kalagnayam" is comparable to Nostradamus. Had predicted several events like the advent of the British, electoral politics, development of railways, electricity and paper money #Telugu

Kakarla Tyagabrahmam, known as Tyagaraja. Among the trinity of Carnatic music, his immortal compositions like "Endaro Mahanubhavulu" and "Kana Kana Ruchira" still ring today as they did 4 centuries ago #telugu

Tallapaka Annamacharyulu, whose samkirtanas (devotional songs) to Lord Venkateswara are considered to be almost a part of the god. The first known composer in Carnatic tradition #Telugu

His wife, Tallapaka Tirumallamma authored the Subhadra Kalyanam and is considered to be the first woman telugu writer. Living in the 15th century, she is a trailblazer for generations of women poets

Autukuri Molla, known from her community name as Kummari Molla was born in a family of potters , she translated the Sanskrit Ramayana into Telugu. This contemporary of the Vijayanagara Empire was known for her simple and lucid phrases #telugu

Kancharla Gopanna, aka Bhakta Ramadasu was a tax collector during the Qutubshahi times(17th century). His couplets praising Lord Rama of Bhadrachalam like "Paluke Bangarayamaayera" and "Ye teeru gananu" have become part of Telugu ethos #Telugu

Paravasthu Chinnayasuri, ushered in the modern Telugu age with his Nitichandrika (translation of the Panchatantra) and his Balavyakaranam (Telugu grammar) which is the basis for the Telugu we speak today #Telugu

Gurajada Apparao, (1862-1915)the author of the sensational classic play "Kanyasulkam" (Bride Price) is considered to be a pioneer of modern Telugu theatre. His memorable words "Desamunu preminchumanna" is synonymous with Telugu patriotism #Telugu

Kandukuri Veeresalingam panthulu. (1848-1919) Social reformer and the author of Rajasekhara Charitramu, considered to the first novel of modern Telugu
#Telugu

Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham, social reformer and avid author, he played an important role in the freedom struggle. Remember his patriotic quip "Bharathakhandambu chakkani paadi aavu"? #telugu

Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy, the doyen who freed the Telugu language from the trappings of grammar and metre, and championed the cause of the colloquial (Vyavaharika) language. His birthday 29th August is celebrated as Telugu language Day

Viswanatha Satyanarayana, the greatest exponent of the classical language in the 20th century. Famous for his great rendition of Ramayana KalpaVriksham, and his "VeyiPadagalu" #Telugu

Gurram Joshua, famous for his Gabbilam (Bat), is an influential Dalit author of the 20th century touching upon subjects of oppression and untouchability. #Telugu

Srirangam Srinivasa rao. Sri Sri. The name needs no introduction nor an explanation. The poetic tour de force of Telugu poetry, this leftist stalwart transformed the way Telugus read poetry. #Telugu

Devulapalli Krishna Sastry. the most famous romantic poet and known as Andhra Shelley. If the Godavari river could sing, it would recite his poetry. Remember the immortal lyrics from Meghasandesam "Aakulo aakunai"? #telugu

Aarudra, the famous poet and writer of the modern age. Remember "Srirasthu Subhamasthu" song from Bapu's movie Pelli Pusthakam? #Telugu

Manasu Kavi Aacharya Aatreya. Among the greatest playwrights of modern Telugu. His lyrics in various movies have made him immortal. Heard "Seshasaila vaasa Srivenkatesaa" from the movie Venkateswara Mahatyam? #telugu

Muppaalla Ranganayakamma, the feminist author who takes Lord Rama to the cleaners in her leftist rendering in "Ramayana Vishavriksham". Must read for everyone, even the devotees. #telugu

Vasireddy Seetadevi, another feminist author of the 70s (and a favourite of my mother). Her book Mareechika(mirage), talking about Naxal movement in Andhra and drug addiction was surprisingly banned in 2013 after 30 years in print

Chalam, modern telugu writer and philosopher, has left an indelible mark on Telugu literature with his stories about women, caste and the greater malaises in society #telugu

C. Narayan Reddy, famous poet and playwright of modern Telugu, Winner of the Jnanapith Award and Sahitya Akademi Award.

Yandamuri Veerendranath, the man who revolutionarised modern Telugu and drove it into the 21st century. His thrillers like "Tulasi", "Challenge", "Anandobrahma" and "Vennello Aadapilla" have created a novel tribe of young telugu readers #telugu

Malladi VenkatakrishnaMurthy. The master of the modern telugu thriller genre, he is well known to be the inspiration behind movie adaptions like Chantabbai and Srivari Sobhanam #telugu

Ushasri, famous radio and literary personality. Well known to every household through his Ushasri Ramayanam and Ushasri bharatam. Re-discovered the great epics for the modern generation

I have not been able to cover all the famous writers/poets/playwrights of Telugu. I know folk like Olga, Suravaram Pratapareddy, Tenneti Hemalatha, Madhrantakam Rajaram, Sir CR Reddy, Tapi Dharmarao, and Nayani Krishna Kumari and many more have been left out.

But Telugu, the language as sweet as sugared curd, is an endless ocean of literary prowess. I would need the whole day to enumerate the giants whose tongues have narrated the writ of Saraswati. I apologise for omissions.

And why writing all this in English? So people outside our states would understand and read about us. End of Thread.
దేశ భాషలందు తెలుగు లెస్స

Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani. Perhaps, the most famous among all the modern Telugu authoresses. Known for her strong themes, she had a cult following among women in the 70s and 80s #telugu