N. Gopi

N. Gopi (Telugu: ఎన్. గోపి; born 25 June 1948) is an eminent Indian poet, and literary critic in Telugu and Sahitya Akademi Award recipient.[1] He has also been in the University system as a professor and Dean since 1974, until retiring in 2008. He has also held the post of the Vice Chancellor of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad. Gopi's poetry displays nativity and a national outlook.

N. Gopi
Born (1948-06-25) 25 June 1948
Occupation(s)Poet, Literary critic, Professor (Retd.)
Notable workPraja Kavi Vemana (People's Poet, Thesis) (1978)

Kaalaanni Nidra Ponivvanu (I Will Not Let Time Sleep, Poetry) (1998)

Naneelu (The Little Ones, Experimental Poetry) (1998)

Jala Geetham (Water Song, Epic Poem) (2002)
SpouseN Aruna
Parents
  • Nakka Chennaiah (father)
  • Nakka Lakshmamma (mother)

He has published 57 books including 28 poetry collections, 7 essay collections, 3 research works, 6 travelogues, 5 translations, 2 commentaries, and 4 column writings, apart from 3 textbooks for schools and for adult education projects.

His poetry collections have been translated into several Indian languages and foreign like Hindi, English, Gujarati, Tamil. Malayalam, Marathi, Konkani. Dogri, Maithili, Kannada, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Odia, Sindhi, Urdu, Assamese, Manipuri/Meitei, Bengali, Bodo, Kashmiri, Santali, Rajasthani, German, Chinese, Russian, and Persian.

His notable works are ‘Kalanni Nidra Ponivvanu’ (I Will Not let Time Sleep 1998); ‘Naneelu’ (The Little Ones 1998); ‘Jala Geetham’ (Water Song - a long poem 2002) and ‘Vruddhopanishath’ (Old Age poems 2019).

He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000 for his poetry collection, “Kaalanni Nidraponivvanu” (I will not let time sleep). He is also the recipient of 30 awards including the Freevers Front Award (1980), the Telugu University Award (1991) Delhi Telugu academy award (1999), an award for outstanding service to literature and culture by Sri Annamacharya Project of North America Chicago (SAPNA) US (2001) and ‘Kalaratna’ award by Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Early life and education

Born on 25 June 1948 in Bhongir village of Yadadri Bhongir District, Telangana State. After his schooling at Government High School, he chose to join Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, where he did B.A. in Telugu, Sanskrit, and Linguistics group and stood with 6th rank, winning Nizam’s Gold Medal. This was followed by M.A. in Telugu, where he topped the University to win Gurajada Appa Rao Gold Medal from Osmania University in 1973. Later he did a P.G. Diploma in Applied Linguistics. Though his recorded name is Nakka Gopal, he is popularly known as N. Gopi in the literary field.

Career

His first job was Project Officer in a Non-formal Project of UNICEF for one year. Later he joined as a Lecturer in the N.B Science College affiliated to Osmania University in 1974. Later he joined the OU in 1981. He became Professor of Telugu in 1990, Chairman Board of Studies in 1992 and Head of the Department in 1994. Later he was appointed as Vice Chancellor of Telugu University (1999-2002). He was the youngest VC in India when he was chosen for the post. In 2001, he also took an additional charge as an acting VC for Dravidian and Kakatiya Universities simultaneously. After completing his term as the VC of Telugu University, he came back to his parent university, where he served as the Dean Faculty of Arts (2004-2006). After retirement in 2008, he served as UGC Emeritus Fellow during 2011-13 and 2015-17 for the second time.

Literary works

A prolific writer, Gopi has published 28 poetry collections so far.

Poetry

Year Name of the book Name of the book (in English) Notes
1976 Tangedu Poolu Yellow Flowers Received Devulapalli Krishna Shastri Award
1982 Mylu Raayi Milestone Received Feeverse Front award
1989 Chitra Deepaalu Coloured Lights Received Telugu University Best Poetry Award
1993 Vanthena The Bridge Received Samatha Rachayitala Sangam Award
1998 Kaalaanni Nidraponivvanu I Will Not Let Time Sleep Received Sahitya Akademi Award
1998 Naaneelu The Little Ones A trend setter poetic form adopted by nearly 1000 poets.

