Bhargavi Rao
Encyclopedia
Bhargavi Prabhanjan Rao a Sahitya Akademi
Awardee, was an eminent translator in Telugu
Literature. She was actively involved in Translating various works of celebrated author and playwright Girish Karnad
. Her most famous works include Noorella Panta, a compilation of one hundred short stories by women writers of twentieth century is acclaimed as a landmark in Telugu literature. She died due to a heart attack on 23 May 2008 in Hyderabad.
, Karnataka
into a Kannadiga family. She was the eldest of 5 siblings, two brothers and two sisters - Venkatesh and Prasad, Gayathri and Padmaja. She also appeared as a child actress in two regional films, and lent her voice to radio as well. She then married Prabhanjan Rao, and continued with her studies in the field of English Literature
, before achieving a Master's degree from Osmania University
. She went on to do her Ph.D in Osmania University
, thus earning the title of Dr. Bhargavi P. Rao. She then taught English at Osmania University (first at Women's College, Koti and then at Nizam College),till her retirement in 2004. After retiring, she was appointed Honorary Professor in the Pottiramulu Telugu University in Hyderabad.
Various of her translated plays, have gone on to become famous within the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Collaborating with Dr.Bhargavi Rao was P Jayalakshmi, they translated and published Seela Subhadra Devi's full-length poem Yudham Oka Gunde Kotha into English as War a Heart's Ravage in March 2003
She is a prolific writer. Her publications in English include Pebbles on the Sea Shore (short stories), Hiccups (poems), and Meru Kanchana (Novel), Colours and Cadences: Poems from the Romantic Age (co-edited with T. Vijay Kumar). She has translated several works into English and also has academic works to her credit.
She was also actively involved in contributing to a one-of-a-kind Literary e-journal, Muse India
.
Her last piece of work was "Putra Kameshti" which won the Runner-Up prize in a contest conducted by Swathi Magazine
, won her the prestigious Central Sahitya Akademi Award
in 1995. She is also recipient of PS Telugu University Award (1999), Sakhya Sahiti Award (2000) and Grihalakshmi Award (2001).
Bhargavi Rao was a member of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and Telugu Literary and Cultural Association
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
Awardee, was an eminent translator in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
Literature. She was actively involved in Translating various works of celebrated author and playwright Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad
Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
. Her most famous works include Noorella Panta, a compilation of one hundred short stories by women writers of twentieth century is acclaimed as a landmark in Telugu literature. She died due to a heart attack on 23 May 2008 in Hyderabad.
Early life
Bhargavi Rao was born to Santhy and Narahari Rao Tagat in BellaryBellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
into a Kannadiga family. She was the eldest of 5 siblings, two brothers and two sisters - Venkatesh and Prasad, Gayathri and Padmaja. She also appeared as a child actress in two regional films, and lent her voice to radio as well. She then married Prabhanjan Rao, and continued with her studies in the field of English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
, before achieving a Master's degree from Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
. She went on to do her Ph.D in Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
, thus earning the title of Dr. Bhargavi P. Rao. She then taught English at Osmania University (first at Women's College, Koti and then at Nizam College),till her retirement in 2004. After retiring, she was appointed Honorary Professor in the Pottiramulu Telugu University in Hyderabad.
Personal life
She married Prabhanjan Rao in June, 1960 at Tirupati. She has 3 daughters, Mithravinda, Sharvani, and Sushmitha. She has 6 grandchildren - Vaishnavi, Pradyumna, Maya, Mukund, Vaikunt and Saaketh. She has been living at Santoshnagar, Hyderabad since 1977.Literary works
Her publications in Telugu include Album and Needala Godalu (Poems), Gundelo thadi, Chukka Navvindi and NaaPeru (Short stories) ,Abhisarika , Thoorpu Gaali (Novels) ,Pranava Ganga(dance ballet), and Saugandhika (monologue);she also co-authored Urvasi , a Kuchipudi dance ballet , with Varanasi Nagalakshmi. Her translations of Girish Karnad’s Kannada plays are: Naagamandala, Hayavadana, Taladandam, Tughluq and Agni Varsham. Her other translations are Siri Sampenga and Kathaga Maarina Ammayi. Among her antologies, other than Noorella Panta, are Mudra (women poets), Nooru Varshalu (short stories) ,Inkaanaa! Ikapai Saagadu (Dalit stories), Aaha!Oho! (humorous stories).Various of her translated plays, have gone on to become famous within the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Collaborating with Dr.Bhargavi Rao was P Jayalakshmi, they translated and published Seela Subhadra Devi's full-length poem Yudham Oka Gunde Kotha into English as War a Heart's Ravage in March 2003
She is a prolific writer. Her publications in English include Pebbles on the Sea Shore (short stories), Hiccups (poems), and Meru Kanchana (Novel), Colours and Cadences: Poems from the Romantic Age (co-edited with T. Vijay Kumar). She has translated several works into English and also has academic works to her credit.
She was also actively involved in contributing to a one-of-a-kind Literary e-journal, Muse India
Muse India
Muse India is a literary e-journal based in Hyderabad, India. Since 2005, it has appeared bi-monthly only in a web edition; it has no print version.-Focus and scope:...
.
Her last piece of work was "Putra Kameshti" which won the Runner-Up prize in a contest conducted by Swathi Magazine
Awards and recognition
Her translation of Girish Karnad’s play, TaledandaTaledanda
Taledanda Taledanda Taledanda ((Kannada: ತಲೆದಂಡ, Hindi: Rakt Kalyan, literally: Death by Beheading) is a 1990 Kannada play written by Girish Karnad, an eminent person in Kannada literature, about the rise of the radical protest and reform movement, Veerashaivism, in 12th century Karnatak...
, won her the prestigious Central Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
in 1995. She is also recipient of PS Telugu University Award (1999), Sakhya Sahiti Award (2000) and Grihalakshmi Award (2001).
Bhargavi Rao was a member of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and Telugu Literary and Cultural Association