CHAP'ilm Ill

VEE~SALINGAMz SOCIAL AND POLITICAL IDEAS

i20

VEEJWSALINGAM 1 SOCIAL AND POLI'l'ICAL IpEAS

Reform movements 1D ADdbra, during tbe second half

of tbe i9tb century, were associated witb tbe name of

KaadUkur1 Veeresal1ngam (1848-i919). He initiated aDd

led these movemeuts providiDg them witb tbe necessary

ideological content and organizational form. ne was a

pioneer of public life in ADdhra as one wbo botb inau­

gurated a new era iD Telugu literature and strengthened

the nascent but inchoate elements of social reform so

as to give tbem tbc i'oroe of a movement .i

i. Vecresaliogam was described by several scholars as tbe one tvbo swam "against Time's current aDd chaDgell tbe current life in Audbra, witb no predecessor iD his line and no successor of equal stoture0 • see Iswara Dutt, 0Pioo~er of Modernism iD ADdhra" 1D swatantra doted i7 April i948. Tbe idea tbat be was tbe genesis of modem movements in ADdbra - social aod literary­was tbe UDODimous tbeme of a number of 'l'elugu scbollfs. For example, see tbe article of c.R.Reddy, "Veoresa-11Dgam Pantulu garun, published in ADdbrapatrika ('l'elugu dally), June 2i, 1919' whereto bo compared Veeresalingam 'o Lord Brabma \Lord creator) vis-a-vis modem A:ndbra. The same opinion was expressed by Arudra, a leading modem poet and literary historian and crt tic in bis article "Gadya TS.kkana, samgba Samskartba Kaodukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu" in Vlkasalabari ('l'elugu), (&Yderabad, 1914), P.i16. see also Aaubrapatrlka (anoual number) 19i9, P.52. Tbis estimate of Veeresaliogam, however, sounds bagiographic and uncritical. For, one man cannot be tbe genesis of movemdlts. In fact, as noticed in tbe last section oi' chapter II, tbere were stroy but strlDg trends of ideas o£ social reform in ADdbra prior to tbe emergence o£ Veeresalingam. Also there were predecessors to Veeresalingam who introduced ncv f rms into tbe Telugu literature. This aspect will be discussed in tbe forthcoming pages. Nevertheless, tbe uniqueness of Veeresa­lingam lay in oonsolidat1Dg tbcse trends to develop tbem into movements.

121

Born 1D a Niyogi brahmin2 family and by profession

a Telugu Jl&ndit (language-teacher) Veeresalingam bad

undergone a great transformation before be undertook

various reform activities. AD analysis of this chunge

as well ao a discussion of bis iueas would help us 1D

appreciating tbe account of reform movements which we

propose to present in tbis aDd subsequent chapters.

Veeresal1Dgam' a aaoestors uere employed as Douans

and Desbpondees - the revenue officials - under Muslim

rule. some of tbem were even estate-bolders. 3 Veoresa-

lingam' s grand£ ather vas a Dewan under the local estate

holders of tbe Godavari district and was known for bis

pbilantbropy and liberal patronage of poets and soholars.4

His grnndfatber, during tbe last stages of bis life, went

wi tbout a job and spent much of bis savings on tbe marriage

of bis eldest son, and b,y tbe t~e of bis deatb, tbe family

bad just enougb to maintain itself.6

His fatber and uncle uere, according to Veeresa­

li.Dgamp well versed in Telugu and bad a working Jmowl edge

2. Niyogis were tbose Brahmins who took to secula1· and worldly occupati~ns in life and bad come to occupy tbe key posts in administration from tbo days of the MUslim conquest of ADdbra. Tbey realiaed tbc 1mport11Dee of English education as means s to secure positions of influence 1D tbe Government snd took to it early in ADdbra. A detailed account of Niyogi brabmins was given in Chapter J under tbe beading •caste system•.

3. Vecresaltngam, sweeya, op.cit., P.I, P.2. 4 • .!!!.!:.!! • , p • 3 • a. Xbid., P.to. Xt appeared tbot at t~es, tbey were forced

tod1spose of a few items of movable and iiiiiilovable property for tbe maint enaoce of tbe family.

122

of EDglisb too. His fatber was employed for some time

1D tbe office of tbe District Collector and then joined

tbe St!rYice of the Rajah of Pithapur. EVentbough bis

ancestors were fanatical Saivaites (lingayots), bis great

grandfather married a girl of Vulshnavaite sect (among

the smartba Niyogls) und gave up the lingayat coste

eymbol. This reform trend, thougb appearing insigni­

ficant, was claimed by Veeresalingam as having influenced

6 him even as a boy.

Veeresalingam was educated in the traditional pial

school system where learning was done b.f rote. He learnt

elementary arithmetic nnd read conventional Telugu books

like Satakas7 on morals and acquired a preliminary

knowledge iD Sanskr1t. 8 As tbere were no examination-

oriented schools, be was asked to learn work ln the local

Govermnent Revenue office to qualify for a job. During

this period be was introduced to the fundamentals of

English b.Y bis uncle.9 After 1858 the certificate­

awarding scbools were started and Veeresalingam was sent

to tbe Government District school at Rajabmundry (in 1860)

6. Ibid., P.T. -1. Sataka is tbe composition of one hundred verses (some times a little more or less) instructing people mainly in morals and good behaviour. In Telugu there are mauy Satakas among wbicb Vemano sataka, sumati sataka are bigbly popular even to this day.

s. Veoresalingam, Sweeya, op.c1t., P.I, PP.16-17.

9. Ibid., P.17. -

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where be stuu1ed for the college entrance course and

successtull~ finished it 1D 1870, qualifying himself for

admission into tbe first year of the college course.iO

As tbe first year college course was abolished in Rajah­

mundry iD i870 , 1i be could not pursue bis studies further

and joined tbe Rajabmundr,y Government District school as

an ass1staat teacher 1D 1871.12

As a student of tbe Government school, besides

acquiring a good knowledge of Telugu literature, be

10. A district school was first established at Rajabmundry by tbe Govermnent in 1853 0 oocre English was taught. Mr.Black was tbe first headmaster of the school. c.M. Barrow auoceeued Black as headmaster and it was in his time tbat tbe present Arts College bUildings were constructed and a High School was located, the name of the District school being then changed to Provin­cial school. Veeresalingam was a student o~ this school under Barrow. See c. Lakshminarastmbam's article, "RaJabmunary s Men and Institutions", publi­shed in Godavari Pltsbkaram souvenir (Rajahmundry, 1944), P.M.

11. Tbe College witb the first year course was again commenced in 1871 and subsequently the B.A. classes were opened iD 1876. E.P.Metcalfe was the Principal of the Arts College for 25 years. What Dr.Miller, Mr.Powell and Mr.Porter uere to soutb India Ul matters of education, tbat was Metcalfe to tbe Northern Ci~ cars and the ADdbra region. Perhaps tbe greatness of Mr.Metoalfe lay in the fact that he did not confine his activities to his inatitution alone but took a lively interest in various social and cultural acti­vities of the d~ creattug and providing a favourable atmospb~re for the students to shape themselves. Metcalfe was also responsible for the estoblishmcnt of tbe Training College in 1894 Olld be was the l>rincipal o£ that college till bis retirement lD 1896, the period during which tbe reform activity at Rajabmundry was at ita peak. see Ibid.

12. Veereealingam, sweeya, P.I, op.cit., P.66.

i24

studied Englisb und Histor.y, Geography and Scienoe.i3

one does not know for certain what books be rend in

English. However, tbe course content of the middle

schools of tbat period (upto tbe 8th standard) included

Bradshaw's English Reader - V, Mannual' s English Grammar,

Lethbridge's History of India, collier's History of

England, Geography Mammal aDd Mathematics comprising

.Aritb..tD18tio, Algebra and Geometry.14 It may be conclu­

ded tbat the college entrance course (bigber than the

middle school course) done b.f Veeresalingam should bove

contained adVanced courses on Indian and ll)aropean

histories and probably some clastiiOs of English litera­

ture and elements of western Political Philosophy olso.

Born and brought up 1D an orthodox Brahmin family,

Veeresa11Jlgam, during the early part of bis career, was

prone to orthodoxy in life and letters. His faith in the

validity of the Vedic and otber Mantras was absolute. 15

In bis writings be displayed a bias for orthodoxy in

style as well as content. De wrote two satakos in Telugu

i3. He mentioned in his autobiography that be was parti­cularly good in Mathematics, History and Cartography for wbicb be was specially awarded prizes and books • .!.!!.!!! • • p • 45 •

14. C.Laksbminarosimbam's autobiography, op.cit., P.35.

15. Veeresalingam stated tbat be was mucb under the influence of Brabmanical priests. After a ceremo­nious batb in t~e river Godavari, be UGed to visit tbe nearby Sbiva temple and applied sacred ashes (vibbut1) all over the body. on specia1 festival days of religious significance like Sbivarotbri, be used to fast the Wbol~ day. See Veeresalingam, sweeya, P.I, op.c1t., PP.19-20.

125

during his early literary career which clearly reflucted

his orthodoxy. He addressed them to the presidin~

deitie& of tgo temples iD Rajabmundry. 16

ftO&MATIVE INFLUENCES

In an attumpt to evaluate the influences on Veeresa­

lingam, wbo led an orthodox life earlier, it becomes n•!Ce-

ssary to consider tbe time spirt t and the ideL1ls of social

justice wbicb made bim devote his attention to tbe eradi-

cation of social evils. We bave no evidence to prove . whether any personal or emotional factors contributed to

a chonge in bim. With regard to tbe influences of Brahmo

movement in Bengal and thu Prarthana SamaJ of Bombay, two

mutually opposite views uere expressect.11 It was true that

16. Veeresalingam, tbougb a saivaite b.Y birth, sang tbe praises of Vishnu (iD tbe ~ays of strong rivalry between tbe two denominations of Saivaites and Va1shnava1tes) ln one of bis satakas for wbicb be clatmed credit for bis liberality of outlook.~.,P.57.

i7. A.Ramapat1 Rao stated tbat Veeresalingam was influenced by tbe Brabmo refol1Ders of Bengal thougb tbe prevailing social conditions bad a deep impact on bim. see Introduction in A.Ramapat1 Rao, ed. Kanaukuri Veeresa­lingam Diaries and Letters (Telugu), (Vijayauada, 1970). A similar view was expressed by bia earliest biogra­pher T.Venkata SUbba Rao, Sri Kandukuri Veeresal n kavi Cbaritramu (Telugu), RaJabmundr,y, 1894), P.41. Veeresaitngam was regularly in touch witb the articles published in 'Tatwabodbini•, a Journal published from Madras propagating social reform ideas. It was publi­shed .from 1884 to 1870 on behalf of the Veda S&I:J&j (precursor to Brabmo Samaj in Madras). Veeresalingam mentioned in bls autobiography tbat be consulted arti­cles on the problem of widow remarriage published in tbis journal for bis discourse on tbe same topic. see Veeresa~1ngam, Sue!fa, P.I, op.cit., P.160. ~so see A.Ramapati Rao, Veeresalingam, b§.cit.,P.16. AD opinion contrary to this nas expressed M. Venkatarong<1iab in an artlcl e uri t t CD in tbe souvenir Yugapurushudu Vcere­talingam (hereafter re£erred to as Yugapurushudu), ilyderatiad, n.u.), P.33. lie stated tbat Veeresalingam

was influenced neitbor b.Y Bengal nor Maharashtra re£ormers anu the interest in re£orm was his own.

