Muddu Narasimham Naidu

S. Muddu Narasimham Naidu (1792–1856) was an Indian writer and social reformer considered to be the first essayist in Telugu. He was a pioneer of the popular language movement, the widow remarriage movement and the rationalist movement in Andhra through his writings. He was a government officer by profession and served as a District Munsif in Rajahmundry.

Narasimham Naidu's essay collection, titled Hitasūchani, was published in 1862 after his death. It is perhaps the earliest Telugu work promoting rational and scientific ideas predating the works of Kandukuri Veeresalingam. It was written in colloquial Telugu and dealt with several issues such as reforms in education, marriage among others. These essays were printed earlier in a Telugu journal, Hitavadi, published from Machilipatnam.

His surname is variously given as Swamineena, Swamineni, Samineni, Samineena in different sources. His first name is also given as either Narasimha Naidu or Narasimham Naidu.

Career Entering the service of the East India Company, Narasimham Naidu gradually rose in the service. He was a second grade District Munsif from 1848 to 1852. In 1853 he was promoted to a first class District Munsif. He called his style grama bhasha (colloquial language).

Naidu used the word prameyamu for the essay, rather than vyasamu, the more common word. Naidu in his book wondered if the traditional grammatical theories and classical prose writings had any relevance to contemporary society and its requirements. Hita Suchani was republished in 1986 by Andhrakesari Yuvajana Samithi, Rajahmundry with a foreword by Aarudra.

Legacy

Narasimham Naidu is considered to be the first essayist in Telugu. He was a pioneer of the popular language movement, the widow remarriage movement and the rationalist movement in Andhra. Naidu was progressive in his outlook and made his essays instruments of social change. He championed a colloquial literary style in his essays.