Dasaradhi Rangacharya

Dasaradhi Rangacharya, popularly known as Daasarathi (24 August 1928 – 8 June 2015), was an Indian writer and politician.^[1] He was an active member of the Telangana movement against the autocratic rule of the Nizams. He went underground and took part in the Telangana Armed Struggle till Hyderabad was liberated.^[2]

Rangacharya was born in Chinna guduru Village of khammam district. He was rusticated from the school and was forced to go to Vijayawada to pursue higher education.

He initially worked as school teacher and later joined in secundrabad Municipal Corporation for 32 years.

He wrote Chillera Devullu, Modugupulu and Janapadam.^[3] Out of those Chillera Devullu won a National Literature Award. He translated 4 Vedas, a precious of Hindu Literature, into Telugu langaguage and Jeevanayanam is his autobiography. Srimadramayanam and Sri Mahabharatam are also his works in Telugu.

Considering the feudal background and 'poor literacy rate', the two novels are widely accepted as the 'rarest of the great novels' produced in Telangana. He wrote the novels in the typical Telangana dialect, against the advice of traditional writers because he wanted them to be easily understood by people.

He died 8 June 2015 in Yashoda Hospital while he was undergoing treatment.

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