So far 300 collections of this form have been published

2000 Chutta Kuduru Circular Rest on Head
2002 Enda Poda Trace of Sunshine
2002 Gopi Naneelu Gopi's The Little Ones
2002 Jala Geetham The Water Song A celebration of water as a prayer to water in the Vedic mode - bears testimony to this.

It has been described as path breaking and translated into 11 languages, including Persian

2004 Maro Aakaasham Another Sky
2005 Aksharallo Dhagdhamai Blazed Alphabets
2007 Deepam oka ekantham Lamp - A Solitude
2008 Goa lo Samudram Sea in Goa
2009 Vana Kadigina Cheekati Darkness Washed by Rain
2010 Maa Vuru Maha Kaavyam My Village an Epic
2011 Rathi Keratalu Rocky Tides
2013 Hridaya Rashmi Lustre of The Heart
2014 Malli Vithanamloki Back to the Seed
2015 Purivippina Oopiri An Unwinding of the Breath
2016 Akashamlo Matti Soil in the Sky
2017 Jeevana Basha Language of life
2018 Evari Dukhamo Adi Whose sorrow is that
2019 China Padyalu China Poems
2019 Vridhopanishat Old Age poems
2020 Prapancheekarona Prapancheekarona
2021 Manishini kalisinattundaali It should be like meeting a man
2023 Kriya Oka Jeevana Laya Action is a rhythm of life

Travelogues

  • Nenu Chusina Mauritius (1996)
  • Naa Cyprus Yaatra (2001)
  • America lo Telugu Yaatra (2002)
  • England lo 25 Rojulu (2004)
  • Germany lo Kavitaa Yaatra (2015)
  • Chinalo Kavitaa Yaatra (2019)

Literary criticism

  • Vyasa Navami (1986)
  • Gavaaksham (1992)
  • Niluvettu Telugu Santhakam Sinare Vyaktitvam (1992)
  • Saalochana - Peethikalu (1998)
  • Vyaasa Kalasham (2012)
  • Vyaasa Jignaasa (2016)

Other than these he wrote four travel books and many Translations[2]

Research

  • Vemana Vaadam - commentary (1979)
  • Prajaakavi Vemana (1980)
  • Vemana Padyaalu - Paris Prathi 1730 AD (1990)
  • Toli Parishodhakulu (1998)
  • Vemana Velugulu - commentary (2012)

Gopi's Ph.D thesis (1978) on ‘Saint Poet Vemana’ is a monumental work and is rated as the best research work among 20 of that kind in Telugu. This book has had 6 reprints till date.

Major editing

  • Jnanpith Awardee "Dr. C. Narayana Reddy Samagra Sahityam" (Complete Works of CNR) (2001)
  • Founder Editor of ‘Telugu Parishodana’, a research quarterly (1987)

Translations (into Telugu)

  • Gnaana Devudu (1985)
  • Tanmaya Dhooli (2012)
  • Maa Oori Nadi (2016)
  • Paagi (2016)
  • Vidyapati Pranaya Geetaalu (2016)

Other writings

  • Telugu Vaachakam - text book (1982)
  • Prayojana Vaachakam - adult literacy (1983)
  • Akshara Yaanam - column in India Today (2005)

Father of Naneelu

Gopi's sixth poetry collection ‘Naneelu’ (1998) (Epigrams like Hykus), means ‘The Little Ones’. This is a poetic form invented by N.Gopi, widely discussed and followed by hundreds of poets.[3] More than 1000 poets penned Naneelu and more than 500 poets published anthologies of Naanee collections. This 25 years old poetry form is a trendsetter in Telugu literature.[4] Gopi’s Naneelu have been translated into 12 languages, including Russian.

