Viswambhara

Viswambhara (transl. The Earth) is a 1980 Telugu-language philosophical long poem by C. Narayana Reddy.^[1][2] It is written in free verse and was an outcome of Narayana Reddy's meditation on the meaning and mystery of human existence.^[2][3][4] It deals with the theme of universal brotherhood and the quest of man for the meaning of life and of the nature of the universe.^[3][5]

Viswambhara

Author	C. Narayana Reddy
Original title	విశ్వంభర
Country	India
Language	Telugu
Genre	Long poem
Publication date	1980
Awards	Soviet Land Nehru award (1982) Jnanpith Award (1988)

Viswambhara received wide critical acclaim and is also a part of M.A. degree syllabi in some universities.^[2][6][7] In 1988, Narayana Reddy won India's highest literary award, Jnanpith Award for the book.^[8][7] He became the second Telugu writer to receive the Jnanpith Award through this work.^[9][10] The book also won the Soviet Land Nehru award in 1982.^[11] It has been translated into several Indian languages. Amarendra (Dr. C. Narasimha Sastry) translated it into English in 1986.^[2][12] Bhimsen Nirmal translated it into Hindi as Vishwambhara. The Hindi translation won the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award in 1991.^[13]

Reception

Sahitya Akademi appreciated the work noting, "This monumental work in free verse depicts the journey of man through the ages as he strives to attain spiritual, artistic, and scientific excellence."^[8] Dr. T. S. Chandra Mouli reviewed the book positively writing, "Viswambhara is a modern epic—Man is the protagonist. Cosmos is the canvas. Time eternal, time continuum plays a vital role in the drama narrated. The poet’s competent handling of the subject and comprehensive delineation, incorporating all momentary moments, extend a sharp edge in making this work a peerless classic."^[12]

References

1. Jadavpur journal of comparative literature. Department of Comparative Literature, Jadavpur University. 1986. p. 111.
2. Narasimhaiah, C. D. (1994). East West Poetics at Work: Papers Presented at the Seminar on Indian and Western Poetics at Work, Dhvanyaloka, Mysore, January 1991. Sahitya Akademi. p. 194. ISBN 978-81-7201-385-1.
3. History and Culture of the Andhras. Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rau Vijnana Sarvaswa Sakha, Telugu University. 1995. p. 238. ISBN 978-81-86073-07-0.
4. Rao, S. S. Prabhakar (2007). The Golden Bouquet. Authorspress. p. 154. ISBN 978-81-7273-382-7.
5. Natarajan, Nalini; Nelson, Emmanuel Sampath (1996). Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 314. ISBN 978-0-313-28778-7.
6. Rāmaśēṣayya, Ji (1992). Viśvambhara anuśīlana: pratiprakaraṇa vivaraṇa granthaṃ, kāvyanirmāṇaśilpa sahitaṃ (in Telugu). Ji. Sujāta.
7. "C. Narayana Reddy dead". The Hindu. 12 June 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
8. (PDF). Sahitya Akademi. 6 July 2015. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
9. "The Jnanpith Award: All the past awardees from 1965 to now". Outlook India. 25 July 2003. from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
10. "Staying true to life". The Hindu. 25 April 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
11. "Profile: C. Narayana Reddy". The South Asian Literary Recordings Project. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
12. T. S., Chandra Mouli (18 April 2008). . Boloji.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
13. . Sahitya Akademi. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2023.