Telugu Literature - Telugu Journalism

Telugu Journalism

The general economic prosperity of the delta region afforded the establishment of schools and colleges, resulted in the spread of education and produced a western educated middle class. This was also coincided with the founding of various socio-religious organizations in the region like Veda Samaj, Deva Samaj, Hindu Sreyobhivardini Sabha and Arsha Mata Sabha (the influence of ongoing socio-religious reform movements in Bengal and Maharastra and the tours of these reformers to South India can be seen in this development). Madras centered Telugu press (originated in 1830s) began to shift to the delta region as the founders of these organizations (most of them were from western educated middle class, who were also founders of socio-religious organizations) attempted to spread the reformist ideas through the press. (Absence of these factors attests the very slow development of press in the dry zone). Thus there was a steady growth of journalism in the deltas from 1858 onwards.

Telugu journalism began with mainly religious, cultural and literary journals. The first Telugu journal was Satyodaya (Dawn of Truth) published in Madras by the Christian Association of Bellary. The early Telugu journals were in Sanskritised, highbrow literary Telugu. Some of them like Tatvabodhini, were started by the Ved Samaj to counteract missionary propaganda. Tatwabodhini became immensely popular after it serialized the Rig Veda. Other journals of this era are Ravi, Shriyakshi, Dina Vartamani and Purusharda Pradayani.

Rai Bahadur K. Veeresalingam Pantulu began the first modern journal in Telugu- Vivekavardhini- dedicated to social and language reform. Pantulu was a prominent social reformer who advocated ending of child marriage, casteism, prostitution. He also propagated rehabilitation of fallen women. Pantulu’s journals are credited with the development of popular Telugu prose. Pantulu also founded 3 journals for women- Sahitabodhini (Women’s Advocate), Haasyavardhini (Promoter of Laughter) and Satyavaadini (Advocate of Truth). Pantulu is considered to be the father of the Renaissance movement of Andhra.

Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Bezawada, Machilipatnam, Amalapuram, Narasapuram became centers of journalism. Another early paper was Andhrabhasha Sanjivani, edited by Kokkonda Venkataratnam Pantulu, another social and religious reformer. The first news weekly in Telugu was Andhra Prakasika, published from Madras by A.P. Parthasarati Naidu. It supported the Congress Party.

Devagupta Seshachalrao started Deshabhimani- first as a fortnightly, then weekly, then bi-weekly and finally it became the first Telugu daily.

With this, foundations for the social and political leadership of delta area and dominance of coastal Telugu were laid. By early twentieth century every caste tried to reform its group by spreading progressive and rational ideas through caste journals. In the process, several caste groups got consolidated across the regions.

In the rise of consciousness of a separate Telugu identity and the demand for a separate Andhra State, Telugu press played a crucial role. Rising education brought about a new interest in modern Telugu literature and culture, which Telugus felt, was being suppressed by Tamilians. Therefore Andhra Brahmans and non-Brahmans together formed a sub-national movement to demand a separate State in which Andhra interests could be expressed.The organization of people on caste lines was also a new phenomenon and print was one of the factors which made it is possible. Thus the print, in the form of Journalism played an enormous role in the construction of identities on the basis of language, region, religion, and caste.