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Veeresalingam•s discriminating and rational mind was

doubting and questioning tbe superstitions and retrograde

customs in society. Be declared tbat be was not prepared

to be led blindly b.f any established faith or hearsay

and desired to go into tbe truth of tbe matter. Further­

more, be stated tbat if be became convinced of a thing

be would pursue it s1ncerely.18 At this stage in bis

life uhen bis faith in tbe accepted customs and beliefs

was tottering, we learn from bis autobiography tbat be

borrowed from one of bis friends a volume of tbe collected

speeches of Kesbubcbandra sen. "After reading those

speeches ~ faith in certain estoblisbed truths was

18. Veeresalingam, Sweeya, P.I, op.cit., P.58. To illustrate tbis aspect of bis personality be cited a fev instances .from bis early life nben be followed this attitude. Against the popular belief or superstition, be did not cut doun tbe banana tree in bis backyard when it flowered at its stem and instead be allowed it to bear fruit and ate it against tbe warnings tbat it would bring misfortUJJe. He took up tbe beadmastersbip at Korangi (a place near Rajabmundry) on a new moon dey muob against bis mother's vis& ubo bewailed 1 t as wanton court iJ:Ig of disaster. Again in tbe case of a wttcb-doctor, Who was called 1D to cure bis mother from hysterical fits, wb1cb she attributed to evil spirits possessing bur, Veeresalingam refused to yield to his demands for more mone.y. The witch-doctor threatened to kill bim by bis Black Magic at wbicb Veeresolingam was not frightened. Instead, tbe witch-doctor fell seriously 111 from self-induced fright and bad to be rescued by Veeresalingam .from bis death. See ll!.!!•, PP.69-73.

12'1

sbakenn. 19 Furtbe~ore, tbe arrivalofateacher b.Y name

Atmuri Laksbminarasimbam, a Brahmo b.Y faith, to the

District School iD Rajabmundry strengthened bis changing

convictions towards reform. 20 Under bis influence

19.

20.

Ibid., P.60. He borrowed the volume from Cballapalli kiDgaiab. Kesbubcbondra Sen visited Madras in 1864 and delivered a few lectures. This created a atir in the public not only of Madras but of cortain mofussil towns as well. This visit coincided uith the begin­nings of Brabmo movement in the Madras Presidency. !•,or, one Sridbarulu Naidu, after this, left for Calcutta and stayed there for four years at the Brabmo Samaj beadquaters and returned to Madras as •anusbtanio•. see for example Keshubchandra Sen, Dia in Madras and Bomb from 9th Febru to Stb April 1864 aloutta, 1887 , cited in J.G.Leonard, "Kandukuri Veeresalingam, 1848-1919_, a Biogt apby of an Indian social Reformer"(xerox copy), Doctoral 'l'hesis, University of Wisconsin, 19'10, P.64. Atmuri Laksbminarasimbam came to Rajabmundl"f from Machi­lipatnam (it was then called Macbili Bondar) where be taught in a Mission Sobool. Be worked in Rojabmundry till tbe year 1871. Veeresalingam and a few other like-minded students of his olass were closely associ­ated with blm. See o.V.SUbbar~a Gupta, op.cit., PP.20-21. See also in tbis connection, for further biographical details, an article, in Telugu, "Atmuri Lakshminarasimba somayajulu" b.Y G.Nagesuara Rao in S.SUndaram ed. Vi.1iiia Vaisya Pratyeka Samchika (Vijaya­wada, 197'1). The tiuence of fiiibmos from Dengel, and in particular Kesbubcbandra sen, on Veercsalingam was pointed out b.Y D.V.siva Rao in bis article "Sri Veeresalingamn, in ADdbraprabba (Telugu daily published from Vijayawada), November 11', 1968. He pointed out, bowever, tbat Veeresalingam uas not changed 1D his oonvlotions eventbougb a cbange occurred in sen after 1875. Veeresalingam idcnttfi ed himself wi tb SBdb&rana Brabmo Samaj later. That be bad developed great res­pect and admiration towards Bengali reformers, and in particular to Vi~asagar, could be seen from the fact that in b~s abort novel, "Cbandramatbi Cbaritran, the heroine, ~bandramatbi, was educated b,y a teaober ou~ed Vidya samudra ('Samudra' is a synont.m o.t' Sagara). see Veeresal~gam, Collected works(hereafter refereed to os Col.tVorks), Vol.v,'(najabmundry, i953). Further­more, be wrote abort biographies of Ishwarachandra Vidyasagar and Raja Rammobun Roy (incomplete) and published them in his journals 'Satyasamvardban1' and 'Cb intamani • •

128

Veeresali~~gam aDd a feu of bis co-students formed into a

society to discuss social issues once in a week. 21

Rajabmundry, os we have observed earlier, bad among

its population, elements of enlightenment. 22 It might be

dUe to tbe progress made in the economic sphere after the

construction of Godavari anicut or the early establishment

of Government SChool aDd College, the judicial and revenue

establisbm~nts, and tbe activities of missionaries. AD

English lady stctioDed at Rajabmundry during the 1830's tn

21. Veeresolingam, Sweeya, P.I, op.cit., P.6o. The meetings used to take place behind doors and they were mockingly oalled •meet1Dg wallahs' b.f tbe public. one or two close associates of Veeresalingam, in his reform acti­vities later, like Aluri LakshmiDarasimbam, were also members of this group.

22. Towards tbe close of tbe Chapter II, discussing the pre-Veeresalingam Reform trends, a person by name Samineni Mutboo Narasimmab Naidoo from Raj abmundry was mentioned. Be urote a book "Bltasoocbanee" pleading for social reforms. This book was found iD Veeresalingam•s personal librar,y wbioh constitutes a major part of the present Rajabmundry Town Hall Library. Hls colloct1oD consists of both EDgl1Sb aDd Telugu books among tvbich mention may be made of encyclopaedias, literary histories, histories of different nations and books on social histories. StaJJdard books on Brabmo Samaj are also found in good number. we find in these books tho pencil markings and marginal writings of Veeresalingam. Wbat remains today is only o part of bis buge library, whiob un­fortunately was damaged by tbe Godavari floods in 1952. Consequent!~ bta correapondance (with Mabadev Govind Ranade, Isbwaraobandra Vidyasvgar, Panutt Sivonatba sastry, Babu Uemacbandra Sarkar and otbe~s) oas lost to posterity. Wbateve~ remained, mostly in an unconnected and fragmented form, of his diaries and letters, bas been collected and edited b.Y A. Ramapati Rao, op.ctt.

i29

one of ber letters gives credence to this view. 23 In this

context, attention may be drawn to tbe influence of \'iestern

education and tbougbt on Veeresalingam und bis comments on

tbis subject. Tbougb tbe spirit of reform did not affect

all section~ of tbe educated community equally, it did

create, ot least, among some of tbem a general recognition

of tbe existing social evils and a need for nn analysis

of the Indian socio-religious conditions. on tbc transfor­

mation of ideas among bis fellowmen, Veeresalingam wrote:

"It is admitted b.f one and all that Western lore has worked

wonders among the natives of India. we are quite aware

tbat English education bos rendered natives more refined

in tbeir manners, bas dispelled tbe mist of superstition

from tbe minds of several of them if not maD)' and bas

considerably developed tbeir moral calibre whenever it is

23. "Tbe otbor day we bad a visit from a very intelli­gent native.... Be told us be bad tbree daughters and a son, and tbat be uas determ1Ded not to be influenced b,y the Hindu prejud1c1es against female education, so be bad taugbt bis daughters to read and urite ••• Englisb ••• but be bad met witb a great deal of trouble and opposition from bis relations on account of bis innovatioD--especially from bis wife, wbo for a long time allowed no peace or quiet iD tbe bouse ••• n. See A Lady o9.oit., P.i38, letter from RaJabmUDdry, Nov •. _. 19, 18 8. Tbe signs of an earlier enlightenment could also be seen in other towns l~e Macbilipatnam whicb was similar in locale and otber influences, as lmjahmundry was.

130

properly 1mpartedn. 24

24.

Tbe start1Dg of a journal, •Vivekavarbani', of bis

Vivekavardbanif october 1875 (a bi-lingual journal edited and pub isbeu by Veeresal1Dgam). susobban Sarkt1r quoted Rabindrauatb Tagorc who held a similar view \'lith regard to tbe "magic touch of western culture that roused BeDgal from its torpor", and stated that tbougb tbe Bengal re£ormers like RammobUD and Vidyosagar found quoting Hindu scri-ptures in defence of their reforms, their "obvious original mndel was western liberalism". See SUso-~ban Sarkar (General President's address, MUzaffar-pur, 1972), Indian History Congress, Proceedings of tbe Thirty Third Session (New Delhi, 1973), P.l3. However, Veeresalingam grew cautious in bis views on tbe influence of education (including English education) in general on men's minds motivating tbem towards reform. He stated, "you often bear it is stated tbat education is tbe best remedy for tbe evils from 1vbicb our society is suffering. If by education you mean that which is imparted in your schools and colleges, this statement does not express the whole truth •••• for, we know the majority of our education men are as backward in espousing tbe cause of social reform in practice as tbeir uneducated countrymen... A friend uas telling me •••• tbat edu­cation, while it makes good men better, makes bad men worse. Tbis epigram •••• must ••• be accepted wttb a good deal of reservation; but observation will show you tbat literary education is often double edged weapon •••• this education ••• must be supplemented first, by a familiarity wttb tbe ideas of reform, and secondly, by tbe influence of personal example". See the presi­dential address of Veeresalingam delivered on the occasion of tbe 12tb Indian Social Conference bold at Madras in 1898~ published in C.Y.Cbintamani, ed. Indian Social Reform (Madras, i901), PP.204-5. Veeresa­lingam by 1898, might bave experienced apatb;y, if not non-cooperation, from a number o~ educated people in bis reJ:orm activity which prompted bim to adopt tb1s vieu. Also ot interest is bis ideas on contents of eduoatioD wbicb, according to bim, should be rt:form-ori cnt ed.

131

own iD 1874 could be considered a landmark 1D the lite

of Veeresaltngam. It marked the beginning of his public

11!e as be joined issue witb the orthodox sections in

ADdbradesa over uomen•s education. Thus one can observe

the growth of 1Dtellectual oouviotions in him and dedi­

cation to the cause of eradication of social evils.25

'Vivekavardbani ~ to start w1 th, was o m<.Jntbly. 26

lD 1876 it became fortnightly and lcter weekly. 27

It was not, strictly speaking, the first journal io

Telugu-prtor to tbat about balt-a-dozen journals exi­

sted wbicb were either news-sheets or periodicals with

25. However, Veeresalingam emerged only in tbe year 1878 as an active and committed social reformer when be started tbe social Reform Association in BajablllWldry aDd took up tbe couae of widow remarriages and otbor activities.

26. The first issue was published from Dowaleswaram, and, ~11 a press was acquired, it was printed at Madras. Besides •Vivekardbant•, Veeresalingam published a few otber journuls in Telugu, namely 'Hasyaeanjivnni' (1876), •satb1hitabodhin1' (1883), 'Cb1ntaman1' (1891), 'Satyasamvardbani' (1891), 'Telugu zenana' (1904), ond •~atyavad1ni((1905).

27. Veeresalingam, Suegya, op.oit., P.I, P.78. Also see K.n.sesbag!ri Reo, eel. studies in tbe History o~ Telugu Journalism (New Velhi, 1966), P.i42.

132

a limited purpose2~ and yet tbe first journal devoted

to a tborougb-going social regeneration.29 It uas

more or less, a one-man tJbow. Veeresaliqam was its

life and so~-editor, printer, publ1Mbcr, proof-reader

all rolled into one. He conducted tbis journal single

handedly for several years, eventhough the promised

help never came from his friends and ~ell-wishers,

fighting against odds 1D those days of early Telugu

journal1sm.30 The journal bad a laudable motto, a verse

28. Tbe first journal 1D Telugu was •~atyadootba' started b.Y Christian missionaries in 1835. It was folloued b.Y •Vrittantint• (1838), •vartamana Taran~ini' (1842), 'Hitavad1' (1862), 'Sri Yakshlni' (1863), 'Tat6abodbini' (1864), •sujanaranjani' (i864), 'ADuhra Bbasbasanjivani' (1871), 'PUrusbarthaprada­ytnt• (1872) 1 See Bangorey's article "Nellore Patrikala C6aritra0 (Telugu) in V1kramasimhapur1 Mandala Sarwaswamu (Nellore, i963). See also N. Venkata llao's article 0 Pracb1namdhra Vortha Patri­kalun, Bbarati (Telugu montbly, Madras), May 1929.

29. As a journalist be gave a better and more finished shape, in an original way, to material which, in lesser bands, possessed neither finesse nor work­manship. See 0 0ne of the Great Men of India" on article by G.n.s., swatantra (an English weekly ..... published from Madras), April i7, 1948. Also see K.PUnnalab's article op.cit.

so. T.Venkata Subba Rao, op.cit., P.63. Leonard men­tioned tbe names of three merchaDts from Rajabmundry as partners of tbe journal and tb~ir investment, according to him, was for financial reasons. One does not know bow long tbe,y contiDued their associ­ation with tbe journal. However, in 181'5 a press was purchased and installed in Veeresalingam's bouse. see G.J.Leonard, of.oit., P.76. Also see Veeresalingam, swegra, P. , op.cit., PP.94-95.

i33

taken from tbe Telugu Mabobbarata, 0 Do to others as

you would bave them do to you.n 3i Tbe two maiD aims

of tbe journal uere, viz., (1) to increase tbe moral

tone of tbe people and thus work towards tbe social

progress, and (2) tbe improvement of the Telugu langu­

age.32 Veeresalingam made it an ef rective weapon refle­

cting public opinion. It served tuo purposes simultane­

ously. Firstly, it was tbe medium through wbicb Veereaa-

lingam propagated b1s ideas of reform giving suitable

replies to .. bis crt tios. Secondly, be made uoe.of this

organ to Whip up and organise publto opinion agoinst tbe

growing corruption and immorality iD tbe administration.

Be attacked official high-handedness as well as prosti­

tution and concubinage prevailing in soclety.33 Soon it

31. ~·t P.78. 32. Ibid., PP.80.81. -33. J.Gurunatbam, Vceresalin&am• the Founder of Telu&!

Publlo life (Rajabmundry, 1911), P.43. outlining his task os editor and tbe hardships be faoed, Veeresalingam wrote in one of tbe early issues of •Vevekavardbant • s "If bribery is condemned, tbe local officials would be furious; if concubinage is disapproved of, the rakes of the tow.a would become angry; 1f dead customs are ori t1o1secl and attacked the ignorant and tbe illiterate would feel unhappy; if tbe external forms of religion (rituals) are denounced, tbe priestly classes would be disJ•leased~ if tbe journal were to justi­fy its existence, it bas to defy snob a wide range of people8 • See Veercsaltngam, Bne!Ya• P.I, op.cit., P.81.

134

becfliDe a guardian angel of the public aJJd tbc tet"t'or

of venal officialdom in and around Rajahmundry and a

centre of Veeresnlingam'a reform activities. Tbus be

earned tbe bigb praise as tbe first journalist iD Anubra

who used journals as tbe effective media of dissemina­

ting tbe ideas of reform and modernism. 34

Qy 1874 tbe evolution of Veeresalingam's ideas on

life from tbat of orthodoxy to non-conformism bad a

corresponding shift 1n his attitude to literature also.

Veeresalil:Jgam was naturally an heir to tho ways of wri­

tiDg wbicb were in vogue by the middle of the 19th century.

They can all be characterised as forming part of "Panditha

Sampradoyan, or tbe sobolarly tradition in language and

literature and the.v were tntertni.ned with the predomt-

nant form o£ social orgonization which was decadent

feudalism.

After tbe downfall of tbe Vijuyanagar empire,

s~bs~quent to tbe military defeat in the battle of

34. K.n.sesbagiri Rao, ed. o~oit., P.l50. Also see s.Natarajan, HistO£Y of be Press in India (New Delhi, 1962), P.193 where Veeresalingam is des­cribed as "tbe father of Telugu Journalismn. ADd also see J .Natarajan, Hiatoa of Indian Journa­lism Part II of the Report of the Press commission, (New Delhi, i955), P.201, wbicb stated that Veeresalingam made a beginning in Telugu journalism t~ougb his 'Vivekavardbani•. A similar view was

expressed b.Y 'Chronicler• in an article "Telugu Journalism, Leaders and Landmarks" in v.n.G.K.M. Prasad et al., ed. Half Way (Vijoyawada, 1958).

135

Raksbastagaai to tbe year 1565, there cropped up a large

number of small kingdoms and Cbiefta1no1es all over tbe

ADdbra country and in tbe Tamil country. 35 They were

all supported b.Y a motely crowd of Poligars wbo, in their

turn, were propped up by armed retaiDers. 36 The frag­

mentation of tbe political authority was coupled with

social disorder. Tbe decline in the classical literary

values reflected this social phenomenon.

The 'Prabandbtc• genre of tbe days of Vtjayanagar

was now inflated in terms of numbers and deflated in

terms of quality, producing wbat are known as 'Ksbudra'

or debased Prabandbams. 37 They gave undue importance to

tbe meaner variety of •sringara• rasa, witb emphasis on

tbe details of coitus and sexual satisfaction known as

'Parakiya sr1ngara•.38 Whole poems uere composed to give

two to four different meanings to the same terms employed

by the poet. Still greater poetic feats were performed in

35. K.A.Nilakantba Sastry, The Culture and Histoty of tbe Tamils (Calcutta, 19U4), PP.36-36. Also see Mobd.Abdul Wabeed Khan ed. op.oit., PP.31-32.

36. K.Rajayyan, op.cit., P.VI. Also see s.B.Cbundbari, Civil Disturbances durlns the British Rule in India (1165-1861) 1 (Calcutta, 1956), P.36.

31. ArUClra, Samagra Andhra Sabttyamu, Vol.10 (Tel.ugu), (Madras, 1966) 1 P.15t6.

38. 'l'elugu Vignanasarwaswamu, Vol •. III, op.cit., PP.615-16 and 619.

136

the name ot 'Cbitra Kavita• and 'BaDdha Kavita•. 39

Telugu literature lackeu prose and drama. A

uriter o! tbe Southern School of Telugu b.Y name Samukham

Venkatakrishnappa Nayakudu of Mauura bou produced Jai­

mini Bbaratham in a stilted, pedantic and rhythmic prose

early in tbe i7th century.40 Tbis style was far removed

from tlae languagt.: current 1D tbe i\J:Jdhra country. It,

however, fitted in witb tbe scholarly school of litera­

ture and at the same ignored or loolied down upon tbe

more popular and intelligible style o! prose writing and

employed b.f commoners as well as sobolars. in their day­

to-day intercuurse, in letter writing, court documents

and evtm in learned commentaries on 'Kavyas'. 41 Cb:erless

Pbillp Brown made a conscious attempt early in tbe i9tb

century, witb tbe aid and guidance of bis Telugu Pandits,

sucb as Pathyam Adva1 ta Bro.bmasaatry, navtpatl Guruolllrtby

Sastry und Cbadalavada &'Undararama Sast:ry to revive this

39. It ls a form of Poetry ubere more permutations and combinations in prosody are tried giving less importance to meaning. see a.v.nomamurthy, ed. ~ppakaviyamu (~elugu), (Madras, 1924), PP.2?8-81.

