Garimella Satyanarayana

Garimella Satyanarayana Biography

Garimella Satyanarayana was a patriotic poet and freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh. Satyanarayana’s reverberating song Maakoddee Tella Doratanamu was popular during pre-independence days, particularly in the Telugu speaking region that was once a part of Madras State. Even Mahatma Gandhi appreciated the song lyrics and stirring emotions carried with this songs and he appealed to Hindi writers to write similar songs. Garimella was jailed for writing this song, which literally means ‘We don’t want this white man’s rule’. The poem consisting of 160 lines is perhaps the longest ever song written by anyone. Satyanarayana is still identified by this celebrated patriotic song.

Though he was a celebrated poet during pre-independent era, he led a miserable life due to poverty. This poet is known for his honesty, patriotism and ideologies. A few of his works have been discovered most recently, in which he appeals to God about his poor financial conditions. The collection of songs is known for its quality and later released as a CD where the voice was rendered by Komanduri Seshadri in classical music style.  

He was born on July 15, 1893 in Priyagraharam. He was brought up in poor financial conditions and was helped by a lawyer to complete the graduation. Garimella wrote ‘Swarajya Geethalu’, a collection of freedom songs. But those songs were banned by British government. Later he moved to Chennai where he worked as an editor for Anandavani magazine. His financial condition was so pathetic that he once appealed for financial help through newspapers in the early 1940’s. He continued with his writings and has also published books for children. ‘Khanda Kavyalu’ is another noted work written in short verse and long verse. Yet his writings could not offer financial help to his family.

Garimella displayed his knowledge of ragas through his song compositions. He has been sentenced to imprisonment several times by British government for writing patriotic songs. His entire family died when he was in jail. He died in 1952 in poverty!  

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Updated: September 24, 2014