తెలుగు కావ్యములు/Preface
Preface.
At the present time Hindu Girls are taught their own language in schools especially opened for them and ladies in Zananas. Also some generous European Ladies take interest in teaching Fine Arts to them. Yet it is a well known fact that the Antahpuras have furnished, both in ancient and in modern times, women of learning, who were not only Poetesses and experts in Fine Arts, but skilled in gardening also, so as to rear a plant, to facilitate blossoming and fruit-bearing and lay out an Udyanavana (a pleasure garden). This we learn not only from the poetry of Kalidasa &c. but by the Telugu Poets flourished in the Augustan age of Telugu Literature at the time of the great Krishnadevaraya, whose own daughter Mohanangi was the author of a beautiful Poem "Marichiparinayamu". About a hundred years ago Mangalagiri in Kistna District produced a Poetess by name Tarigonda Venkamma who has composed two books called Rajayogasaramu and Venkatachalamahatmyamu. There are other works may be mentioned composed by Telugu Poetesses as Molliramayanamu by Molli.
In looking into my Library, I have come across a Book of Poems written on Palm leaves composed by an old member of my family. This Lady Sri Madina Subhadrayyamma was the eldest daughter of my grandfather. She was born in 1781 and was the mother of the famous M. Jajjga Rao on whom one of the first C. S. Is was conferred by Her Majesty for his services as a Principal Sudder Amin. He was well known to many European gentlemen of note. Like the mother of Sir William Jones this lady had brought up her son and educated him. She was well known for good works of piety and benevolence. The Poems disclose a deep reverence in Vyshnava religion and in one of her Poems she delineates upon morality. We now publish a selection of her Poems as Part 1.
They may be read with benefit by her sisters in the Telugu Country and perhaps with interest by Europeans who love read Telugu Poetry.
Vizagapatam
G. N. Gujputee Rao.
1st December 1893.