Telugu language poet Late Srirangam Srinivasa Rao. He is also popularly known as Sri Sri. Srirangam Srinivasa Rao was the first true modern Telugu poet to write about contemporary issues that affected day-to-day life of a common man in a style and metre which were not used in classical Telugu poetry. He wrote visionary poems in a style and metre not used before in Telugu classical poetry. He moved poetry forward from traditional mythological themes to reflect more contemporary issues.
Srirangam Srinivasa Rao influenced a lot of people with his works. He was considered as a child prodigy as he started writing poems at his will from the age of seven. He broke the classical style of telugu writing and introduced free verse in telugu poetry.
Srirangam Srinivasa Rao’s book Maha Prasthanam (The Great Journey), an anthology of poems, is one of his major works. In one of the poems, “Jagannathuni Ratha Chakralu”, Sri Sri addressed those who were suffering due to social injustices and said, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. The wheels of the chariot of Jagannath are coming; they are coming! The apocalyptic chant of the chariot wheels! Come, realise your dreams Rule your new world! “Other major works include Siprali and Khadga Srushti (Creation of the Sword).
