N. Gopi

N. Gopi is an eminent Indian poet, and literary critic in Telugu and Sahitya Akademi Award recipient. He has also been in the University system as a professor and Dean since 1974, until retiring in 2008. He has also held the post of the Vice Chancellor of Telugu University, Hyderabad. Gopi's poetry displays nativity and a national outlook.
He has published 59 books including 29 poetry collections, 7 essay collections, 3 research works, 6 travelogues, 5 translations, 2 commentaries, and 4 column writings, apart from 3 textbooks for schools and for adult education projects.
His poetry collections have been translated into several Indian languages and foreign like Hindi, English, Gujarati, Tamil. Malayalam, Marathi, Konkani. Dogri, Maithili, Kannada, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Odia, Sindhi, Urdu, Assamese, Manipuri/Meitei, Bengali, Bodo, Kashmiri, Santali, Rajasthani, German, Chinese, Russian, and Persian.
His notable works are ‘Kalanni Nidra Ponivvanu’ ; ‘Naneelu’ ; ‘Jala Geetham’ and ‘Vruddhopanishath’.
He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000 for his poetry collection, “Kaalanni Nidraponivvanu”. He is also the recipient of 30 awards including the Freevers Front Award, the Telugu University Award Delhi Telugu academy award, an award for outstanding service to literature and culture by Sri Annamacharya Project of North America Chicago US and ‘Kalaratna’ award by Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Early life and education

Born on 25 June 1948 in Bhongir village of Yadadri Bhongir District, Telangana State. After his schooling at Government High School, he chose to join Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, where he did B.A. in Telugu, Sanskrit, and Linguistics group and stood with 6th rank, winning Nizam’s Gold Medal. This was followed by M.A. in Telugu, where he topped the University to win Gurajada Appa Rao Gold Medal from Osmania University in 1973. Later he did a P.G. Diploma in Applied Linguistics. Though his recorded name is Nakka Gopal, he is popularly known as N. Gopi in the literary field.

Career

His first job was Project Officer in a Non-formal Project of UNICEF for one year. Later he joined as a Lecturer in the N.B Science College affiliated to Osmania University in 1974. Later he joined the OU in 1981. He became Professor of Telugu in 1990, Chairman Board of Studies in 1992 and Head of the Department in 1994. Later he was appointed as Vice Chancellor of Telugu University. He was the youngest VC in India when he was chosen for the post. In 2001, he also took an additional charge as an acting VC for Dravidian and Kakatiya Universities simultaneously. After completing his term as the VC of Telugu University, he came back to his parent university, where he served as the Dean Faculty of Arts. After retirement in 2008, he served as UGC Emeritus Fellow during 2011-13 and 2015-17 for the second time.

Literary works

A prolific writer, Gopi has published 29 poetry collections so far.

Travelogues

Nenu Chusina Mauritius
Naa Cyprus Yaatra
America lo Telugu Yaatra
England lo 25 Rojulu
Germany lo Kavitaa Yaatra
Chinalo Kavitaa Yaatra

Literary criticism

Vyasa Navami
Gavaaksham
Niluvettu Telugu Santhakam Sinare Vyaktitvam
Saalochana - Peethikalu
Vyaasa Kalasham
Vyaasa Jignaasa

Other than these he wrote four travel books and many Translations

Research

Vemana Vaadam - commentary
Prajaakavi Vemana
Vemana Padyaalu - Paris Prathi 1730 AD
Toli Parishodhakulu
Vemana Velugulu - commentary

Gopi's Ph.D thesis on ‘Saint Poet Vemana’ is a monumental work and is rated as the best research work among 20 of that kind in Telugu. This book has had 6 reprints till date. The thesis was also translated into Kannada language which is also a record.

Major editing

Jnanpith Awardee "Dr. C. Narayana Reddy Samagra Sahityam"
Founder Editor of ‘Telugu Parishodana’, a research quarterly

Translations (into Telugu)

Gnaana Devudu
Tanmaya Dhooli
Maa Oori Nadi
Paagi
Vidyapati Pranaya Geetaalu

Other writings

Telugu Vaachakam - text book
Prayojana Vaachakam - adult literacy
Akshara Yaanam - column in India Today

Father of Naneelu

Gopi's sixth poetry collection ‘Naneelu’, means ‘The Little Ones’. This is a poetic form invented by N.Gopi, widely discussed and followed by hundreds of poets. More than 1000 poets penned Naneelu and more than 500 poets published anthologies of Naanee collections. This 25 years old poetry form is a trendsetter in Telugu literature. Gopi’s Naneelu have been translated into 12 languages, including Russian.

Awards and honours

Courtesy of his literary work and his service to Telugu literature, Gopi is a recipient of more than 50 awards. The following are some of his most recognized awards:Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000 for his poetry collection, ‘Kaalanni Nidra Ponivvanu’

Jaini International Foundation Award for Jalageetham-Long Poem Rs.1 lakh Cash Award, 2018.
Dr. Prof. Kothapalli Jayashankar Award with 1 lakh cash prize, a prestigious award instituted by Bharat Jagruthi-2023
Krittitwa Samagra Samman Award by Bharatiya Bhasha Parishat, Kolkata
Freeverse Front award in 1980 for his poetry collection, ‘Mylurayi’
Telugu University Award
Delhi Telugu Akademi Award
Award for outstanding service to literature and culture by Sri Annamacharya Project of North America, Chicago, USA, and ‘Kala Ratna’ award by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh

Gopi has also served as an elected member of various literary bodies across India. Some of the most coveted positions include:

Member of A.P. state Sahitya Akademi
Telugu Advisory Board member, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi
Telugu Advisory Board member, National Book Trust of India, New Delhi
Jury Member, Feature Films, Nandi Awards Committee A.P. Govt.
Chairman, Jury, T.V. Nandi Awards Committee, A.P. Govt.
Convener, Telugu Advisory Board and Member, Executive Council, Central Sahitya Akademi

Reception and influence

Gopi's literary essays are considered original and are widely quoted. His commentaries to Vemana’s poems are considered comprehensive and modern. His prolific columns in various newspapers and magazines on subjects such as literature and current affairs were very well received. He is an orator and much sought after Personality among Telugu Literary and cultural Organizations.
Gopi's extensive work on Vemana's poetry and his large poetry collection have been the subjects of various academic research.

Research on Gopi’s works

So far, 5 Ph.D.s and 4 M.Phils have been awarded in various universities for research work on Gopi's literature.

Books on Gopi’s works

Gopi Kavithanusheelana - Articles by various critics
Gopi Kavithanusheelana by Dr. Dwana Sastry
Gopi Sahitya Vivechana - Collection of Essays by different scholars edited by Dr. S. Raghu
Jala Deepika - Essays on Gopi’s Jala Geetham, Edited by N. Aruna