Vemuri Anjaneya Sarma

Birth and Early Years

Shri Vemuri Anjaneya Sarma was born to Shri Vemuri Venkateshwarlu and Smt. Raghavamma in Eedumudi Village, six miles away from Uppugunduru railway station in Prakasham district, Andhra Pradesh state, India on 24 October 1917 (Wednesday), on Maha Navami (a day before Dussera).

Shri Vemuri Anjaneya Sarma had two brothers and four sisters. His grandfather was a merchant of washing Blue Power with an agricultural land of around 300 acres. Due to losses in business, they lost everything and had to move to Kuchipudi Village, 3 miles near to Tenali, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. Due to business losses the family went through extreme poverty.

As he grew, Seshaiah Garu made Anjaneya Sarma to realize that for a poor Brahmin family to survive, he has to practice paurohitya. To learn Sanskrit, Anjaneya Sarma learnt “Raghuvamsham” from Shri Venkatappayya Sastry Garu, “Smarthamu” from Seshaiah Garu. He later joined Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Sastry Garu in Varahapuram as a disciple for 3 years. He also traveled to Vemuru Village near Varahapuram to learn “Tarka Shastram” and “Nishada Kavyam” from Shri Kuruganti Venkata Ramana Sastry Garu. During this period, Anjaneya Sarma Garu used to eat at one Brahmin family each day of the week to survive.

Education

• Studied for 'Ubhayabhasha Praveen' of Andhra University Oriental Degree At Sanskrit College, Tenali, Andhra Pradesh
• Left College to Participate in National Movement
• Studied 'Sahitya Visharada' Hindi Literature at Naini Hindi Vidyapeeth, Allahabad

Achievements and Recognitions

Computers in Indian Languages

• Developing Keyboard for Computer for all Indian Languages under Department of Electronics, Govt. of India.
• Instrumental in Takingup Developmental Projects in Software and Hardware Computer Projects under the Ageis of Department of Electronic, Govt. of India.
• 'Path Breaking DCA and MCA courses through Hindi Medium - First of its kind in the country'

Propagation and Development of National Language

• Propagation of Hindi as National Language in the Erstwhile Dominion of Nizam, comprising Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka
• Participation in Literary Movement in Hyderabad
• Organising and Coordinating Kavi Sammelans and Nataka Sammelans in 14 Languages

Awards

• 'Babu Ganga Saran Singh Award' - Awarded by Govt. of India in 1989
• 'Souhardra Award' given by Govt. of Uttar pradesh in 1990
• Felicitations by more than 200 organisations at more than 50 Cities and Towns
• 'Abhinandan Granth' - A Book Felicitating the Life time contribution to National Language

Establishment of Post Graduate Department in D B H P Sabha

• Introduced M.A. in Functional Hindi - First of its kind in India in 1978 at Hyderabad. Introduction M.Phil., Ph.D. and D.Litt., P.G. Diploma Translation and Journalism.
• Started two more colleges at Ernakulam and Dharwar.
• Introduced Hindi Teacher Training Colleges offering B.Ed., & M.Ed., Courses at Hyderabad and then in Madras, Dharwar and Ernakulam.
• Started DCA and MCA courses in Hindi medium - First of its kind in the country.

Professional career

Positions Held

• Started Teaching Hindi in 1935 at Bheemavaram and Eluru, West Godavari District
• Joined Dakshina Bharath Hindi Prachar Sabha - Andhra in 1938 for Propagating Hindi as a National Language
• Was Appointed as organiser in Andhra in 1940
• Was Appointed as Chief Executive of Hyderabad Hindi prachar Sangh, Hyderabad
• Was Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of D.B.H.P. Sabha Andhra Pradesh (1958–59)
• Was Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of D.B.H.P. Sabha, Kerala Eranakulam (1962–66)
• Was Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of D.B.H.P. Sabha, Delhi (1966–74)
• Was Promoted as the Chief Secretary D.B.H.P. Sabha, Madras headquarters 1974-79
• Worked as General Secretary of Federation of all India Voluntary Hindi organisations, Delhi Sponsored by Govt. of India for a period of 6 years.
• Worked as the Registrar, D.B.H.P. Sabha - Hindi University - Declared by The Parliament of India as an Institution of National Importance - from 1978 to 1991 when Sri P.V. Narasimha Rao was Vice - Chancellor
• Transformed the Post Graduate and Research Wing of D.B.H.P. Sabha at Madras, Hyderabad, Dharwad and Ernakulam places from Low Profile Institution to University Status.
• Elevated to the Post of Pro-Vice Chancellor of Post Graduate and Research Wing of D.B.H.P. Sabha in the Year, 1999.

