Asavadi Prakasa Rao (2 August 1944 – 17 February 2022) was an Indianpoet,critic,translator andscholar, who is known for his poetry and prose works. He is noted for his significant contribution toTelugu andSanskrit literature. In January 2021, he was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian award thePadma Shri in the Arts and Literature category.[1][2][3] As Ashtavadhani, he gave 170 performances and wrote and published 50 books across various genres.[4] His most notable literary contribution is his performance ofAvadhanam – a literary performance.[1] He received an honoraryD Litt fromPotti Sreeramulu Telugu University and a Distinguished Teacher award from the Department of Higher Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh.[5]
Asavadi Prakasarao was born to Kulayamma and Fakeerappa on 2 August 1944 inKorivipalli. His teacher Nanduri Ramakrishnamacharya changed his name to the optimist Prakash Rao.[6] Born into a Dalit family, he spent his childhood in the villages ofBeluguppa and Sirpi. He did his primary education in the social welfare schools in those villages. He was educated at Potti Sriramulu Municipal Boys' School and Rajendra Municipal High School inAnantapuram between 1953 and 1959. He completedPUC at Government Arts College, Anantapur, between 1960 and 1961. He also completedB. A. in 1962–65 from the same colleger.[citation needed]
He later worked for a few days in Eluru as a lower divisional clerk after passing in theAPPSC Group-4 examination. He left that job as an obstacle to his progress and worked as a Telugu scholar in Venkatadripalle, Y. Rampuram, Kanekal, Kurli Zilla Parishad schools between 1965 and 1968. He earned aM. A. in Telugu Linguistics from Anantapur PG Center (affiliated toSri Venkateswara University,Tirupati) between 1968 and 1970. Starting in 1970, he worked as an Andhra lecturer in Government Junior College,Rayadurgam, Government Degree Colleges in Anantapur, Guntakallu, Nagari, Punganur and Penukonda. He served as the Principal of Penukonda Government Degree College and retired in 2002.[citation needed]
Prakasarao was accepted as a teacher inAvadhanam education. He made his first Avadhanam in 1963 at the age of 19.[6] He was regarded as the only Dalit Avadhāni in Andhra literature. He performed 171 Avadhanams, a double octave, not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in other parts of India such as Taruttani, Arakkonam, Pallipattu, Hosur, Bengaluru, Bellary, Donimalai, Delhi etc. His observations were also broadcast on television and radio. He also gave someImpromptu performances.[citation needed]