40. See for example N. Venkata Rao, Anubra Vachana Vangmaramu (Telugu), (Madras, 1954), PP.56-57.

41. Examples of this are cited b.f G.V.Ramamarthy, the exponent and leader of tbe movement of spoken dialect 1D Andbra in his lectures. See G. V .Ramamurtby Pantulu Vyasavol1 (Telugu), (V1jayawada 0 1958, first edD.1933) 1

PP.12 and 22 and 23. The book is a collection of essays contributed b.Y G.V.Ramamurthy to different literary journals ln Telugu. Also see N.Venkata Rao, op.cit., PP.TS and 92-94.

137

useful style of prose ~riting and to give it literary

currency.42 But Paravnatu CbiDDaya •suri' thwarted

Brown• s labours by reviviJJg the scholarly style of prose

writing known as •Grandbika•, witb bis prose work of

'Panchatantra• •43 As the Anuhra scholars of tho mid 19th

century were naturally partial to this more respectable

style, Veeresalingam•s first essays in prose writing were

cast in its mould and, in fact, they went one better, as,

for example, in bis 'Sandhi' and 'Vigrahamu•.44 Similarly

his early verses were also of the same scholarly stamp as

in 'Suddhandbra Niryoshthya Nirvachana Nuishadhamu t. 45

It was not until be put bis shoulder to social reform

that be first realised the utter uselessness of tbis style,

both ln poetry and prose, and especially in tbe latter.

He deliberately sougbt to make a break witb tbe old ways

of prose writing uitb an eye on social reform.

Veeresalingam, tbe old-fashioned scholar, was

42. There are not many authentic works evaluat1Dg Brovn•s services to Telugu literature. However, recently sri Venkateswar~ University started a research project on Broma aDd tbey published a book. See G.N.Reddy and Bangorey ed. Brown's Letturs, Glimpses of Histoty of Modern Telugu tlterature (!lrupatl, 1977). Also see Bangorey, ed. Tatacharla Kat~alu (Telugu), (Madras, 1974, first edD.IaaB), PP.i&-26.

43. Cbinnaya •surt• was tbe first scholar to reverse this healthy trend 1D the style of tbe language in tbe 19tb century. see o.v.namamurthy, Jiosavali, o,.cit., P.26. Also see N.Venkata Rao, op.c ., PP.Ioo- 02.

44. Ib~d., PP.139-40. see for tbc .full text o.f •sandhi' an 'Vlgrabamu•, K.Veeresalingam, Col.works, Vol.IX (Rajabmundry, 1937).

45. K.Veeresalingam, SWegya, P.I, op~cit., Pw63.

138

withdrawing into the backgrounu and Veeresalingam, the mon

with a purpose, was emerging. lie believed that the main

purpose of language wos to communicate ideas. To be an

effective instrument of communication of ideas tbe

language should be simpler and more lucid.46 In tbis

context bo wrote, "\\'bat for is a language? For men to

communicate their ideas to one another. What for are books

in a lnnguage? To pass on their ideas to those who are

removed both in ttme and in space. Can sucb a thing

be accomplished by books suob as "Vigrabamu"? No, it does

not. Common readers have to have recourse to dictionaries

and scholars in order to get at the meaning of words and

sentences •••• so, bow should books be? Tbey sbould be

intelligiblo to all. TbiDking tbus, I deoided to write

books, unlike 'Vigrabamu', in an easy style and gave .m­

pression to tbis 1dea 1D tbe pressn.41 Be continued,

"EVentbougb it bas been my opinion tbat books sbould normally

be written iD 'Salaksbana~ easy style, it ls also ~

opinion tbat tbey mey be written also 1D the colloquial

style 1D accordance witb their varying content. I tbougbt

of preparing a new grammar and a prose work iD accordance

with it, to suit the ttmes and the growth in prose writing

46. Veeresalingam, discus~ed· tb1s n~pect v~ ohw:Jge in bie style at some length in his autobiogrolJby. See Veere­salingam, snegya, op.cit., P.II, PP.173-75.

47. Veeresallngan, Sueeya, op.cit., P.II, P.173.

139

because I tbiDk that all old grammars bad been composed

solely for versification ot a ttme when there were no prose

works and therefore, many of the requirements of old

grammar are not suited to tbe development of a pr<•se lite­

rature and hence tbe need for a cbnnge in grammar.n48

Veeresalingam made bis lUDguage simple so as to make

bls reform ideas reach people. This was indeed a turning

point not only in Veeresalingam's life but in Telugu lite­

rature as uell as in tbe social refo~ movement in Andhra.

For, tbe reason Why Veeresalingam simplified bis language

was to make it a popular vehicle and a propagandistic

tool. 49 His ref om work and literary work were not two

exclusively different aspects of bis achievement. Tbe.y

48. Ibid., PP.124-25. -49. This view bas been clearly expressed by several Telugu

literary critics and scholars. However, it has been powerfully brought out by V.Narayana nao tn bis doctoral thesis, "Telugulo Kavitaviplava swaroopam", PP.85-ee, submitted to the Andbra University 1n i9T4. De pointed out tbat Veeresalingam bad revived tbe broken link between life and literature. Also see K.Iswara Dutt, op.cit., wbo stated tbat, "the pen be wielded as a man of letters became a weapon in bis hands as a reformer. Literature to bim was the means to an end{ be exploited its medium for the ennoble­ment of 1 re b,y assailing its follies and frailties". see also D.Ailjaneyulu, Dr.c.n.Reddy (New Delhi, 1973), Appendix, "Literature as a means of action" (Dr.c.n. Reddy's tribute to tbe work of Veeresalingam), where­in be expressed a similar vieu. Also soe "Navayuga Mabapurushulu" iD Andbradarsini (Telugu), (Vijayawada, i954}, P.732. M.Soma~ekbara Sarma iD bis article "Veguobukka" (Telugu), in Kinnera (literary journal from Madras) n.d., bas ably brougbt out tbe capaci­ties o~ Veeresalingam in making use o~ literature for social reform. Be stated tbat "Veeresalingam ably mirrored tbe mountain-l~e society in bis uritingsn.

were in fact complementary to each otber. His reform

zeal put fire into bis writing~, whereas tbe simple

and yet powerful expression of ideas secured for tbe

reform movement a broad base of support among tbe

literate people. He gave expression to tbe same in

tbe form of a verse in bis montbly journal, 1V1veka­

vardbani•.60

Tbe lasting achievement in this regard woe bis

creation of a new Telugu prose. After having realised

tbe tutility of tbe earlier prose as a means of communi­

cation, Veeresalingam discarded it and evolved a new

prose that was clear and simple and not beyond tbe ken

of tbe non-pand1t.61 W1tb tbe same ~ of propagattug

bis ideas on social reform, Veeresaltngam pioneered in

tbe matter of borrowing new literary genres sucb as tbe

50. "••••I have a liktog for Telugu and I want to uork for the welfare of the country witb determination. I can compose verses and write on ethical questions useful to tbe society, in an easy style, eo as to make all people understand tbem.n Cited in Veeresa-11ngam, swegya, P.I, op.cit., P.19.

51. His predecessors (like Cb1nnaya •surt•) and bis contemporaries like Kokkonda VeDkatcratnom Pantulu were tbe protaganists of old literary prose style. Veeresallngam uas never excused for bis deviation from tbe old style and as it was 1D tbe field of social reform, be bad to face strong opposition 1D 11terar.y epbere too. See for example v.u.Narla, Traditional Indian Culture and other Ese s (Vljaya­wada, 1969 , PP.101-103. Also see a.v.namamurtby, ADdbra Pandita Bbisbakkula Bbasha Bbeshajamu (Telugu), (ountur, 1933) 9 PP.3-4.

141

novel, tbe faroe or 'prabosanam• and tbe play, both from

English and Sabskr1t.52 For all this work of developing

a prose literature be bas aptly been described as

52. Be enriched tbe Telugu literature by being practically tbe first literary man iD Telugu to employ a variety of literary forms-novel, drama, satire, pampblet, literary blstory, ess&¥ and autobiography, witb success. However, Veeresa­ltngam was not the first DOVellst for be uas preceded b,y Naraburl Gopalakrlsbnamma Chetty wbo wrote •sri Ra.Dgaraja Cbarttramu' ln 18'12. In tbe field of essay, bts predecessor was, samtneni Mootboo Naraslmmab Naidoo ('Satibtta sooobanee'). VeeresaliJJg<·m's greatness lq in tbe fact that be took up these infant-like genres into bis lap and nourished tbem to establish them finally tn tbe field of letters. For a detailed account of bis 11 tt)rary genius see A· Ramapati nao, Veeresallngam Pantulu, op.~it.

142

'Gadya ~1kkana•, i.e., tbe greatest prose uriter. 53 As

53. See the article of ArUdra, o~.oit., P.ll5. Also see n.Venkotasivudu's article "T ree Eminent Andbra EdU­cationists" in Triveni (QUarterly English journal published from Bangalore), october-December 1942. Be stated that, "He invented a new style of prose writing, which is at once direct and telling. Farce, stor.y, essay, uere all forged in the Smithy of Reform, with the object of combating the evil cu~toms of sooiotY'"• K.Punnaiah in his article, "A tribute to Sri Veeresalingamn in Trivenl April-May i948, stated that Veeresaltagam•s prose "combined simplicity and charm of style with the po~er of lucid expression. He would tell a tale with magical effect." Commen­ting upon his prose style R. Venkatoratnam Naidu a youoger contemporar.y of Veeresaltngam and a great Brabmo declared it ~as "luoid yet learned, familiar yet classic, vigorous yet chaste, full-flowing yet self-contained"• see V.Remakrisbna nao, ed.R.Venka­taratnam M sa e and Ministration (Mudras, 1924), Vol.III, P.4 4. T ougb Veeresa am is considered to be a precursor of modern Telugu prose, there are conflicting opinions regarding his prose style. See G.V.Sitapat1, op.cit., PP.112-13, Wherein be mentioned that "we do not find anywhere in his writings, 'ob­scurity and affectation•, which according to Macaulay, •are the two greatest faults of style'"• But Veereso­lingom used the spoken word only in his faroes DOt 1n his essays or dramas, "lest be might fall in the estimation of contemporar.y pandits". G.V.APparao, a great playwright and contemporary of Veeresalingam, in his diaries criticised his prose style as neither 11terar.y nor spoken dialect. see P.s.sarma•s article "Apparaya KaviobandruDiki Veeresalingum Sooryuda?" in Andhra ~~othi (Telugu daily published from Vij~a­wada), i"th aro6, una. However, in this connection the opinion of v.n.Narla in his biography of Veereso­lingam (Nev Delhi, i96S)p PP.26-3i (Cbapter called icreator of Modern Prose] is wortb noting. nAs in social reform, so in creating a ne~ prose, Veeresa­liagam was tbe 'Isvarobandra Vidyasagar of the south'. In botb fields, tbe task of the latter was made lighter by Rammoban Roy ••••• Unlike Vidyaaagar, Veeresalingo.m bad to start from scratch •••• ". on the question of tbe parentage of the modern Bengal prose, opinions among Bengali literB17 historians are divided. Pradyumna Bhattacharya wrote the question itself was wroas as one individual cannot "beget tbe prose of a nationality". see for a lucid oooount on this, Pradyumna Bbattacbfll.-ya "Rammobnn Boy and Bengal : Prose", 1D V.<.:.Joshi, ed. op.oit., PP.196-223.

