Telangana is a state in southern India. In the capital of Hyderabad, the Charminar is a 16th-century mosque with 4 arches supporting 4 towering minarets. The monument overlooks the city's long-running Laad Bazaar. Once the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, the sprawling Golconda Fort is a former diamond-trading center. In the city of Warangal, the centuries-old Warangal Fort features carved stone towers and gateways. [Google]
Here are some renowned poets and writers from Telangana:
Agasthya Kavi: Agasthya Kavi composed 74 works of poetry in Sanskrit in the 14th century. He is from Warangal.
Mah Laqa Bai: Mah Laqa Bai (7 April 1768 – August 1824), born Chanda Bibi, and sometimes referred to as Mah Laqa Chanda, was an Indian 18th century Urdu poet, courtesan and philanthropist based in Hyderabad. In 1824, she became the first female poet to have a diwan (collection of poems) of her work, a compilation of Urdu Ghazals named Gulzar-e-Mahlaqa, published posthumously. She lived in a period when Dakhini (a version of Urdu) was making its transition into the highly Persianized Urdu. Her literary contributions provide insight on such linguistic transformations in southern India. She was an influential female courtesan of the Deccan; the Nizam, ruler of Hyderabad, appointed her to the omarah (the highest nobility), and as a close affiliate at the court. In 2010, her memorial in Hyderabad, that houses her tomb, was restored using funds donated by the Federal government of the United States.
Mah Laqa was influenced by the literary work of mystic poet Siraj Aurangabadi (1715–1763),:121:4109 and learned poetry from Nawab Mir Alam who later became the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State. Her first language was Urdu, and she was also fluent in Arabic, Persian and Bhojpuri languages.:118 & 123 She was the first woman poet to author a diwan, a complete collection of Urdu ghazals. The collection, named Gulzar-e-Mahlaqa, comprises 39 ghazals, and each ghazal consists of 5 couplets. The collection was published in 1824 after her death.:121–2 The Diwan e Chanda is a manuscript collection of Mah Laqa's 125 Ghazals, compiled and calligraphed by her in 1798. It was signed and gifted to Captain Malcolm on 18 October 1799, during a dance performance at Mir Alam's residence. It is now preserved in the British Museum.
Her Nom de plume was Chanda. The Urdu words Bulbul (songbird), Gul (rosebud) and Saqi (one who serves wine) recurred as themes in her ghazals.:121–2 Her popularity in reading poetry made her the first poetess of the region to participate and present her poetries in a mushaira (poetic symposium) which was earlier reserved for men. Along with her poetry, sometimes she sang the songs composed by the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah and Sultan of Bijapur Ibrahim Adil Shah II.:81 & 129 From her Diwan of 39 Ghazal collection, one Ghazal "Hoping to blossom (one day) into a flower" translates as:
Hoping to blossom (one day) into a flower,
Every bud sits, holding its soul in its fist.
Between the fear of the fowler and (approaching) autumn,
The bulbul’s life hangs by a thread.
Thy sly glance is more murderous than arrow or sword;
It has shed the blood of many lover.
How can I like a candle to thy (glowing) cheek?
The candle is blind with the fat in its eyes.
How can Chanda be dry-lipped. O Saqi of the heavenly wine!
She has drained the cup of thy love.
Suddala Hanmanthu: His Telugu folk song, Palletoori Pillagada, mobilised the people of his region. It was included in the movie, Maa Bhoomi (1980) He was born in Paladugu village, Mothkur mandal, Yadadri bhuvanagiri district, Telangana. Suddala Hanmanthu's poetry inspired the people of the Telangana to participate in the communist-led peasant struggle against the oppressive rule of feudal lords and the Nizam. Along with his contemporary leaders Gurram Yadagiri Reddy, famous communist leader, he fought against Doras and Gadi rule. This struggle was known in Indian history as the Telangana Rebellion. His themes were freedom from the bonded labour known as Vetti Chakiri, democracy, liberation, equality and communism. His Telugu folk song, Palletoori Pillagada, mobilised the people of his region. It was included in the movie, Maa Bhoomi (1980). The movie Rajanna, starring Nagarjuna is inspired by Sri Suddala Hanumanthu's life.
Kapilavai Lingamu