Sri Krishnadeva Raya Telugu Bhasha Nilayam to celebrate 124th anniversary in Hyderabad

Sri Krishnadeva Raya Telugu Bhasha Nilayam (previously often called Sri Krishnadeva Raya Andhra Bhasha Nilayam) stands tall alongside the bustling foremost highway of Ramkote in Hyderabad. This Nilayam—which means ‘home’ in Telugu—is a treasured haven for severe readers and lovers of Telugu literature.

A quiet calm prevails on the library’s second ground as secretary T. Udayawarlu leafs by way of Neerajanam, a just lately launched e book that pays posthumous tribute to author and scholar Biruduraju Ramaraju. Alongside Neerajanam, the Nilayam additionally launched a set of Ramaraju’s essays to mark his centenary beginning anniversary in April. “Ramaraju was the first poet in South India to write about janapada sahityam (folk literature). In addition to Telugu, he was fluent in Sanskrit and English and authored books in both languages. He also served as secretary of the Andhra Bhasha Nilayam,” shares the septuagenarian.

Bibliophile’s delight

T. Udayawarlu 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

One of Hyderabad’s oldest libraries, Bhasha Nilayam homes round 50,000 books and magazines, together with a number of uncommon titles. While the library’s catalogue affords categorised listings, the digitisation course of stays gradual and ongoing. Only round 10,000 books have been digitised in the previous seven years, hampered by restricted funding, staffing shortages, and copyright constraints, explains Udayawarlu.

September 2025 marks a serious milestone for Bhasha Nilayam because it completes 124 years. While just a few particular occasions are deliberate to commemorate the event, the library — as soon as a beacon of information and enlightenment — continues to try to maintain its legacy.

Owing to its wealthy historical past, Bhasha Nilayam was as soon as thought to be a cultural landmark on par with establishments like Ravindra Bharathi, Telangana Saraswatha Parishat, and Thyagaraja Gana Sabha. “It was a popular destination at one point and a must-visit for lovers of Telugu literature in Hyderabad. But now, it’s mostly M.Phil and Ph.D. students who come here for reference,” says Udayawarlu.

To maintain

Priceless assortment of books
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Special Arrangement

This used to be a bustling hub throughout literary periods and memorial occasions held for early Telugu poets and students. But when funding dried up and footfall dropped, the library’s members got here up with a plan to keep afloat: create awards to honour notable people posthumously and celebrate their contributions to Telugu literature. “We’d reach out to the friends and families of late poets and writers, explain the idea of instituting an award in their name, for a fee,” says Udayawarlu.

The concept labored. Today, 9 such awards have been arrange. Among them are two instituted by the grandchildren of Ravi Chettu Ranga Rao — one of many library’s 4 founders — in reminiscence of their grandfather and his spouse, Ravichettu Lakshmi Narasamma. Other awards honour luminaries like poet Dasarathi and Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, the primary elected chief minister of Hyderabad State.

Swathi M who catalogues the books on the library
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Special Arrangement

The library additionally earns a little bit of earnings by renting out its fourth ground to the National Open School (NOC).

But challenges stay. Udayawarlu laments that the library has misplaced round 10,000 books through the years — some misplaced in transport, some to termites, and plenty of by no means returned by debtors. “People pay ₹40 for a rare book that once cost four annas in 1920 and don’t return it. So we converted this into a reference library,” he explains.

Home for e book lovers
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Now helmed by president KV Ramana Chary, the library counts Udayawarlu as its ever-dedicated secretary for the previous 9 years. A passionate bibliophile, he travels from Meerpet to the library for literary occasions, upkeep work, or wage day to pay the caretaker and supervisor. “At 76, I’m the youngest member here,” he laughs. “Our former president Nuti Shankar Rao retired at 96, and our current vice president, K. Chandraprakash Rao, is 95 and still going strong.”

As Bhasha Nilayam gears up for just a few massive moments — together with poet Dasarathi’s beginning centenary in July and its personal 124th anniversary in September — plans are underway to lastly launch an internet site too.