Boyi Bhimanna


Dr. Boyi Bhimanna, transliterated alternatively as Bheemanna or Bheemana, was a Telugu poet.

Early life

Bhimanna was born in a poor Dalit family in Mamidikuduru village, East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in 1911. He participated in the Quit India Movement

Writings

He was influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. His writings reflected the angst of the down-trodden. He wore several hats such as that of a writer, poet, journalist and academician. He was a member of the senate of Andhra University. He was the director of the Andhra Pradesh state translation division for some time.
He wrote in English, as well, and the work entitled Seventh Season, a collection of his English poetry, was well-received. He wrote over seventy books in his career, with the work Gudiselu Kaalipothunnaayi being the most popular.

Selected list of works

He won several awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Puraskar for Gudiselu Kaalipothunnaayi in 1975. He was honoured by the Government of India with the fourth and third highest civilian awards in the country, namely the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan in 1973 and 2001, respectively.
Bhimanna was also awarded the title Kala Prapoorna by Andhra University. From 1978 to 1984, he was a member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council.
He was awarded Kala Ratna Award from Andhra Pradesh Government in 2003.
In 1992, Telugu University conferred a special award on him and in 1996, the state government awarded him the Atma Gauravam Puraskaram.
Bhimanna also received the prestigious Raja-Lakshmi Literary Award from the Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation in Chennai for the year 1991, as well as the Loknayak Award.

Death

He suffered from Parkinson's disease and, after a period of ailment, died at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad.