Telugu is one of the major languages of India. With approximately 150 million speakers worldwide, this language has a history spanning over 3,000 years. References to the Āndhra people appear in the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa. Information about the Āndhra region is found in the Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata, and the Purāṇas. The Nāṭyaśāstra mentions the Telugu language, and Telugu words are also found in the Gāthā-saptaśatī. Telugu words appear in Prākṛt and Sanskrit inscriptions from the earliest of time.
The diversity of Telugu literature and culture is remarkable. From Nannaya to Chinnayasūri, many great poets, authors of treatises, composers of classical music, writers of śatakas and yakṣagānas, folk artists, and sculptors have enriched Telugu literary and cultural traditions. This vast heritage reminds us of our responsibility—not only to preserve it, but also to introduce it to future generations and inspire them to continue this legacy.
About Telugunudi
Telugunudi is a pioneering initiative started by literary enthusiasts and scholars with a deep understanding of Telugu literature. Our goals through this center are as follows:
Classical literature is an integral part of the vast Telugu literary tradition, spanning over a thousand years. Our objective is to bring these works to the forefront by translating epics and treatises into English, writing commentaries on significant texts, compiling a database with details about authors and their works, and making these resources accessible to all through a dedicated website.
The tradition of Telugu scholarship continues through literary performances such as aṣṭāvadhāna, śatāvadhāna, the composition of mahākāvyas, and the writing of commentaries on classical texts. We are privileged to have the support of scholars and researchers dedicated to classical studies. Our aim is to assist serious researchers in their projects by developing resources, awarding fellowships, and providing research grants.
Our vision is to preserve and sustain the great heritage of the Telugu people by promoting classical studies, establishing a library and museum, and creating archives through both digital and print media.
Our Team
The core team behind this center include the renowned literary scholar and retired Telugu professor R. V. S. Sundaram, the Project Director of the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu and retired Telugu professor M. Sampath Kumar, and the promoter of Indian classical traditions Manish Maheshwari. We aspire to make this endeavor a success with the help and collaboration of a dedicated team of experts.
This center moves forward with the support and funding of the Tattva Heritage Foundation.
Executive Board
R. V. S. Sundaram
M. Sampathkumar
Manish Maheshwari
R. V. S. Sundaram
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R. V. S. Sundaram was a professor and the director of the Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies at the University of Mysore. He was also a visiting professor of South Indian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He co-translated classical Telugu, Kannada and Sanskrit texts into English. He is a founding member of karṇāṭa and oversees all initiatives related to classical languages at the centre.
M. Sampathkumar
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-Dr. M. Sampat Kumar was Professor and Head of the Department of Telugu and also the Director of Oriental Research Institute at the University of Madras. At present he is the Project Director of the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu. He is a poet, Critic and Linguist.
Manish Maheshwari
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Manish Maheshwari leads two non-profit cultural organizations—Tattva Heritage Foundation and Centre for Shaiva Studies—each committed to the preservation and promotion of Indian culture and heritage. These organizations support scholars, artists, and institutions involved in critical projects pertaining to Indian cultural traditions. In a prior life, Manish was an investment management professional at a hedge fund in New York City and later in Mumbai. He holds postgraduate degrees from Columbia University and Mumbai University.
