Sri Somaraju Ramanuja Rao(1896-1934), a name that definitely be a most widely known one amongst the Telugu playwrights. He secured a great place by writing a number of historical, mythological and social playlets. And some of his plays tasted the ire of the British government as they had provoked national ideology in those days.
But most of the people don't know about the great writer that he had brought up and educated at Dummugudem and Bhadrachalam, although he born in Vijayawada. Their ancestor's home still at Dummugudem but in worn-out condition. His most famous drama is "Rangoon Rowdy", every drama lover might have known it. Without it, the history of Telugu drama would never be completed.
He penned stories along with almost fifty dramas. Also played a significant role in the Library movement. Somaraju participated in the freedom movement and met Tilak,Gokhale and Gandhiji in course of it. To avoid the arrest by the British government, he fled to Burma (Now Myanmar) and passed away there with ill health.
This generation hardly knew about him and his contributions to the Telugu literature and freedom movement. He lived only 38 years and brought laurels to the area of Dummugudem, nearby Bhadrachalam.
----- Murthy Kvvs
Good to know about such heroes.
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