Here is a little known scholar, late M Puttu Rao, whose work on Mahabharatha has seen the light of the day after a gap of more than 45 years since he penned it. It also comes 37 years after his death.
His work “Padyapeeyusha” was kept under abeyance for more than four decades has been brought out in form of a book - after Rao’s grandson fulfiled his dream of publishing the work.
The book was released at simple ceremony without much fanfare in city on Sunday.
Puttu Rao’s work has many special features. It comprises of all the 18 parvas or chapters of Vyasa Mahabharatha and has been condensed into about 813 poems in Bhamini Shatpadi.
The writer has used Nadugannada or Thiligannada which reads eloquently to the common man. “Rao maintains a psychological distance from all the characters and themes and presents the Mahabharatha in an unbiased manner. The ancient work Pampabharatha highlights Arjuna, while Kumaravyasa Bharatha selects Sri Krishna as its protagonist.
While, Rannabharatha takes Bheema as central character and Lakshmeesha inclines towards the devotees of Srikrishna. The Sanskrit work Jaimini Bharatha concentrates on Ashwamedha parva of Vyasabharatha,” says Srivatsa S Vati, a scholar from Belur, who attended the release function of the book in city.
Puttu Rao’s works touch all 18 chapters of Vyasa Bharatha. Ranna has worked on the ten chapters and Thimmanna (in the court of Vijayanagar) worked on eight chapters in Halegannada. His works follow the principle of Bhamini Shatpadi in Thiligannada which is not easy, he adds.
Born in Madapura in Belur, Puttu Rao graduated from Maharaja college in Mysore and was a favourite student then principal of the college Dr S Radhakrishnan, says his son Udaynarayana.
“My mother Anasuyamma preserved the manuscript (handwrittens script) of the work safely for more than four decades. In recent years, I discovered the script and realised that my father wanted to bring it in a print form. But, neither me nor my father were in a position invest on it,” Udayanarayana, a retired BEML employee told Deccan Herald.
However, it was Udayanarayana’s son Mithun, a civil engineer in Abu Dhabi who has helped realise his grandfather’s unfulfilled dream. He has published the book and got it released.
“It was a happy moment. Seeing the work, I can realise that my grandfather has put in lot of hardwork and effort in it. His another manuscript is also with us. We plan to publish it soon,” he says. Puttu Rao was born in 1901 and graduated from Maharaja college and worked in the education department during the British rule. He died in 1973. He penned his work on Mahabharatha during the last years of his life.