Kandukuri Veeresalingam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kandukuri Veeresalingam
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Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu
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| Born |
Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu
16 April 1848 |
| Died | 27 May 1919 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Social reformer, writer |
| Spouse(s) |
Bapamma Rajyalakshmi
(m. 1861) |
Kandukuri Veeresalingam (born April 16, 1848 – died May 27, 1919) was an important social reformer and writer from British India. He is often called the "father of the Telugu Renaissance movement." This means he helped bring new ideas and changes to the Telugu-speaking world.
Veeresalingam worked hard to improve society. He strongly supported the education of girls and women, which was not common at the time. He also fought for widows to be allowed to remarry, as this was usually forbidden. He spoke out against child marriage and the dowry system, where the bride's family had to pay money or gifts to the groom's family.
He opened a school in Dowlaiswaram in 1874. He also built the 'Brahmo Mandir' in 1887 and the 'Hithakarini School' in 1908 in Andhra Pradesh. His book Rajasekhara Charitramu is thought to be the very first novel written in Telugu literature. People often compare him to Raja Ram Mohan Roy, another great Indian reformer.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kandukuri Veeresalingam was born in Rajahmundry, British India. His family spoke Telugu. When he was just six months old, he got smallpox, a very dangerous disease back then. His father passed away when Veeresalingam was only four years old.
His uncle, Venkataratnam, then adopted him. Veeresalingam first went to a local Indian school. Later, he attended an English-medium school where his talents were quickly noticed. He was known for being kind and hardworking. He even won an award for being the best student. He finished his main schooling in 1869. His first job was as a teacher in a village called Korangi.
His Writings and Books
Veeresalingam was very good at several languages, including Telugu, Sanskrit, and Hindi. He believed that writing could be a powerful tool to fight against unfair social practices. Because of this, his books and plays often talked about social problems.
He wrote plays like Prahlada (1886) and Satya Harischandra (1886). His novel Rajashekhara Charita was published in 1880. It first appeared in parts in a magazine called Viveka Chandrika starting in 1878. This book is generally seen as the first novel written in the Telugu language. It was inspired by an Irish novel called The Vicar of Wakefield.
Some of his important works include:
- Rajasekhara Charitra: The first novel in Telugu.
- Viveka Vardhini: A journal he started in 1887, which focused on educating women.
- Satihita bodhini: A monthly magazine also for women.
- He also wrote the first drama in Telugu and the first Telugu books on science and history.
Joining the Brahmo Samaj
Kandukuri Veeresalingam was greatly inspired by the ideas of Brahmo Samaj leaders. These leaders included Raja Rammohan Roy, Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Keshab Chandra Sen. The Brahmo Samaj was a movement that aimed to reform society and religion.
Following their ideas, Veeresalingam started the first Brahmo Mandir (a place of worship and gathering for Brahmo Samaj followers) in Rajahmundry in 1887. This was the first one in Andhra Pradesh.
A Champion of Social Change
Helping Women Gain Rights
One of Veeresalingam's biggest goals was to promote education for women. At that time, it was considered wrong or "taboo" for women to go to school. In 1876, he started a journal called Viveka Vardhini. In this magazine, he published articles that discussed the problems women faced in his area. He first printed the magazine in Chennai (then called Madras). As his writings became more popular, he set up his own printing press in Rajahmundry.
During those days, it was also not accepted for widows to remarry. Veeresalingam strongly disagreed with this practice. He used old Hindu religious texts, called Dharma Sastra, to show that remarriage was allowed. People who opposed him held special meetings and debates. When they couldn't stop him with words, they sometimes even used violence.
But Veeresalingam did not give up. He started a "Remarriage Association." He sent his students across Andhra Pradesh to find young men who were willing to marry widows. He successfully arranged the first widow remarriage on December 11, 1881. Because of his efforts to reform society, Kandukuri became well-known across India. In 1893, the government recognized his important work by giving him the title of Rao Bahadur. Later, he also opened a home specifically for widows.
Political Involvement
Kandukuri Veeresalingam was one of the people who attended the very first meeting of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885. The INC was an important political party in India.
His Family Life
Kandukuri Veeresalingam married Bapamma Rajyalakshmi in 1861. At the time of their marriage, he was 14 years old, and she was 9.
Later Years and Legacy
Veeresalingam passed away on May 27, 1919, when he was 71 years old. A statue of him stands on the Beach Road in Vishakhapatnam, honoring his memory. In 1974, the Indian Postal service released a 25-paisa postage stamp to remember his contributions to society.
