C. H. Prahlada Rao facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
C. H. Prahlada Rao
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| Born |
C. Hanumantha Prahlada Rao
13 January 1923 Shimoga, Karnataka
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| Died | 17 February 2002 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | writer |
| Spouse(s) | Komalabai |
| Children | Mohan, Ravikumar |
C.H. Prahlada Rao (born January 13, 1923 – died February 17, 2002) was an Indian writer. He wrote in both English and Kannada languages. He was also a translator, a literary critic, and a journalist who worked independently.
Contents
About C.H. Prahlada Rao
His Early Life and Education
C.H. Prahlada Rao was born in Shimoga, Karnataka, India. He sadly lost his mother when he was very young. His father, C.R. Haunmantha Rao, lovingly raised him. Prahlada Rao went to school in Shimoga.
His father passed away before he could go to college. However, his teachers and family noticed how good he was at English. They told him to join the famous Maharaja's College in Mysore. There, he could earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Prahlada Rao graduated in 1948. He earned a B.A. (honors) degree. He also won three gold medals for his achievements in Hindi, English, and Sociology. He wanted to study for an M.A. degree in English. But he needed to start working to support himself.
His Career and Family
He moved to Bangalore and got a job as a clerk. This was at the Indian Coffee Board. He worked there for over 30 years until he retired in 1981. During this time, he also spent five years in New Delhi (from 1969 to 1974).
Prahlada Rao married Smt. Komala Bai. They had two children, Mohan C.P. and C.P. Ravikumar. People knew Prahlada Rao for being simple and friendly. He was also known for being honest and speaking his mind. He loved reading all kinds of books. His favorite books were biographies and autobiographies, which tell the stories of people's lives.
His Journey as a Writer
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Even as a young student, Prahlada Rao was inspired by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi. He started his writing career as a freelance journalist. He wrote for a weekly English magazine called Mysindia. Philip Spratt, the editor of Mysindia, liked Prahlada Rao's writing. He encouraged him a lot.
Prahlada Rao once wrote about his experience: "I wrote for MYSINDIA, the English weekly edited by Mr Philip Spratt. He treated me with unusual kindness. To make sure my articles were in the issue going to print on Tuesday, I could deliver them directly to the composing room. Spratt told me he only added a few commas to my writing, which he could do even when checking the final proofs. He taught me how to use commas correctly."
Prahlada Rao continued to write for Mysindia until it closed down. He wrote about Kannada writers, books, and artists. Later, he started writing for other major newspapers. These included Deccan Herald (Bangalore), Indian Express (Bangalore), Hindustan Times (Delhi), Evening News (Delhi), and The Hindu (Bangalore).
His writing career lasted for more than 60 years. He also wrote book reviews for Deccan Herald, Kannada Prabha, and Indian Express. He was known for having strong opinions but also giving helpful criticism. The Hindu newspaper asked him to write a series of articles. These articles were about Kannada writers and drama artists.
After retiring, C.H. Prahlada Rao wrote a weekly column. It was called "Between You and Me". This column appeared every Monday in The Hindu in Bangalore. It was very popular for over 25 years. He wrote about all sorts of topics, big or small. He often wrote about problems faced by everyday people. He used his writing to help solve these problems. He offered solutions to thousands of readers.
His Work as a Translator
C.H. Prahlada Rao was very good at both English and Kannada languages. Because of this special skill, Professor R.S. Mugali, a famous Kannada writer, asked for his help. They worked on a special project. Prahlada Rao would translate selected works from well-known Kannada poets. This was so people who didn't speak Kannada could read them.
Professor Mugali chose the poems and stories. Prahlada Rao then translated them into English. These translations were published in a book called "An Anthology of Indian Literature." This book was edited by K. Santhanam. C.H. Prahlada Rao translated many books. These were published by companies like India Book House, Rashtroththana Sahitya, and Navakarnataka Publications.
His Connection with All India Radio
C.H. Prahlada Rao had a long and successful relationship with All India Radio (Bangalore). Because he was so good at translating from Kannada to English, he often got requests. He would translate scripts for Kannada radio programs.
He was also invited many times to interview writers. He even hosted one episode of a popular music show. For this show, he chose film songs written by famous Kannada writers. He was also asked to be a speaker on various topics. He was even interviewed about how the city of Bangalore was changing.
Books He Wrote or Translated
Here are some of the books C.H. Prahlada Rao wrote or helped translate:
- Story of a Song - Ecstasy and Agony, Rashtroththana Sahitya Publications, 1972. This book is his translation of a Kannada book by Shivaramu.
- English translation of Gods and Goddesses by Maya Balse. Published by IBH Publications, 1973. This book shares Indian mythological stories for children.
- Diwan Rangacharlu, IBH Publications, 1974. This is a biography of the Diwan of Mysore, written for children.
- Nandalal Bose, Rashtroththana Publications, 1975. This is a biography of the painter Nandalal Bose, also written for children.
- Man the Divine - A Critical Exposition of Shoonya Sampadane, Mandagiri, Kalmatha, Adoni, 1979. This is a translation of a scholarly Kannada work.
- Sravanabelagola India Book House, 1981. This is an English translation of a book about Sravanabelagola, meant for children.
- Children's Mahabharatha, Publications Division, 1981. This is his Kannada translation of a book by Mathuram Bhutalingam.
- Grandfather's birthday, Navakarnataka Publications, 1981. This is a Kannada translation of short stories from Holland. It was reprinted in 2001.
- Dakshina Bharathada Kathamanjari, Janapada Academy, 1986. This is a collection of folk tales from Southern India.
- Janapada Kathegalu, Janapada Academy, 1989. This is a collection of folk tales from Karnataka.
- P.D. Agarwal - The Visionary, Transport Corporation of India, 1988. This is a biography of a businessman who started from humble beginnings.
