Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham
| Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 September 1867 Khandavalli, West Godavari district |
| Died | 17 June 1946 |
| Pen name | Chilakamarti Punnaiah |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Citizenship | India |
| Alma mater | Mission School, Veeravasaram |
| Genre | Playwright, novelist, poet |
| Notable works | Gayopakhyanam |
| Notable awards | Kala Prapoorna |
Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham (26 September 1867 – 17 June 1946) was an Indian playwright, novelist and author of short stories, who wrote in the Telugu language. He was a romantic and a social reformer in the tradition founded by Veeresalingam. His best-known plays are probably Gayopakhyanam (1909) and Ganapati (1920).
Narasimham was visually impaired since his youth, and became blind after his graduation. He nonetheless served as an instructor in Telugu at the Government Arts College in Rajahmundry. He was active in the Indian independence movement; he eschewed "foreign cloth" and wore khādī dhoti, shirt, coat and turban.
Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham was born on 26 September 1867 in a Dravida Brahmin family of Aaraama Dravidulu Sect. He was born at Khandavalli village in West Godavari district at the residence of his maternal uncle. His father's name is Chilakamarti Venkanna and mother's name is Venkataratnamma and were residents of Veeravasaram village in West Godavari district.
Narasimham's earlier name was Punniah and was later named after a popular temple deity Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy of Antarvedi village. According to his autobiography, his aunt's daughter Punnamma died after giving birth to a child. Narasimham's mother saw her in her dream and was asked to name Narasimham after her. Later, Narasimham's father and paternal grand mother did not like the name and changed it.
As a boy, he was said to resemble his maternal grandfather, Bhadraiah Sastry who died a year before the grandson was born. His body, height, tonal quality, poetic talent, together with a sort of purblindness (sic) where all inherited from the grandfather. Due to his partial blindness, he had trouble walking alone in the nights and was unable to read during nights. He was unable to see the numbers written on the blackboard and unable to catch ball while playing. He used to take help from his friends who used to read aloud the school lessons for him.
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