Awards and honours

Courtesy of his literary work and his service to Telugu literature, Gopi is a recipient of more than 50 awards. The following are some of his most recognized awards:

  • Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000 for his poetry collection, ‘Kaalanni Nidra Ponivvanu’ (I Will Not Let Time Sleep)
  • Jaini International Foundation Award for Jalageetham-Long Poem Rs.1 lakh Cash Award, 2018.
  • Dr. Prof. Kothapalli Jayashankar Award with 1 lakh cash prize, a prestigious award instituted by Bharat Jagruthi-2023
  • Krittitwa Samagra Samman Award (2023) by Bharatiya Bhasha Parishat, Kolkata
  • Freeverse Front award in 1980 for his poetry collection, ‘Mylurayi’ (Milestone)
  • Telugu University Award (1991)
  • Delhi Telugu Akademi Award (1999)
  • Award for outstanding service to literature and culture by Sri Annamacharya Project of North America, Chicago (SAPMA), USA (2001), and ‘Kala Ratna’ award by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh (2009)

Gopi has also served as an elected member of various literary bodies across India. Some of the most coveted positions include:

  • Member of A.P. state Sahitya Akademi (1984)
  • Telugu Advisory Board member, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (2002–03)
  • Telugu Advisory Board member, National Book Trust of India, New Delhi (2006 onwards)
  • Jury Member, Feature Films, Nandi Awards Committee A.P. Govt. (1996)
  • Chairman, Jury, T.V. Nandi Awards Committee, A.P. Govt. (2011)
  • Convener, Telugu Advisory Board and Member, Executive Council, Central Sahitya Akademi (2013 onwards)

Reception and influence

Gopi's literary essays are considered original and are widely quoted. His commentaries to Vemana’s poems are considered comprehensive and modern.[5] His prolific columns in various newspapers and magazines on subjects such as literature and current affairs were very well received. He is an orator and much sought after Personality among Telugu Literary and cultural Organizations.

Gopi's extensive work on Vemana's poetry and his large poetry collection have been the subjects of various academic research.

Research on Gopi’s works

So far, 5 Ph.D.s and 4 M.Phils have been awarded in various universities for research work on Gopi's literature.

Books on Gopi’s works

  • Gopi Kavithanusheelana - Articles by various critics (1998)
  • Gopi Kavithanusheelana by Dr. Dwana Sastry (2001)
  • Gopi Sahitya Vivechana - Collection of Essays by different scholars edited by Dr. S. Raghu (2010)
  • Jala Deepika - Essays on Gopi’s Jala Geetham, Edited by N. Aruna (2008)

