Prof. Darla Venkateswara Rao, Dy.Dean, Students’ Welfare & Professor at Department of Telugu, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been conferred with the Dr. Ambedkar National Award-2019 by the Dalit Open University of India at their 33rd Convocation held on July 13, 2019 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh State. Prof. Gujjarlamudi Kripachari, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Swarnalatha Devi, Director of CARDS & Chairman of the Awards Committee, Ms. Marry, Charity Director, Hridaya Raju, Amaranath, Deputy Directors and Yesuratnam, Rajani, Joint Directors were present at the event.
Dalit Open University of India (1986) promotes education for dropouts and conducts research on Dr. Ambedkar’s life, work and philosophy. It also creates social awareness among the dalits, tribals and economically deprived sections. It financially supports the downtrodden sections too. The university utilizes the services of the Dalit Intellectuals, Writers and Sympathizers. Awards are conferred every year on those who work nationally and internationally for the Dalit cause.
About Prof. Darla Venkateswara Rao
Professor Darla Venkateswara Rao teaches Telugu literature in the Department of Telugu at the Central University of Hyderabad. He is an eminent poet who has published 16 books that include Maadiga Chaitanyam (1997), Sampadakathvam, Saahithi Moorthula Prashasthi (1998), Saha Sampadakathwam, Gnanandakavi Amrapaali Parisheelana (1999), Parishodhana, Dalita Thathivikudu (2004), Kovithvam, Srujanathmaka Rachanalu Cheyadam Yela? (2005), Vimarsha, Saahithilochanam (2006), Vimarsha, Voka Maadigasmruthi – Naagappagaari Sundarraju (2007), Monograph, Dalita Sahithyam: Madiga Drukpatham (2008), Vimarsha, Veechika (2009), Vimarsha, Punarmulyankanam (2010), Bhahujana Drikpatham (2012), Saahithi Murthulu, Spoorthulu (2015),Nemalikannulu 2016 (Poetry), Sahitya Sougandhi (2016). He is the editor of sāhitya pariśōdhana-kaḷa:Vidhānaṁ (2017), written by Prof. Gangishetty Lakshminarayana, former Vice-Chancellor of Dravidian University, Kuppam.
Recently, Prof. Darla’s poetry has been translated into English by Dr. J. Bheemaiah, Faculty at Centre for Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad, and published under the title ”Voice of Dalit: The Poetry of Darla Venkateswara Rao” by the Prestige Book Publishing Company, New Delhi. Oxford Press has also published his poems in an anthology titled “The Oxford India Anthology of Telugu Dalit Writing“.
Under his supervision, 10 Ph.D.s and 19 M.Phil.s have been awarded.
A Researcher received an M.Phil. Degree from the Presidency College (University of Madras), Chennai, on Poetry- Nemeli Kannulu. In other universities, lot of research for Ph.D is being carried out on Dr. Darla Venkateswara Rao’s poetry and literary criticism. His books have been referred to, by several research students. He has designed new courses like Telugu Dalit literature, Introduction to Telugu Diaspora Literature, Techniques of Writing a Thesis/Dissertation and Creative Writings in the department. In the past, he received many awards from Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (2007), Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, ‘Keeti Puraskaram’ (2012), Madhurakavai Mallavarapu John Poetry Research Award (2016), Hyderabad Central University Chancellor’s Award (2016), United Front for SC, ST Employees, Literature Division, Warangal’s Joshua National Award (2016), Vihanga Online Web Literary Award (2017) to name a few.