Sri Krishnadeva Raya Telugu Bhasha Nilayam to celebrate 124th anniversary in Hyderabad
A quiet calm prevails on the library's second floor as secretary T. Udayawarlu leafs through Neerajanam, a recently launched book that pays posthumous tribute to writer and scholar Biruduraju Ramaraju. Alongside Neerajanam, the Nilayam also released a collection of Ramaraju's essays to mark his centenary birth anniversary in April. 'Ramaraju was the first poet in South India to write about janapada sahityam (folk literature). In addition to Telugu, he was fluent in Sanskrit and English and authored books in both languages. He also served as secretary of the Andhra Bhasha Nilayam,' shares the septuagenarian.
Bibliophile's delight
One of Hyderabad's oldest libraries, Bhasha Nilayam houses around 50,000 books and magazines, including several rare titles. While the library's catalogue offers categorised listings, the digitisation process remains slow and ongoing. Only around 10,000 books have been digitised in the past seven years, hampered by limited funding, staffing shortages, and copyright constraints, explains Udayawarlu.
Treasure trove of Telugu books
Durmarga Charitram, Vishnubhatla Subrahmanya
Achcha Telugu Ramayanam, Koochinanchi Timmakavi
Agnidhaara, Dasarathi
Adhunika Andhra Kavitvam Prayogamulu, C Narayana Reddy
Ahvanam, Vanamaamalai Varadacharyulu
Aame Needalu, Bezawada Gopalreddy Ravi Bharathi
Ameena, Gudipaati Venkatachalam
Antha Natakame, Vishwanatha Satyanarayana
Athagaaru Naxlalitelu, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna
Agniveena, Aanisetti Subbarao
Mahasabha, Taapi Dharma Rao
Ellora, Buchi babu
Anshumati, Adivi Bapiraju
Arutham Kurisina Raatri, Devarakonda Balagangadhar Tilak
Allallu, Muni Manikyam Narasa Rao
Alasaani vaani Allika Jigi Bigi, Vishwanatha Satyanarayana
September 2025 marks a major milestone for Bhasha Nilayam as it completes 124 years. While a few special events are planned to commemorate the occasion, the library — once a beacon of knowledge and enlightenment — continues to strive to sustain its legacy.
Owing to its rich history, Bhasha Nilayam was once regarded as a cultural landmark on par with institutions like Ravindra Bharathi, Telangana Saraswatha Parishat, and Thyagaraja Gana Sabha. 'It was a popular destination at one point and a must-visit for lovers of Telugu literature in Hyderabad. But now, it's mostly M.Phil and Ph.D. students who come here for reference,' says Udayawarlu.
To sustain
This used to be a bustling hub during literary sessions and memorial events held for early Telugu poets and scholars. But when funding dried up and footfall dropped, the library's members came up with a plan to stay afloat: create awards to honour notable individuals posthumously and celebrate their contributions to Telugu literature. 'We'd reach out to the friends and families of late poets and writers, explain the idea of instituting an award in their name, for a fee,' says Udayawarlu.
The idea worked. Today, nine such awards have been set up. Among them are two instituted by the grandchildren of Ravi Chettu Ranga Rao — one of the library's four founders — in memory of their grandfather and his wife, Ravichettu Lakshmi Narasamma. Other awards honour luminaries like poet Dasarathi and Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, the first elected chief minister of Hyderabad State.
The library also earns a bit of income by renting out its fourth floor to the National Open School (NOC).
But challenges remain. Udayawarlu laments that the library has lost around 10,000 books over the years — some lost in transport, some to termites, and many never returned by borrowers. 'People pay ₹40 for a rare book that once cost four annas in 1920 and don't return it. So we converted this into a reference library,' he explains.
Now helmed by president KV Ramana Chary, the library counts Udayawarlu as its ever-dedicated secretary for the past nine years. A passionate bibliophile, he travels from Meerpet to the library for literary events, maintenance work, or salary day to pay the caretaker and manager. 'At 76, I'm the youngest member here,' he laughs. 'Our former president Nuti Shankar Rao retired at 96, and our current vice president, K. Chandraprakash Rao, is 95 and still going strong.'
As Bhasha Nilayam gears up for a few big moments — including poet Dasarathi's birth centenary in July and its own 124th anniversary in September — plans are underway to finally launch a website too.
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