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              Srirangam Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as Sri Sri, was 
              born on 2nd January 1910 in Visakhapatnam. Sri Sri completed his 
              education in the same school in which his father Sri Venkata Ramaiah 
              was working as a mathematics teacher. He married Ms. Venkata Ramanamma 
              at an age of 15 and adapted a girl child. Later on he married Ms. 
              Sarojini and was blessed with a son and two daughters.  
            He 
              went to Madras for his higher studies in 1928 and completed them 
              by 1931. In 1938, he joined as a sub editor of 'Andhra Prabha' 
              daily newspaper. He later on worked for All India Radio and armed 
              forces. He is a major radical poet (e.g. prabhava) and novelist 
              (e.g. Veerasimha Vijayasimhulu). He introduced free verse 
              into his socially concerned poetry through Maha Prasthanam. 
              He wrote visionary poems in a style and metre not used before in 
              Telugu classical poetry. He moved poetry forward from traditional 
              mythological themes to reflect more contemporary issues. 
            He 
              entered into Telugu cinema with Ahuti(1950), a Telugu dubbed 
              version of Junnarkar's Neera aur nanda(1946). Some of the 
              songs Hamsavale O Padava, Oogisaladenayya, Premaye janana marana 
              leela, scored by Saluri Rajeswara Rao, were major hits.  
            He 
              did also do some strident songs like Telugu Veera Levara 
              from Alluri Seetarama Raju and Padavoyi Bharateeyuda 
              from Velugu Needalu(1961). Films like Aakali Rajyam 
              were inspired on the works of Sri Sri. 
            Telugu 
              people remember Sri Sri as long as Telugu poetry exists. Lets salute 
              this great human being for the inspirational work and service he 
              has provided to the Telugu community 
            
            We 
              are presenting you some of the poems of Maha Prasthanam for the 
              Sri Sri fans. 
            Maro 
              prapancham, 
              Maro prapancham, 
              Maro prapancham pilichindi! 
              PadanDi munduku, 
              PadanDi trosuku, 
              Podaam, podaam, pai paiki! 
            kadam 
              trokkutu, 
              padam paaDutu, 
              hrudamtaraalam Garjistu- 
              padanDi podaam, 
              vinabaDaleda 
              maro prapanchapu jalapaatam ?  
            daaripoDugunaa 
              GumDe Netturulu, 
              tarpaNa chestu padanDi munduku! 
              baatalu naDichi, 
              peTalu gaDichi, 
              koTalanniTini daatanDi! 
              nadi nadaalu, 
              aDavulu KonDalu, 
              eDarulaa manakaDDamki? 
            padanDi 
              munduku! 
              padanDi trosuku! 
              podaam, podaam pai paiki! 
              emukulu kruLLina, 
              vayasu maLLina, 
              somarulaara chaavanDi! 
              NetturumanDe, 
              Saktulu ninDe, 
              Sainukulaara! raranDi!" 
              harom harom hara! 
              hara! hara! hara! hara! 
              Harom hara" anikadalamDi! 
            maro prapancham, 
              mahaa prapancham, 
              dharitrininDa ninDimDi! 
            padanDi munduku! 
              padanDi trosuku! 
              prabhanjanam vale horettindi! 
              bhaavavegumuna prasaarinchanDi! 
              varshakabhramula praLayaghoshavale 
              PheLa PheLa PheLa PheLa viruchuku padanDi! 
              padanDi,  
              padanDi, 
              padanDi munduku! 
            kanapaDaleda 
              maro prapanchapu 
              kanakana manDe tretaagni ? 
              egiri egiri egiri paDutunnaayi, 
              enabhai lakshala meruvulu! 
              tirigi tirigi tirigi samudraala, 
              jalapraLaya naaTyam chestunnaayi! 
              sala sala kraage chamura kaadidi, 
              ushna rakta kaasaaram! 
              sivasamudramu, 
              nayagaravale, 
              urakamDi! urakamDi munduku! 
              padanDi munduku! 
              padanDi trosuku! 
              maro prapanchapu kamchu nagaaraa. 
              viraamameruguka mrogindi! 
              Traachulavalenu, 
              rechulavalenu, 
              dhananjayunila saaganDi. 
              kanabaDaleda maroprapanchapu 
              agnikiriiTapu dhagadhagalu, 
              errabavuTa niganigalu, 
              homajvaalala bhugabhugalu ? 
            -Poem contributed 
              by Suhasini Kambhampati  
              
              
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