143

c.n.Reddy said, "In literature be commenced b,y writing

Prabandbas64 bristltng witb slesba~6 Cbitrakavita56 and

tbe entire gamut of ugly artificialities, and ended as

tbe creator of tbe Telugu novel, the Telugu social satire,

the Telugu drama, espoially of the social type, and of

soieaoe and scientific biography in Telugun. 67 But he

stopped half-gay in this regard at best relaxing some

of tbe rules of tbe •sandhi' and reducing tbe number of

sanskritic compounds from bis new prose which he named

•sulabha' or 'intelligible prose•. He did not extend his

language reform to its logicnl end. The more ardent and

logical reformers of style such as o.v.namamurthy and

G.V.Appa ~found fault with bis prose style for its

inadequacies68 and tbey failed to win bim over to tbeir

side until bls last days in 1919 uben be consented to

bead tbe •Vortamauandbra Bbasbapravartaka Samajam' or

64. Prabandba was a poetical form in Telugu during tbo late middle ages wbicb continued upto tbe beginning of tbo 19th century. It corresponds uitb tbe heyday of feudalism in tbis part of tbe country.

55. It is a form of poetry in wbicb a verse gives two different meanings - double entendre.

56. It is again a form of poetry where more permutations and combinations in prosody are tried giving less importance to meaning.

57. c.n.Reddy's article, op.cit. 58. For a b1stor1col exposition of the evolution of modern

Telugu from its feudallst character see G.V.Appa Row, Miuute of Dissent (Madras, 19i4), Report of the intermedlate Telugu composition Committee submitted to tbe Government of Madras and also o.v.namomurtby, A Memorandum on Modern Telugu (Madras, 1913).

144

tbe 'Association for promotion of current ADdhra

LaDgUage • • 59

Social and Pol1t1oal Ideas of VeeresaliSBam

Veereaaliugam chose the teaching profession as

be liked to lead comparatively an independent life.60

A number of his illustrt.cinis~: ... contemporaries also chose

the same profession ulth similar views. 61 Teaching was

an honoured profession and people with idealism and zeal

for social work took to it as it also afforded them

59. The 'Association' was formed at Rajahmundry on 28 Februar,y 1919 aDd, after tbat, witbin tbree montbs VeeresaliJlgem dl ed. G. V. Ramamnrt by, yYasavali , op.cit., P.163.

60. Be uas qualified for bigb posts in tbe Gover.ament as be bad passed several revenue and judicial tests. none must cboose an independent walk of lifen, be wrote, naaa be must opt for the teacher's profe­ssion wbere tbere is little occasion for stnniugn. See Veeresallngam, swegra, Part I, op.oit., P.Ta.

61. To cite only a few examples, Ragbupati VeDkataratnam, Ch1lakamartb1 Lokshm1naras1mham, Desiraju Pedabapa1ab were teachers. Speaking about the teaching profe­ssion R.Venkataratnam stateda nx elected to be a teacher more for the sacred responsibilities and noble opportunities than for tbe ample emoluments of the profession •••• ~ Tbey alone ought to be teachers who look upon their work as a •vocation' with its service and not as a 'profession' with ita ~rizes~ Cited in K.suryanarayana, R.Venkataratnam (Uajabmundry, 1952), P.5; c.LakshltlinarasliDham meDtioned in bis autobiography, op.o1t., P.46, tbat be took to teaching under tbe influence of Veeresalingam wbo taught bim at Rajahmundry.

145

considerable leisure.62 Cons1der1Dg tbe times iD wbicb

be was placed, be bad to play tbe roles of a pioneer

and a propagandist. Teaching profession gave bim ample

ttme and opportunity to sow 1D tbe rece,ptive minds of

generations of bis students tbe seeds of reform ideas

and liberal tbougbt and prepare tbem for solid practical

work in fUture. Veeresalillgam bad immense faith in the

capacities of youtb and tbeir cooperation in bis wo lk,

wbicb proved to be correct judgillg from tbe great support

be received from tbem during the height of his reform

activity. 63 Veeresalingam ans\vered the criticism of his

62.

63.

Apart from the sanctity attached to teaching as a profession, it was also easily available as this was tbe period during whicb botb governmental as well as private effort in education uas fairly considerable. Besides. teacbtng, tbe other profession wbicb was popular during tbis time was law. A few of tbe co-workers of Veeresalingam were lawyers too. In tbis context mention may be made of Nyapati Subba Rao who became later an opponent of Veeresalingam espousing tbe cause of Dindu revivalism under tbe leadership of Annie Besant. Be became a leader of tbe Indian National Congress by becoming its General secretary. See for exmnple, c.Laksh1Darasimham, PUsbkaram Souveni~~, OF.cit.

a.Venkatasivudu, Veeresaligsa samsmrithi (Telugu), (Guntur, i931), P.133. The author was a student of Veeresalingam \vho beoWile an active co-worker later. students were being sent to remote villages to bring secretly willing and desirous obild widous to Rajahmundry for remarriage. VoeresaliDgam himself gratefully ockDowledged tbe help be received from students in bis autobi~graphy, P.I, ob.cit., P.158. on tbe demise of VeeresalSIDgam in 191 one of bis former students uas asked to write the oditortnl in an illustrious Telugu Weekly Krishnapatrika (published from Macbilipatnam), May 3ll 1919, In bia editorial be stated that tbe teach ngs or Veeresalingam on social evils and the need to eradicate them left a deep impression upon tbeir minds. students uere made to stood wetcb during nights at the houses of corrupt officials. students were eagerly awaiting the issues of 'Vivekav1 rdhani' which used to contain social farces, articles on reform and news exposing corrupt officials.

146

opponeats that be was relying excessively upon students

1D tbe follou1Dg terms:

"Our opponents are showing as a weakness on our

side tbot tbe majority of our samaj--members and tbe

others that take part in our gatberi.Dgs and talks-

are student a. Tb ey take it as a drawback and feel happy

tbat our cause is not strong; on tbe other band I take

it as point in our favour which augurs well for tbe

tuture. our country looks forward with groat eagerness

towards tbe students, ubo n111 grow into elders tomorrow.

Tbe part that the elders are playing bad come to a close.

These young students are players in tbe great theatre of

tbe world and will stage new playa gith greater capacity

and perfection to please the audience. If these students

lear.a their parts well and play them their successors

will be enabled to follow their patb and enhance the moral

influence of the drama, so as to work for the benefit of

tbe country with greater courage, zeal and capacity and

make their motherland a heaven on earth. our country bas

to progress always with tbe belp of studentsn.64 Tbougb

tbls may sound as laying undue stress on tbe belp of

students (wbicb, of course, be received in full measure),

it showed tbat be uanted to create a strong base among

atud~ts 1D support of bi& movement 1D RaJabmundry where

64. Veeresalingam's lecture (in Telugu) on "Tbe duties of educated men" {'Vidyadb1kula Dbarmamulu') in Veeresa­lingam, Col.Works, Vol.VII (Lecturea),{Rajabmundry,195i). Tbe lecture cited above was delivered in 1893 under the auspices o.f the l>rartbano Samaj, Rajabmundry.

14'1

the anti-reform (orthodox) sections uere strongly entren­

ched. We are informed of tbis b,y his onetime students who

later became converts to reform durlDg tbe life time of

Veeresalingam.65 Veeresalingam earned the reputation of

being one of tbe great inspiring teachers who strove bard

to create an awareness and social consciousness among the

youtb of his times. Ma~ became bis dedicated followers

professing faith in bis teachings and extending whole

hearted support to bis activities unmindful of consequences.66

Spread of education in general and of women in parti­

cular occupied the main attention of tbe 19tb century

social reformers. Veeresalingam held the vieu that tbe

progress of a nation depended mucb upon tbe education of

its women. With this view in mind be strongly pleaded,

in his speeches and writings, for their education. In

an article, •women's Education•, be argued tbat, "there

65. Sec for example the article of A.Lakshm1patb1 iD Yugapurushudu, op.cit., PP.S0-31. Also see f.n.63 above.

66. one of bis students wrote, "EVer since I joined in Fourtb l"orm in tbe Govermnent College, Rajabmundry in 18'18, Kandukurt Veeresalingam was our teacb~r. He taught us not only Telugu but otber general ~orks too. His teachings against social evils and superstitions and pleas for social reform left an indelible impression on our tender minds. His main aim was to break t be idols of the past. He wrote powerful social satires and made us enact tbem. Tbere were almost none ubo could oppose bis pen". see V .suryanarcyano nao ~anarayano,!!laDDl (an autobiography in Telugu~, \KC)vvur, 1936), P.165.

148

are some wbo tbiDk tbat edUcation is for seouring jobs,

for a 11v1Dg and ask, "why do women need education wben

tbey do not bave to uork aDd earn?n I wisb to ask them,

'In tbat case, wbere is tbe need for education for ricb

men wbo do not bave to earn for tbeir living?' Tbougb

uneducated, a labourer makes a living out of bis toil.

one can take up a number of professions for a living;

education is not tbat necessary to eke out one's 11Vel1-

bood. Education ts for something else, for knowledge,

for wisdom and for tbe fulfilment of deeper and nobler

urges of life. women need education for tbe same

purpose.n61

Tbe opponents of female education wrote in tbe

contemporary journals tbat 'women do not deserve edu-68 cation•. ADswertog tbem in a saronstic manner Veereso-

lingam wrote in bis journal tbat 'Men do not deserve

education•. Be wrote, 11 our aocestors were never educated

and education goes against our tradition. To do so 1s

bad. EVen otherwise education is leading to evils sucb

as forgery and tbe like •••• Wbat tben ts tbe use of edu­

cation? In tbe past people were not edu oated and yet

61. Veeresallngam, Col.Works, Vol.VIII, P.I, PP.S0-21 aDd P.II, PP.io-14.

68. Kokkonda VeDkataratnam•s article in bls journal 'Hasyavardbani' as ment toned in Veeres.,llngam, SWeefa, P.I, op.c1t., P.96.

149

they managed to live well. Why sboulu we put ours~lves

to neeuless strain by taking to learniDg? When the

Bri ttsb Governmot is coming fol"\'Jard to opeD schools iD

our villages and thus spoiling our children, uby should

our patriots keep quiet? Should not our leaders assmble

and decide to place all tbose receiving education under

social boycott? It, as it is often said, Englishmen

achieved progress tbrougb education, it is so because

they are unlike us in complexion. Th6,V are ubtte and

we are black. So what ts possible for them is not

possible for us. The advocacy for English education is

tbe cause tor premature deaths too.n69

lD tbe campaign that Veeresalingam conducted

against the critics of female education, ofteu be found

himself ansuering tbeir oritioism.70 Nevertheless,

at times be also lashed out at tbe opponents, for example 1

69. Veeresaltngam, sweeya, P.I, op.cit., PP.96-98.

70. Be exposed 1D Satya samv ardbani (a bilingual journal publ1u6ed~y him from Rajabmundry on bebelf of tbe Prartbana Snmaj), January-February i894, tbe oppon~ts• claim that ''tgaoraut Indian women are altruistic and self-saortfioingn, by saying tbat all services from women were expected as a matter of course end were forced upon ber.

150

"Were women to be educated,

Wbat would happeD to the sale of human flesh,

ThiDks one.

What would become of the time-old domestic oeremDnies,

Laments one.

Wbo would serve me as though I were her very God,

Mourns aDo th er.

Whom am I to thrash and belabour,

Rages another.

Wbo will look after the idols and offers worship to them,

Reasons yet another.

ADd these are now the leaders of society \1bose old-fashioned ways

Are out to safeguard evil ways of life". 71

Spreading knowledge to liberate people from their

deep-rooted superst it tons and sooial evils was tbe main

theme of the 19th centur.y refo~ers. Veeresalingam was

in line with them. The spread of scientific knowledge and

the growth of rationalist thinking were the two aspects

which Veeresalingam stressea 1D his speeches and writings.

For, 1guoraooe of people, according to him, was the ma1D

oause of all superstitions and social evils. ne pleaded

for the spread of scientific education 1D vernooulor

language, 1D eas.y Telugu prose. Be declared,

71. He expressed these id~as 1D the form of easy verses. See Veeresaltngam, swegra, P.II, op.ott., P.261.

151

"In order to increase the total happiness of the

common people, books in eas,y and lucid Telugu

prose should be written on subjects like astro­

no~, anato~, physiology, hygiene, philosophy

and religion, mechanic~, logic and etbics,

economics, bit>tOZ7 and geography". 72

Be rtdiculed tbe pseudo-scientific information given

in the PUrnnas and otber Hindu scriptures and appealed

to the people not to place faith in them.73 Veeresalingam•a

rationalistic out-look could be seen pervading all

bis writings, either in criticisimg outdated customs or

in introducing reform ideas.74 Scientific education was

meant to serve two purposes, to dispel the darkness of

ignorance of masses, and to develop native agriculture and

industr1es.75 Be compared tbe western scientific know­

ledge to bright sunshine which breaks darkness and usbers

1D the dawn. 76

72. Veeresalingam, Col.Works, op.clt., Vol.III, P.III, pp.to-11.

73. Ibid., P.I, PP.36-37.

74. see for example Veeresallngam, Col.Works, Vol.VII, PP.105-106, 27o-71 and 275.

75. Ibid., PP.283 and 392-93.

76. Ibid., PP.188-89.

i52

He felt tbat unless the general public was edu­

cated, society could not 1mprove. 71 He pleaded for mass

education through the medium of vernaculur language.

In tbis context be urote that, "Books have to be written

in simple and lucid vernacular prose and made available

to the people at low cost •••• Popular books of knowledge

should be written 1D vernaculars. EVCD one such book

wbicb can impart basic knowledge of one of tbe sciences

would be able to bring enligbtenmeDt in some measure.

When people come to understand tbe phenomenon of solar

and lunar eclipses from a scientific point of view they

will firmly reject the ~tb and meaningless rituals

connected with them. People tend to become less and

less superstitious as tbey learn more and more of

natural sciences. Therefore competent people uould con­

sider ~ suggestion sincerely and undertake to write

suitable books on sciences in vernaculars for the benefit

of tbe people and the progress of tbe country.n18

As a rationalist be placed faith in reason and

suggested that reason should be tbe hallmark of all)' social

custom or tradition. Be stated:

77. see for example, Ibid., PP.202-204, 365 and 872-75. Also see Veeresalingam1 Col.Works, op.cit.,Vol.~II, P.II, PP.4i-42.

78. Veeresa11ngam wrote ttvo separate articles on •verna­cular languages 1 in bis journal 'V1vekavardban1', october 1881, and N~vember 1886, included in his Collective writings, op.c1t., Vol.VIII, P.II,PP-566-70 and P.III, PP.667-70.

153

0 ADY number of quotations from tbe Vedas and Sastras

does not 1D tbe least belp tbe reformer to bring

about even a siagle aidow marriage. If be uants to

effect practical reform, be must bring 1D reason

to bis belp aDd appeal to tbe feelings of reasonable

men •••• Reason can accomplish tn one week wbat tbe

so-called national lines caDDot effect 1D a year.

Tbey may say tbts is a violent measure. Yes.

Violent maladies require violent remedies.n19

Noticing tbe cbQQge that came in tbe ideas and \'!loy&

of thinking of tbe people, Veeresalingam saw the emergence

of a new era of lDtellectual and moral enlightenment in

ADdbra. In b1s lecture on 'tbe duties of educated men•

he stated tbat, 0 Dou tbere is war between truth and untruth,

between wisdom and stupidi~ and between the ligbt of

Jmowledge aDd the darkness of ignorance. The new thought

sown by tbe maiden of pbysiool sciences, sent among us

by western scholars, bave (sio) spread alround the coUDtry

in tbelr new born energy and are about to shake tbe

T8. Tbis extract is taken from tbe 1Daugural address delivered bY Veeresalingam as president of tbe sixth Madras PrOVincial social Conference beld at KaklDada.. see Indian Social Refomer, Vol.XII, No.43 (1901-oa). Veeresaliagam, tn tbls speeob 1 was answering critics of social reform movement Wbo suggested tbot reforms should be organised on "national lines". Be asked what those "national lines" were by wblcb tbot reform (widow marriage reform) could be brougbt about?

154

foundations of old belieta •••• Tbe dawn of neu knowledge is

dispersing the darkness of ancient fattbs and ignorance ••••

Tbcre is no doubt that tbe oise gradually enlist themselves

on the stde of truth. Again, there is for less doubt of

tbe final result of the war •••• in the end, truth sball

assuredly triumph over uatrutbn. 80

Veeresalingam condemned the caste system and pointed

out its evil oonsequenoess "Our coste aystem prohibits

certain castes' people from receiving education. This has

largely impeded tbe development of their knowledge ODd

skill. In a world wbicb is progressing in all branches of

human activity, oc bavo to keep pace ~ith otber developing

countries. \~tbout education tbie is not possible. AD

uneducated craftsman bardly koous the improved skills and

teohD1ques employed iD bis vocation uitb tbe result that

bis growth remains permanently stunted. Tbe present caste

system bas created mutual distrust and batred. Tbere are

now among our people, not only tbe four castes bUt innu­

merable sub-castes. A book ou our oaete structure bas enu­

merated the names of as maay as two thousand sub-castes

among tbe Brahmins oaly •••• Tbts naturally results in

80. see Veereealingam, col. works, Vol.VII, op. ott., PP.188-89.

i65

disuuity and bitteraess.n8i

It is not correct, as some are inclined to suggest,

tbat Veeresaliagam was socially a progressive but poli­

tically a reactionary.82 He was a typical representative

of early Indian nationalism. Be can be classified as a

81. see Veeresalingam•s lecture on 'Varnamu'(caste), Ibid., PP.319-20 al1d 323-24. -

82. lD tho assessment of Veeresalingam, from the beginning, a controversy arose as to bis attitudes towards tbe Raj. Born in pre-i851 period (be uas only aiDe years old b.f the year 1861), b.f the time Veeresalingam grew to manhood, the British rule iD India vas a fait accompli. B.f comparing it to tbe earlier post­MUgbal India tmicb w1 tnessed &Darchy and lawl cas-ness, be praised the British rule for its achieve­ments in law, administration aud security of life and property. As it was tbo case with other refor­mers of tbe 19th century, Veeresalingam too believed tbat the British rule was a God-given boon ('Divine Dispensation') to tbe Indians. These ideas of VeeresaliDgam were expressed iD bis lecture on "The national Congress and its aimsn, incorporated in his Col.Works, o,.cit., Vol.VIII, PP.s-so. That be was a react onary in politics was stated b.f K.VeDkaiab, Deseoyo Bbasbaloo, Jatula Sama!fa, Prajaswamika Parisbkaram (Telugu , (GUDtur, n.d.), PP.SB-24. Another view poiDt, that be was loyal to tbe British Goverument and cultivated good relations wttb top raDktng district officials, for be needed their help in his social reform activities, was expressed ~ K.PUnnaiah, op.cit. Also this view was, to some extent, based on tbe incidents that took place in Rajabmundry iD i90? in tbe wake of Swadeshi movement. Do openly collClemned the terrorist acti­vities of people like Khtldiram Bose aDd removed bis portrait from tbe reading nom, ubiob was placed there in bls absence. Tbe students of the local college, vbo \Vere once b1s loyal followers were no longer w1tb blm. Be was mncb ridiculed for bis atti­tude. His opposition to tbis stemmed from two grounds, (1) be was a moderate in politics, and (2) tbe move-ment oK i901 was reactionary socially.. Be described

tbese 1nc1deuts iD detail in bis sweexa, P.II, op.oit., PP.301 and 32o-24.

