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 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 few of these 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 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 founder of Tattva Heritage Foundation, 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.