మా ఊరు ఓరుగల్లు (My town-Warangal)

Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao needs no introduction to any of the Telugus born or brought up in the state of Andhra Pradesh. His contributions to the literature and cultural departments of the Telugus on the whole and the Telangana as well, is immeasurable.

There was a non-detail book in Telugu in the APSSC syllabus during the 9th class or 10th class: "gurudevudu raveendrudu" on the life and works of Rabindranath Tagore, written by Ramanuja Rao.

I was just browing through the internet and found a book called: "Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao: Oka Rekha Chitram" (Roughly: A life-line of Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao (A brief sketch)) written by Sri T. Sri Ranga Swamy published around in 1991.

In this book I found a poem, which is an extract from Ramanuja Rao's essay "మా ఊరు ఓరుగల్లు" , from the book he wrote called "పచ్చ తోరణం" in which he wrote about the glory of the once capital of the Kakatiya's the city of Warangal.

Warangal has more to its historical significance than what it is actually credited with. No body cares about the great Fort and the dilapidating 1000 pillar temples, which are but some of most unique and heritage sites. The Kakatiya Dynasty is the first Telugu speaking rulers and their contributions to the language, its culture and traditions is highly laudable.

Anyways, coming back to the poem: here is how it goes:

కాబోలు నియ్యది కాకతీయులొకప్డు

కరకు నెత్తుట కత్తికడుగు చోటు
కాబోలు నీద్వార కల్యాణ వేదిక
అలికి ముగ్గులు పెట్టె తెలుగు పడుచు
కాబోలు నీజీర్ణకమనీయ సౌధాన
సుకుమార శిల్పముల్ సొంపులొలికె
కాబోలు నీవీధికాపురంబొనరించె
పైడి మేడలలోన భాగ్యలక్ష్మి
ఇచటనే నిల్చి కాబోలు నిందుముఖులు
ఆయుధంబులు పూజించియరుగుదెంచు
ఆంధ్రసేనకు కపురంపుటారతులను
ఇచ్చి వారల శౌర్యంబు మెచ్చినారు

Roughly:

"In deed:

This is the place, where the great Kakatiya's once used to wash the blood off their valorous swords!

This is the place, where before the door of the house, the traditional Telugu lady adorns the ground with designs with lines and diagrams using flour! (traditional way to decorate Hindu homes, especially in Telugu houses, as a symbol of goodness and prosperity).

This is the place, in the heart of which are the palaces (forts/temples) rich of the beautiful and delicate sculptures!

This is the place, in which in every street, in the houses made of gold, the goddess Lakshmi resided!!

This is the place, where the women stood and welcomed the brave soldiers from the war, by giving them a "camphor" haarathi, as the men have fought valorously in the battles!!"

Siddartha Pamulaparty

Dt: 06/06/2008.