156

moderate among Indian nationalists without their strong and

trenchant criticism of British rule. Be glorified the

benefits of British rule. "Tbe fact that we are meeting and

fearlessly diecussiDg political issues today is due to tbe

benevolence of God-given British rule over us 1D the inte-83 rests of our countryn. Be uaa couvinoed tbat the elements

of oivtltsation 1DtrodUced by the British Government like

English education, well-knit administration, civil and

criminal courts, modern means of communications and other

scientific adVantages would place British rule as o great

benefactor 1D proper historical perspective. 84

However, Veeresaltngam hastened to add that this

would not mean that British rule was perfect and faultless.

Be compared tbe relationship between tbe British Govern­

ment and tbe Indian people to tbat between mother and

obild.85 Be wanted people to rely upon the British to

introduce constitutional reforms to ensure peace, justice

and good government. Be feared that if tbe British were to

leave India, it would result lD lawlessness and disorder.

83. Veeresalingam, Col.works, Vol.VIII, op.cit., P.9. (Lecture on "~be National congress and its aims")• Also see the article which be published on tbe same theme in 'Vivekavardba.ni', reprodUced in .!!!!!!•, P.III, PP.7o-13.

84. Xbid., PP.io-13. 85. Tbe child, accord1ng to him (India), was perfectly

justified in asktag for freedom and tbe mother {England) would grant all that the child merits. soe Xbid., P.16.

15'1

He stated, "Because of the British rule tbere are no

civil wars and there is peace and order in our country.

If tbe British were to entrust tbe wbole political

polVer and responsibility of tbo management of state affairs

to Indiaus even for one year, India would soon (within

montbs) be Balkanized into many warring factions resulting

in the infighting between different religions, castes and

nationalities. Tbe illiterate ~ority would brand the

educated minority as atheists aDd evil doers and supress

them and revive tbe dyiq social evils and traditions.

All this would ultimately result in anarchy. Hence in

order to avert this catastrophe befalling our nation,

let us pray God to ensure tbe Dri tish rule over us for

evern.86 He pleaded for tbe representation of Indians in

the local government institutions aDd also 1D the Viceroy's

council. 87 Be put tbe blame upon the local govemment

officials • revenue, police and judicial for tbe ills of

the people and pleaded for tbe reform of these officials

to ensure clean adm1nistration.88 From this it 1s clear

86. Ibid., PP.17-18. It is cloar from tbis that the freedom be wanted was of a limited character utthtn tbe general framework of the Brt tisb empire. EYeD about tbis, in tbe early stages, be did not bave clear-cut ideas ~or be did not specify tbe type of rolationship tbat should subsist between England and India.

8'1 • .!!!!!! • ' p. 35 •

88. Veeresalingam, sweeya, P.I, op.ctt., P.ao. ne saw no use in criticising ibe laue of the government When their implementation was defective and corrupt at the looal level.

168

that be bad no grasp of tbe nature of British colonial

rule in lDdia. 89

Veeresalingam, as a typical representative of tbe

educated middle classes (the ideological spokesmen of tbe

rising bourgeoisie of India), evinced great enthusiasm

for swadesbi as early as 1880 and adVocated tbe manufacture

of Indian products.90 He wrotes "Almost all tbe clothes

worn by the ricb as well as tbe poor are maDufactured in

England. It is much cheaper than the cloth that our

weavers produce bere. It is maDufactured by machines aDd

hence cheaper. Bence everyone bas given up buy1Dg Stiadeshi

cloth; they are all buying clothes manufactured in &~rope.

Crores of zupees that are speDt every year in the purchase

of foreign clotb are thus flov1Dg out of our country into

foreign lauds impoverishing fUrther a coUDtl"Y wbich is

already poor. If on tbe other band, textile mills are

89. K.N.Panikkar described tbis as nfalse consciousnessn of the 19th century intellectuals. He stated, "A positive vision of the political future, independent of colonial domination, was inherent in tbe concept of Div1De Dispensation... Tbeir inability to grasp the contradletioD between British imperialism and the interests of the Indiau people led them to believe that this trans1ormat1on would occur as a part of general bourgeoisfication within tbe existing politi­cal framevork - a false consciousness created prima­rily by tbe influeuce of the bourgeois - liberal ideologies of tbe colonial rulers themselves •••• Bence their criticism Gas limited to tbe admini­strative lapses.- • • P K.N.Panikkar, op.cit .. , P.i7 •.

90. Be realised, thougb vaguely, that there was drain of resources from oUt of India and be desired the profits to accrue to the Indian enterpreneurs.· see •vtvekavardhant.•, April teeo •.

159

set up in our country, all that moue.v will remain here.n91

lD tbe lecture on the Congress, be spoke of the

rigbts of tbe people aDd bow tbe Congress aimed at striving

for these rigbts.92 Tbe founders of the Congress hoped

tbat the British would beli) 1D securiJig these rights.

Vceresalingam too nurtured suoh bop~s. De stated, "At a

time when we uere ignorant, not knoutag our rights, the.y

taught us bow to demand them; they helped us attain

maturity. How can such enlightened and kind-hearted people

fall to bestow on us those rights uben ~e become qualified

for them". 93 It is '";ith sucb a broad understanding tbat

the Congress .functioned 111 tbe begtnu1Dg. DUring tbis

period no basic demand for self governmeot, leave aside

iJJdepaDdence, was adVanced by tbe Congress. 94 Veeresa­

lingam also voiced tbe same demauds of tbe Congress iD its

91. Ibid • ., 92. Veeresalingam tvo.s ono of the delegates elected to

attend tbe tblrd session of tbe Indian Notional Congress beld at Madras tn 1887. However, be attended tbe session not as a delegate since be was adVised not to do so, as be was a teacher tn the Government service. see Veeresaliagam, ,sweega, P.II, op.cit., P.3o9.

93. Veeresaliagam, Col.Works, Vol.VIII, op.ctt., PP.16-16. 94. Tbey demanded £or a greater degree of Indian represeu­

tatioD within tbe British system of gover.nment. In­crease iD tbe number of elected representatives in the Viceroy's aDd Gover.aors• Legislative councils, com­petitive examinations for tbe I.c.s., to be beld simultaneously 1D 1ndia, abolition of income-tax on all tbose earning less tbaa ~.1000/-, reimposition ot tbe import duty on foreign textiles, establishment of institutions tor tecbaicol education, abolition o~ judicial powers given to District Collectors, were some of the maiD demands of the Congress during this period.

160

early pbase, in tbe above lecture aDd 1D bis jounal

'Vivekavardbaot•. 96 Tbe demands of tbe early nationalist

movement, judging from tbe present day standarus, may

appear too bumble. It should not however, bo assumeu from

tbe tone of these declarations tbat the early congress

leaders were reactionary. on the contrary, they represen-

ted, at tbat time, tbe most educated and enlightened

force 1D Inuian society. so long as tbe peasantry did not

become an organised foroe, so long as tbe uorking class

remained a nascent force, tbe risiug indUstrialist class

was the most progressive force in IDdia. They and their

ideological spokesmen (the educated middle class) strove

bard for social reforms, for enligbteament, education, iu­

dustrialisotion and technical progress. The intelligen­

tsia of those days derived inspiration from tbe Congress

resolutions. ADd Veeresolingam was no exception.

Veeresaltngam belomged to that seotioD of the reformers

who believed that the social reform sbould take place along

uitb political reform, if not precede it. In tbis be was

one witb tbe Mabarasbtri&D reformers, Ranade, Dbandarkar,

MaJ.abari aDd others. Be held tbe vieu tbat uben social

evils like ignorance, superstition, caste and sub-caste uere

prevalen~, there uas no use 1D secur1Dg political freedom. 96

95. To give an example 0 Vivekavardhani contended "That the income-tax does tbe country a great deal of berm. A person witb SD income below 150 are (sic) in England exempt from ttn. Native News, June 1890.

96. Veeresalingam, Col.works, Vol.~II, op.cit., P.5.

161

Veeresal1ngam in an article entitled 'Poll tical aDd

Social Reforms• wrote tbat, "It is vory necessary that we

should strive to achieve our political rigbttl. To ignore

tbe immediate need of bringing about social reform, we

beliave, is highly injurious to tbe welfare of the country.

What good can these men clo to the people if tbey are

umnoved by the hardships aDd misery of their oWD women-

folk? ••••• \Vben our people suffer helplessly from

couutless social avila, what kiDd of happiness do tbe.y

derive b.f acbiav1Dg their political r1ghts.n97 He

stated, in this coDDection, that like tbe uniform gror~b

of all limbs 1D a body, variuus facets of life 1D soot ety -

social, political, economic and cultural - sbould be

developed without detriment to~ one ot tbem. 98 Tbe

fierce controversy tbat raged on tbis question foullCl 1 ts

9T. Tbe article was published iD Vivekavardbani.

98.

See Ibid., P.JIX• PP.Bl-83.

Veeresalingam, smee5a, P.J, o2.cit., P.So. Mabadev G8Vind ltilia e expresaed slmiler vtews on tbis question. Be stated, ''If your religious ideals are low and grovelling, you canuot succeed in social economic or political spheres. Tbis interdependence is not an accident bUt is tbo law of our nature. Like tbe members of our body, you cannot bave strength 1D tbe bands and tbe feet if your internal organs are in disorder; wbat applies to the human body holds good of the collective humanity we call tbe society or state". See T.V.Parvate, Mabadev Govind Ranade (a Blograpby), (Bombay, 1961), P.i5o.

162

echoes iD ADdbra too.99 Delivertag tbe presideutial

address of tbe 12th Indian Social CoDfereuce at Madras

1D 1898 Veeresaltagam declared, n •••• I believe tbe

political development of a country must largely depend

upon the social condition of tbe comunmity ubich supplies

the pbyaioal, intellectual, moral resources of the

peopleenlOO Ubile realistDg tbe need to effect reforms

iD all fields of a country's life, he argued out his

oase in favour of social reform, along utth political

99. Tbe Carlyloan (published from Rajabmundr,V) iD 1908 wrote: "Tbe attainment of swaraj either wi tbtD or without the British snptre without social reform is an absolute impossibility. Without genuine untob between various oostes and olasses that tDbobit this laDd, India oaDDot get SWaraj; and wltbout sooial reform, there oan be no gCDuine union between tbem •••• can we get swaraj without aboltsb iJig early marriages ••• oau we reach it without oeas1Dg to be slaves of custom, priest, and superstititons in various spberes of life? Tbat a nationalist wbo ftgbts shy of sootal reform end wbo waut s to bring about swaraj uithout social reform is Dot a true patriot tD the right s8Dse of the term .... tt Native News, 1908. OpposiDg this view the pesabhlmani (from duntur) stated, nso, before reforming soclety ••.• tbe people should try for self-govormnent. Unless the Govermnent is tD our bands, n ... -BDDot enforce tbe reforms tbat are conducive to our (social) welfare". Ibid.