Committee Memberships In Various Ministries

• Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi
• Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi
• Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, New Delhi
• Hindi Advisory Committee, Coal India Ltd.
• Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
• Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, New Delhi
• Committee for Common Key Board for Computer, Department of Electronics, Govt. of India, New Delhi
• Committee on Technology Mission, Govt. of India, New Delhi
• Was Member of 12 other Ministries in the Past

Literary Contributions, Movements, Activities

Books written on Literary Integration

• 'Tootthi Paramparayen' Translation of famous Telugu novel by Mahidhar Rammohan Rao into Hindi.
• "House Surgeon" translation of Telugu novel written by Famous writer Dr. Kommuri Venugopal Rao which was awarded with National prize for Best Translation
• "Is Desh Ki Yah Bhi Ek Samasya Hai" translation of novel by Dr. K. Venugopal Rao into Hindi
• "Dilli Dalarulu" translation of Hindi novel by Panday Bechan Sarma "Ugra" into Telugu
• "Kalasina Jeevithalu" translation of "Malela Jeev" Gujarathi novel "Bharateeya Jnanpeeth Puraskr winner" Sri Pannalal Patel into Telugu
• "Jeevitham Oka Nataka Rangam" translation of Gujarathi Novel into Telugu by Sri Pannalal Patel
• "Vishwarathudu" - Gujarathi Novel - K.M. Munshi into Telugu
• 'Sambarakanya' - Gujarathi Novel - K.M. Munshi
• 'Devadatta' - Gujarathi Novel - K.M. Munshi into Telugu
• 'Vishwanath Ki Kahaniyan' - Telugu Stories of Jnanapeeth Puraskar Winner Sri Viswanatha Satyanarayana into Hindi
• 'Munimanikyam Ki Kahaniyan' - Telugu Stories by Sri Munimanikyam Narasimha Rao into Hindi
• 'Akkasha Deepam' - Hindi Stories into Telugu
• 'Urdu Kathalu' - Urdu Stories into Telugu
• 'Alluri Seetharama Raju' - Drama of Sri Padala Rama Rao into Hindi
• 'Kala-Jeevitha Darshanam' - Kaka Kalekar's Book into Telugu
• Naa Bhartha Naa Daivam' - Book on Sri Lalbahadur Sastry as Told by Smt. Lalitha Devi written by Umashankarji
• 'Tirupathi Venkata Kavulu' English to Telugu Translation
• 'Gandhi and Marx' - Kishorilal Mashruwala's Book into Telugu
• 'Godavari Hans Padi' - Telugu Stories into Hindi - Editing
• 'Kali Khil Uthi' - Telugu Short Stories - Editing
• 'Srestha Kahaniyan' - Collection of Hindi Stories - 1973
• 'Bharath Katha Sarovar' - Stories written in Hindi by Non Hindi writers - Editing
• 'Vishwanath Krititva Aur Vyaktitwa' - Articles written - Editing
• 'Mangal prabhatham' - Gandhij's book into Telugu
• Founder Editor of 'Sravanthi' Telugu Literary Monthly

Editor

• Founder Editor of 'Sravanthi' - Telugu Literary Monthly being Published for 52 years By D.B.H.P. Sabha, Hyderabad
• Poorna Kumbh_Hindi Monthly
• Dakshin Bharath - Hindi Monthly
• Dakshin Bharathi - Hindi Quarterly
• Kerala Bharathi - Hindi Monthly
• Samaveth Swar - Hindi Bi – Monthly

Theatre Movement

• Participated with Missionary Zeal in Theatre Movement from the Age of 20
• Acted as "Devadas" in Famous Drama and Won Many Laurels – with Repeat Performances
• Acted in Many Dramas of Historical Importance in the Lead Roles
• Written and Directed Many Plays and Dramas in Hindi and Telugu
• Used Theatre Movement as Weapon to Arouse Nationalism Among Educated Section of People at large

Library Movement

• Instrumental in Establishing 'National Library' for Research in Hindi at Madras
• Established Many Libraries and Reading Rooms to Enlighten the People
• Organised Literary and Cultural Activities using Library as a common place of meeting to arouse the National Spirit among the Lawyers and other elite groups of towns and cities

Educational Activities

• Advisor of Teaching South Indian Languages for Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
• Taught Hindi and Telugu to parliamentarians in the Central Hall of Parliament

Cultural Activities

• Constant and Continuous Touch with Stalwarts in the Cultural Field like Sri Prithviraj Kapoor.
• Held many posts of responsibilities in Andhra Nataka Kala Parishad
• Organised Cultural Activities of Artists of National Eminence at Delhi, Madras, Hyderabad, Ernakulam.

Participation

• Taught Hindi Through Radio Lessons for Many Years in All India Radio
• Broadcast over 100 Speeches in Hindi and Telugu in All India Radio
• Participated in more than 50 Panel Discussions and Interviews in All India Radio
• Presented Telugu Movie Reviews from Delhi Doordarshan
• Appeared in National Telecasts on Number of Occasions Connected with Hindi Day in Doordarshan

Institutions Associated with

• Parliamentarians Hindi Association, New Delhi
• Central Hindi Directorate, New Delhi
• Central Sahitya Akademi
• Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra
• Federation of Hindi Organisations of India, New Delhi
• Department of Electronics, Govt. of India, New Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
• Different Universities of the Country

Creation of Memorial Trust

On 6 May 2003, Shri Anjaneya Sarma died. To remember the fond memory of Shri Anjaneya Sarma and to take forward his legacy, his entire family came together to create "Shri Vemuri Anjaneya Sarma Smarak Trust" and have since year on year on the occasion of Shri Anjaneya Sarma birth anniversary of Maha Navami recognised people with their contribution in the field of Hindi Literature, Telugu Literature and Theatre. Over the last decade around 40 achievers have been recognized for their contribution in these fields.

References

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