Dasarathi Krishnamacharyulu also popularly called Daasarathi was born on July 22, 1925, in Chinnaguduru, Maripeda, Mahabubabad. He passed away on Nov 5, 1987.
Daasarathi is a Freedom Fighter, Poet, and Lyricist. He pursued his graduation with a B. A from Osmania University, Hyderabad. He was titles as Abhyudhaya Kavi and Kalaprapurna
Daasarathi was an orthodox, but discreet, Vaishnava bhakta. He was a scholar of Indian mythology (Puranas).
He was interested in linguistics since childhood. He mastered Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, and English languages.
He matriculated from the Khammam Government High School. But, he gave up his higher education to join the movement against the autocratic Nizam rule in the Hyderabad Kingdom.
Freedom Fighter and Poet
Daasarathi traveled from village to village in Telangana to enlighten the public, as a volunteer in the left-wing Andhra Mahasabha movement. Daasarathi was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and Kandukuri Veeresalingam.
Later, Daasarathi joined the political left, as most of his friends were leftists and communist revolutionaries.
Daasarathi began writing poetry at a very young when he was a student. His poetry was revolutionary and was influenced by the communist ideology of Karl Marx.
The downtrodden, poor, exploited, and workers were the subjects of focus in his poetry. He was a strong believer that the capitalist, feudalist and autocratic society under Nizam’s rule would give way to democracy and equality.
In 1947, after the Independence of India, many independent kingdoms and principalities joined the newly formed Indian Union. But, Hyderabad State was under the autocratic rule of Mir Osman Ali Khan. He did not join the Union.
Mir Osman Ali Khan failed to control the disturbances committed by the Mazlis Ittehadul Muslimeen Party. During this time, Swamy Raamaanandateerdha the leader of the State Congress Party called for action against the autocratic Nizam’s rule.
Thousands of people went to jail for their response to this call and for participating in Satyagraha (civil disobedience).
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Daasrathi’s fame for his revolutionary poetry:
1947 – 1949:
Daasarathi’s first poetry compilation was published in 1947 called, ‘Agnidhaara’. It has poems like ‘Maatrubhoomi,’ ‘Desabhakti,’ ‘Prajaporatam,’ ‘Dharmachakram,’ ‘Vasanthakumari,’ ‘Silpi.’ etc.
This book describes the Telangana Armed Struggle against Nizam’s rule where young Daasarathi served as a revolutionary. A part of his book Agnidhara was written by Daasartathi while he was in jail. He completed it after his release from jail.
Agnidhara’s book contained famous lines like Na Telangana and Koti Ratnala Veena. These phrases later became inspirational in the separate State Movement.
The poetry used to come to him spontaneously and in jail. People in jail weren’t allowed to have a pen, pencil, or any paper. So he used to recite the poetry, again and again, to make his close friends who are with him in the same jail memorize them.
Whoever came out of jail first wrote those poems and preserved them. In this manner, poems for his first poetry book, Agnidhara (Flowing Fire) were published after he came out of jail.
Daasarathi hated the Muslim ruler and the atrocities committed by his followers. So, he phrased the ruler as ‘Nizam Raju Taratarala Booju’. Daasarathi wrote this on the walls of the jail with coal. Recently this jail cell is named after him, ‘Dasarathi cell.’ He was never afraid to criticize with strong words like ‘Musali Nakkaku Racharikambu Dakkune,’.
Later, the entry of the Indian Armed Forces to free Nizam’s state and the fall of Nizam” was the inspiration for his writings.
In 1947, Dasarathi was arrested and sent to Warangal central jail, along with many other leaders for going into prominence in independent India. Dasarathi was later moved to Nizamabad central jail.
He wrote poetry while he was in jail. He left Telangana for Vijayawada after his release and wrote poetry against the Nizam in Telugu Desam, a daily paper devoted to news and articles related to Telangana and the Nizam’s rule.
When everything was sorted in his life, Daasarathi graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Omani University, Hyderabad.
Daasarathi’s other works include Rudraveena (1950), Mahandrodyamam, Punarnapam, Amruthabishekam, Kavithapushpakam and Ghalib Geethalu (1961).
Ghalib Geethalu is the Telugu translation of the poems of Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib.
Daasarathi has ever written lyrics for many Telugu movies. He wrote His debut movie Vaagdanam. He wrote lyrics for approximately 2000 songs in the Telugu film industry.
When Daasarathi was in prison, his food was mixed with toxic things. This has damaged his digestive system and Daasarathi had very sensitive health.
Daasarathi used to be very careful about his diet and taking care of his health. Daasarathi got diabetes when he was very young and used to take insulin. As Daasarathi was scared of surgeries so he used to take good care of himself by eating healthy and easily digestible food.
In 1967, Daasarathi received a State Academy award. Dasarathi was a poet first then he became a lyricist.
Daasarathi was a recipient of the Sahitya Academy Award for his poetic workbook Timiramto Samaram (Fight against Darkness) in 1974.
In 1975, Daasarathi received the Kalaprapoorna title from Andhra University.
In 1976, the University of Agra awarded him an honorary D.Literature
Daasarathi also rendered services as an emeritus producer for All India Radio and Doordarshan (Television). From 1977 to 1983, Daasarathi served as the Government Poet.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi ideologue Prof K Jayashankar has stated that Dasarathi Krishnamacharya died of deep anguish after he was meted out humiliation at the hands of former chief minister N T Rama Rao. He mentioned that NTR when in power had insulted Dasarathi and removed him from the post of the official poet of the state government. While no newspaper or media has written anything about Dasarathi’s death.
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