100. c.Y.Cb1ntaman1, ed. op.cit., P.2o2.

163

reforms •101 By the turn of the odltury the trend uas

clearly iD favour of political reforms through vigorous

political agitation and tbe same period witnessed tbe

comparative deol1De of tbe sooiol reform movement.

Tbis was tbe reason wby VeeresaliDgam was harping on

101. ID bts presidential address to the S~b Madras Provillo1al social Coutereuce beld at Kaklllada in 1902 Veeresallngam stated that improvement should be all sided - political, social, moral and reli­gious. one sided refo~ was not conduoive~to tbe healthy growtb of a coUDtzy. "If we demand justice from our superiors in matters relating to tbe Goveramcmt of the country, we o~gbt as well to do justice to our inferiors iD social matters.... Bow cau we with consisteno.y, be liberal 1D polittos and conservative in social matters0 ? ~ndlan Soclol Reformer (first publiShed from Madras aDd tben shifted to Bombay), Vol.XII, No .43 (1901-1902) •.

164

tbis theme repeatedly.1°2

Veeresaliugam was acquiriDg Dew ideas and developing

his outlook OD social problems from time to time. 'lbe growtb

of bis ideas was a continuous process. Be weot on drawing

i02.CertaiD significant local problems also, perhaps, influenced bis tbougbt. It sbould be Doted that Nyapati SUbba Rao Pantulu who ~asaclose associate of VeeresaliDgam iD bis reform activities broke aw~ from blm aDd established a 'Btadn Samaj' and collabo­rated with tbe activities of tbe theosophical society of AnDie Besant who visited RajabmuDdry to deliver lectures on 'Theosophy' at the iuvitatioD of tbe 'BiJ:ldu Samaj •. See Sa~asamvardbani, November­December 1893. COl. ocotl accompanied ber to Bajab.mundry OD December 15, 1893. Nyapati Subba Rao broke away from Veeresalingam because bis brother, under tbe influence of Veeresaliugam, married a widow. Tbis was oDe of tbe widou marri­ages, performed by Veeresaliogam to uhicb Nyapati Subba Rao did Dot give his approval. see Veeresa­lingam, Sweeta' P:IIt op.cit., PP.l14-16. ID tbis coDDeot on it may be Doted tbat, 'ID the 1880's and 1890's social reformers in BeDgal were increa­singly swamped by the flood-tide of Hindu revivalism, wbicb was later to liDk up with the reaction agatost Moderate political •moDdicauc.y• to coostitute tbe obaracteristio Extremist mood"• see SUmit Sarkar, OR.cit.,PP.28-29. More or less the same situation prevailed 1D ADdbra too. 1890's uitnessed, as stated above, the surge of revivalism closely allowed 1D tbe first clecade of the present ceDtuq by Extre!Dlsm wbiab joined bar~ds \vltb it. For u accouut of extremist political agltatioD 1D Andbra see M.Vexakatararmatab• ed. Freedom strume 1JJ (dbra c;ooesb (Andbra), VoJ.!1, (19bS:20 A.D.),

HYdera a, 1669). ana iD particular tbe situatioD 1D Rajatum.wciJ:y, pP.52-53. Also see for tbe situ­at ioD prevailing 1D llaJalummdry, Veeresal ingum SWCg[a, P.II, oe.cit., PP.308-09 1 and 321-22. For particulars of DeP1D Cbundra Pal's visit to Andbra, see New %¥dia (Calcutta), April 20, 23, 21 and Mey 4, t9o •

165

ncm experiences from tbe work be undertook and 11Dked

it up ~itb bis reform activity. \~en be set to work in

1874 be was very young, only 26 years old. Nevertheless

be bad a will and individuality ubicb were UQYieldlDg

to pres~ures and influences. Be stated in bie autobio­

lP'apby, "Whereever tbere appears to be wrong it is not

in ~ nature to suffer it in silence. I do not bave

peace of mind, until I find a remedY for tbe wrong.n103

This gives us on idea of tbe keynote of bis personality.

Be was bigbly intolerant of social urong and bated it.

Be further stated, "I caD bear any amount of paiD wtum

it affects me but uben others are subjected to it for no

fault of tbcirs I cannot put up witb it.n104

ADotber important cboraoteristic of Veeresaliugam•s

personality was bis stroug 1110ral sense and love of

justice. He declared, "l believed from the beginntq

tbat morality was essential for religion, tbat au

immoral man could not be a real devotee of God and tbat

tn order to find favour 1D Dis Byes, we should be pure

103. Veerenalingam, SWe!fa• P.I, op~ctt., P.49.

i04. Ibid., P.Go. His contemporaries vouobsafed to tb1s in tbeir writings on Veeresal1ngam. See for example, R. Venkotasivudu, Samsmr1t1, op.ctt., PP.111 and 13o-32.

i66

of beart and of good cbaraot~rn.i05

Tbe most prominent trait 1D bis character uas bis

1Ddomitable courage and steadfastness of purpose. "l

am not disposed even as a boy to give up an uudcrtakiDg

or let slip D\Y purpose, wbeD oDOe I enter upoD tt'!106

be wrote iD bis autobiography.

Veeresaliagam was Dot content to remain a mere

preacher ot dreamer. He bad a philosophy of action and

a programme of work. "I bave myself aluays eudeavoured

in 11\Y otm bumble uay to work on tbe plan wbicb makes

action follow as closely as possible upon tbe heels of

10&.

i06.

VeeresaliDgam, .swegya, P.I, op.cit., P.56. Also see Veeresailngam, Col.\Vorks, Vol.VJII, op.cit., P.l5T, wbcre be expressed tbe same lee!iDgs 1D a lecture on 'Mauusbadbarmamu', delivered in i892 at Rajabm.undry. veeresaliDgam condemned idolatry and pleaded for monotheism. Be gas a tbeiot by faith. His religious ideas are discussed in Chapter VI. Veeresaliugum, suee.va, P.I 0 of.cit., P.6o. In­stances are maay ln=&is life whlcb be narrated in bis Autobiography uhile discussin~ bis crusade against local corrupt officialdom) where be did Dot flinob even an inch from bis duty. To illustrate tbls point 011 inctdeut from bts boybood may be cited. D1ssat1sfiecl w1 tb tbe inefficiency of his headmaster as an EDglisb teacher and also burt by bis barsh treatment of tbe boys, veeresalingam, tben a twelve year old boy, got up a memor.i.al against him for a transfer and organised an effective strike. Tbe headmaster uas transferred aJld a more e£fioi eDt maD was po~ted. J:t,or a detailed account of tbe iDol­dent, see Ibid., PP.52-53. Tbe opinion of N.o. Cbandavamar, a contemporary and social reformer from Bombay, about Veeresallngam may 1n tbls context be mentioned: "~ake a man gbo bas tbe courage of bis oouvictlon, a man like Mr.Veeresaliogam PantQJu (sic) ••• ubo is in every 1Dch of blm a man of spot­less character, bold, bumble, meek but at the same time resolute". see L.V.Koikint, ed. Tbe Speeches and writings of Sir N.G.Cbandavarkar (Bombay, 1911) P.5S7.

161

conviction. I may therefore be pardoned for the observation

that discussions and resolutions do not b.Y auy means exhaust

the real uork of sooial or aQY kind of reform •••• n 101

Witb regard to tbe work to be done iD transforming

public life 1D ADdbra, be expressed his vieus iD one of

his lectures uberein be discussed tbe qualities and

requirements of a practical uorker. "EVery person of right

thougbt thinks o~ lead~ others to right condUcta but

there are oDly very few Gbo can really do so.... We see

mauy people who always imag1De tbat they could improve

the world only wbeD tbey reach a certain position or acquire

wealtb ODd pass away miserably doing notb1Dg for tbe world.

wealtb and position are not got easily without our yielding

to many undesirable aots6 De ubo relies on truth ••••

should be prepared to set aside conetderattons of father,

motber, friends aDd relatives •••• UD18ss a mOD betters

himself first, be cannot better others. ADd to better

himself be mst leave tbe service of tbe old dam~ custom

and worship truth •••• all other means for sustained aotton

like courage, steadfastness and patience are got iD a

moment. These are thousand times more efficient weapons

than the old s.·stras, Astras... J:.'Ven tbougb your efforts

may fail 1D th~ begiDDing, do not get dissp·irited. Show

101. Presidential address at the 12th Indian Social CoD­terence published ~ C.Y.Chintamant, ed.op.ott., P.202.

168

to tbe uorld tbe usefulness of your attempts witbout giving

tbem up, by publisbing books, by delivering lectures and by

sbowiDg it iD your deedsa.108 This attitude of Veerosa-

ltDgam helped him much 1D carryi.Dg oD bis t'!Ork. As be

oDce said, "It is coDfldence iD ~ cbaraoter that bas made

men rely on my word tbrougbout my lit e.... EVen my

bitterest opponents iD social reform bad confidence iD my

character and trusted ~ word fUllY"•l09

W1tb all bis great qualities, Veeresalingam possessed

certain personal traits which were acting &D obstacles

to tbe progress of tbe movements be initiated. ne became

more irritable aDd abort tempered wltb time as be bad

to lead a solitary lite fighting against his opponents

wbeD bis friends and follouers 1D tbe movement deserted

blm for fear of coDsequences like exconmunication. Be was

1Ddivtdualistic b.Y nature and was uncompromising in b1s

convictions. His was a strong willed personality with a

tenacity of purpose. These qualities marked him out from

others of lesser ab111t1es uho found it rather difficult

aua irksome to work 1D association with bim.110

i08. Veeresaliagam, Col.Works, Vol.VIII, op.oit., PP.47-51. Translated aDd cited by GurunatbBM, op.cit., PP.43-45.

109. Ibiu., P.47.

110. See for a candid expression of views oD tb1s aspect by oDe of bls follouers aad co-workers, R.Venkataatvudu, samsmrttt, op.oit., P.28.