Translations of Gopi’s poetry

Name of the book Translated into Translation name Translated by
Jala Geetam HindiJalgeetProf. P. Manikyamba (Hyderabad)
EnglishWater SongProf. Alladi Uma, Prof. M. Sridhar (Hyderabad)
MarathiPaan˜yaacha Gaan˜aNiranjan Uzgare (Mumbai)
GujaratiJalgeethRamanik Someshwar (Kutch)
UrduNagma-e-AabProf. Rahamat Yusuf Zai (Hyderabad)
KannadaJalageetheDr .Markandapuram Srinivasa (Bengaluru)
MalayalamJalageethamL. R. Swamy (Vishakhapatnam)
PunjabiJala GeetSwaranjit Savi (Ludhiana)
PersianNagma-e-AabAzeezuddin Ahmed Usmani (Delhi)
SanskritJala GeethamM. Narayana Sharma (Hyderabad)
OdiyaJala GittoBangali Nanda (Bhuvaneshwar)
Naaneelu HindiNanhe MuktakProf. P. Vijaya Raghava Reddy (Hyderabad)
HindiGopi Ke Nenhe MuktakProf. B. Satyanarayana (Hyderabad)
MarathiNaaneelu - Muktak ManikaSuresh Ganga Khedkar (Hyderabad)
EnglishNaaneelu - The Little OnesP. Jayalakshmi (Hyderabad)
SanskritNaaneelu - Nava MouktikahProf. M. Vijayasree (Hyderabad)
TamilNaanigalDr. Nalimela Bhaskar (Karim Nagar)
KannadaNanna NinnauProf. K. G. Narayana Prasad (Hyderabad)
RussianChikat Vorniye MiniyachuriProf. Vinay Totavar (Hyderabad)
GujaratiNaaneeluDr. Urvish Osavada (Junagadh)
UrduNanhi NazmeinProf. Fatima Begum (Parveen) (Hyderabad)
MalayalamNanee KavithakalL. R. Swamy (Visakhapatnam)
PunjabiNanhe MuktakDr. Chandar Trikha (Chandigarh)
Kalanni Nidraponivvanu HindiSamayko Sone NahidoongaR. Shantha Sundari (Hyderabad)
EnglishI Will Not Let Time SleepDr. J. Bhagyalakshmi (Delhi)
GujaratiSamayne Suva Naahi DounRamanik Someshwar (Kutch)
TamilKalathai Uranga VidamattenDr. Shiripi Balasubramaniyam (Coimbatore)
MalayalamSamayate Urangan AnuvadhikkukayillaL. R. Swamy (Vishakhapatnam)
MarathiKaalala Zopu Denar NahiDr. Kanchan Jatkar (Hyderabad)
KonkaniKallak Nihidunk DinvchonamRamesh Veluskar (Goa)
DogriSamen Gi De`ng Nie SounaPrakash Premi (Uddhampur)
MaithiliSamayken Suta Nai DebaiKavita Kumari (Mumbai)
KannadaKalavannu Nidrisalu BidenuDr. Divakarla Rajeshwari (Bengaluru)
PunjabiMain Samey Nu Son Nahi DevangeDr. Vanita (Delhi)
SanskritKaalam Na NidrapayaaniProf. G.S.R. Krishnamurthy (Tirupathi)
SindhiWaqt Khe Sumhan N DedusSrichand Dube (Junagadh)
UrduWaqt Ko Sone Nahee DoongaProf. Rahamat Yusuf Zai (Hyderabad)
NepaliSamayalai Needavan DeenechainaSiddharth Roy (Darjeeling)
OdiaSamayaku Soibaku DebiniBangali Nanda (Raipur)
AssameseSamay Tomak Shuboloy NidyuPurabi Bora (Guwahati)
MeiteiMatambu Eina ToomhanloiSalam Tomba (Imphal)
BengaliSomay Ke Ghamate Debona AamiMandara Mukhopadhyay (Kolkata)
KashmiriBa Dim-na Waqtas Thami Gatch-naRanjoor Tilgami (Telagam Pattan, Kashmir)
BodoBubli Khou FutuliUttam Chandrabrahma (Goneshpo Aathar, Karbee (Assam))
SantaliOktobanjapid OchhovaamaDamayanthi Bisra (Mayur Bhanj (Odisha))
RajasthaniMai Bagat Me Jakni LevanadoolaaDr. Chandra Prakash Deval (Ajmer, Rajasthan)
Other Translations UrduGopi Ki Sow NajmeProf. Ghiyas Mateen (Hyderabad)
HindiGopi Ki KavitaR. Shantha Sundari (Hyderabad)
EnglishAnother SkyProf. C. Vijayasree, Prof. Subbarayudu (Hyderabad)
HindiGoa, Mai Aur SamudrR. Shantha Sundari (Hyderabad)

See also

References

  1. "Akademi Awards (1955-2016)". Sahitya Akademi - National Academy of Letters. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. "Welcome to Muse India". museindia.com.
  3. "'Naani technique become popular'". The Hindu. 23 August 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  4. "Naneelu turning point in Telugu literature". The Hans India. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  5. Rao, Govindaraju Ramakrishna (19 July 2012). "Vemana demystified". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
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