Asavadi Prakasarao

Asavadi Prakasa Rao (2 August 1944 – 17 February 2022) was an Indian poet, critic, translator and scholar, who is known for his poetry and prose works. He is noted for his significant contribution to Telugu and Sanskrit literature. In January 2021, he was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian award the Padma Shri in the Arts and Literature category. As Ashtavadhani, he gave 170 performances and wrote and published 50 books across various genres. His most notable literary contribution is his performance of Avadhanam – a literary performance.

Early life Asavadi Prakasarao was born to Kulayamma and Fakeerappa on 2 August 1944 in Korivipalli. His teacher Nanduri Ramakrishnamacharya changed his name to the optimist Prakash Rao. Born into a Dalit family, he spent his childhood in the villages of Beluguppa and Sirpi. He did his primary education in the social welfare schools in those villages. He was educated at Potti Sriramulu Municipal Boys' School and Rajendra Municipal High School in Anantapuram between 1953 and 1959. He completed PUC at Government Arts College, Anantapur, between 1960 and 1961. He also completed B. A. in 1962–65 from the same colleger.

He later worked for a few days in Eluru as a lower divisional clerk after passing in the APPSC Group-4 examination. He left that job as an obstacle to his progress and worked as a Telugu scholar in Venkatadripalle, Y. Rampuram, Kanekal, Kurli Zilla Parishad schools between 1965 and 1968. He earned a M. A. in Telugu Linguistics from Anantapur PG Center (affiliated to Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati) between 1968 and 1970. Starting in 1970, he worked as an Andhra lecturer in Government Junior College, Rayadurgam, Government Degree Colleges in Anantapur, Guntakallu, Nagari, Punganur and Penukonda. He served as the Principal of Penukonda Government Degree College and retired in 2002.

Career Prakasarao was accepted as a teacher in Avadhanam education. He made his first Avadhanam in 1963 at the age of 19.

Literary works Pushpanjali (1968) Varadarajasathakam (1969) Niryoshthya Krishna Shatakam (1972) Vidyabhushan (1973) Merupu Teegalu (1976) Orchestra (1979) Chellappillaraya Charitramu (1982) Sri Raptati Parichaya Parijatamu (1986) Sahayachari Sahiti Sahacharyamu (1986) Potana Bhagavatamu – Third Skandhamu (1986) Antaranga Taranagalu (1988) Prahalada Charithra – A Comparative Study of Erranna-Potana (1989) Jyotissuprabhatamu (1989) Hanumat Stotramanjari (1989) Subramanya Stotrakadambamu (1990) Lokalilasooktamu (1990) Deevasesalu (1992) Avadhana Chaatuvulu (1993) Ramakatha Kalasham (1993) Avadhana Deepika (1998) Domavadhani Sahitikunjara Murtimatvamu (1998) Avadhana Kaumudi (2000) Avadhana Vasantham (2001) Subodhini Vyakaranam (2003) Parvatishatakamu (2003) Avadhana Kalathoranam (2003) Pratyusha Pavanaalu (2006) Nadichepadyam Nanduri (2006) Prasarakiranalu (2007) Samaradhana (2007) Atmatattva Prabodhamu (2007) Bhagavata Saurabhamu (2008) Sameeksha Sravanthi (2008) Suvarnagopuram (2008) Avadhana Vinodham – Fun Speech (2008)

Awards and honours Kala Ratna Award from Government of Andhra Pradesh Jashuva Padya Kavita Puraskaram from Telugu Academy Padma Shri from Government of India Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University – Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) Awarded Loknayak Foundation, Visakhapatnam – Avadhana Shiromani Award Worship Cultural Institution Hyderabad – Life Achievement Award Bharti Sahitya Samiti, Guntakallu – Kandukuri Veeresalingam Centenary Award Andhra Sangh, Hosur – Sri Krishnadevarayala Coronation Award Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University – Karyamapudi Rajamannar Dharmanidhi Award Sri Doma Venkataswamy Gupta Sahityapeeth, Kadapa – Shatavadhani Award Department of Higher Education, Government of India – Best Faculty Award T. Subbaramireddy Foundation, Vijayawada – Kalabandhu Award Department of Telugu Language, University of Bangalore – Joshua Dharmanidhi Award Arunabharati, Banaganapally – Ugadi Literary Award Kalakaumudi, Rajampeta – Centenary Poets Award Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, Visakhapatnam – Aatmeeyapuraskaram Andhra Pradesh Official Language Society – Linguist Award Erranna Peethamu, Ongolu – Best Theoretical Writing Award AMP Sahitya Akademi, Hyderabad – Silver Jubilee Award 'Daivajnasekhara' GVR Raju, Bellary – Saptati Award Harijan Sevak Sangh (MP), Vijayawada – Gandhian Poet Award Tenugubharathi Sahitya Parishad, Uyyuru – Best Literary Award Kallepu Sagara Rao, Hyderabad – Spiritual Award American Telugu Association Regional Conferences, Hyderabad – New Year's Award 'Kaviratna' Paladi Lakshmi Kanthanshreshti, Kadapa – Sashtipurti Award Bhagyalakshmi Foundation, Badwell – Distinguished Literary Service Award Friendship Forum of India, New Delhi – India Excellence Award Sahitya Gaganmahal, Penukonda – Anantha Animutyalu Award Lalithakala Parishad, Anantapur – Mandala Manikyalu Award Sardardji Friends Association, Proddatur – Best Literary Producers Award Kalajyoti, Dharmavaram – Sahitya Saraswati Award Nanduri Ramakrishnamacharya Sahityapeeth, Hyderabad – Nanduri Memorial Annual Award Anantha Kalapeetham, Anantapur – Poetry Award Department of Culture, Government of India – Rashtrakavi Award Rapaka Ekambaracharyas, Hyderabad – Retirement Award Pushpagiri Mahasansthanam, Kadapa – Sankranti Poet Award AMP First Harijan Mahasabha, Hyderabad – Telugu Velugu Award Akkiraju Ramapathirao Hyderabad – Birthday Spiritual Award Sri Rajarajanarendra Andhra Language Institute, Hanmakonda – Centenary Award Gauturaju Hanumantrao, Hyderabad – Gauturaju Literary Culture Keasvatthayya, PENUKONDA – Gold gandapendera honor Kshirasagara Sahitya, Hyderabad – Kanakabhishekam He was honored by Babu Jagjivan Ram, Bejwada Gopalareddy, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, N. T. Rama Rao, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Konijeti Rosaiah, Nedurumalli Janardhanareddy, Mandali Buddhaprasad, PVRK Prasad, Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Gollapudi Maruti Rao etc.

Books

Kalyanavani – Shanthi Narayana (Editor) Asavadi Prakasarao Sahityamu – Anushilana – Mankala Ramachandran – Ph.D. Theoretical text Aksharakireeti Asavadi – P. Ramasubbareddy (Editor) Avadhanacharya Asavadi – Madabhushi Ananthacharya Asavadi Kavithatarangam – Y. Shantamma Asavadi Rachana Drukhpatham – Y. Shantamma Asavadi Granthavalokanam – R. Rangaswamy Gowda (Editor) Asavadi Antaratarangalu – An Observation – N. Hemawati (M.Phil. Theoretical Essay) Hiranmayi – Special edition on the Asavadi Literary Golden Jubilee