Sivaraju Venkata Subbarao

Butchi Babu was the pen name of an eminent Telugu short story writer, novelist and painter. His real name was Sivaraju Venkata Subbarao.

Early life

Butchi Babu was born in 1916 at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. He initially served as an English lecturer in Anantapur and Vizag. He also served in the All India Radio (AIR) from 1945 till his death in 1967. He did his master's degree (M.A.) in English literature.

Chivaraku Migiledi
Main article: Chivaraku Migiledi (novel)

The novel Chivaraku Migiledi is Butchi Babu's most famous work. The protagonist's quest involves him in a conflict with society and results in an agonizing reappraisal of life's values and finally leads him to self-knowledge, acceptance and peace.

Chivaraku Migiledi was serialized in the Telugu magazine Navodaya between 1946–47. It was published in book form in 1952. Chivaraku Migiledi, published by Adarsha Grandha Mandali in 1957, became a best seller. The book is now published by Visalaandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad.

Katyayani Vidmahe did extensive research on the novel in Chivaraku Migiledi - Manasika Samajika Jeevana Sravanti Navala Vimarsa (Kakateeya University, Warangal, India) and was awarded a doctorate (PhD) for it. The novel has been translated into English by Kakani Chakrapani in Four Classics of Telugu Fiction (Dravidian University, Kuppam, India).

Stories

Butchi Babu was a prolific short story writer. Two of his well-known short stories are "Nannu Gurinchi Kadha Vrayavoo?" ("Won't you write a story about me?") and "Ame Needa" ("Her shadow"). Some of the other stories include "Maratunana marapu raru", "Tadi mantaku podineellu", "Kaviraja virajitam", "Desam Nakichina Sandesam", "Nosantan Vrasina vrata", "Intayina into aidu", "Vudina chakram-vaadani pushpam", and "Naa gajumeda".

70 of his stories were published as seven volumes with the following titles:

  • Meda metlu
  • Nannu Gurinchi Kadhavrayavu
  • Kalalo jarina kanneru
  • Nirantara Trayam
  • Teerpu Cheshina vadike Siksha
  • Tadi mantaku podi neeluu
  • Jnana netram

Essays

Butchi Babu wrote essays in Telugu like "Nannu Marchina Pustakam" ("The Book That Changed Me") and "Neenu Shankarnarayan Nighantuvu" ("Me and Shankar Nararayan Dictionary"). A collection of his essays has been published by Visalaandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad.

Radio plays and stage dramas

Butchi Babu wrote several radio plays and stage dramas. Noted film personalities like Savitri and Pundarikakshayya acted in his stage dramas like Atma Vanchana.

Paintings

Butchi Babu was a prolific painter. Most of his paintings are landscapes. The paintings were inspired by what was around him and depict the country side of Southern India in 1940–1960. The painting shows All India Radio Office in Vijayawada in 1955.

Awards

Butchi Babu's Shakespeare Sahiti Paramarsa (A Critique on Shakespeare's literature) won him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award (awarded posthumously).

In a competition arranged by Andhra Kala Parishath, Kakinada, Butchi Babu received the best drama award from Prithviraj Kapoor for his drama Atma Vanchana.

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References

    Further reading
    • Dutta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian literature. 1. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 9788126018031.
    • Sisir Kumar Das. A History Of Indian Literature 1911-1956. Sahitya Akademi.
    • Krishnamurti, Bhadriraju; Vijayasree, C. Gold Nuggets: Selected Post-independence Telugu Short Stories by Bhadriraju Krishnamurti.
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