Ushasri

Who was Ushasri?

Ushasri is a radio and literary personality in Telugu. The original name of Ushasri is Puranapanda Surya Prakasha Dikshithulu. He is from Andhra Pradesh in South India. He lived between 1928 and 1990. He was very famous for his radio programmes broadcast from Vijayawada All India Radio Station. His voice is easily recognized all across Andhra Pradesh among the 1960-1970's generation. On radio, in a weekly series, he used to tell the epics of Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana in a simple and lucid style which was easily understandable by even illiterate people. The live commentary which he used to give for Sita Rama Kalyanam at Bhadrachalam was equally popular. He has also written a number of books on Hindu Epics. Even now, his voice is imitated by Mimicry Artists in their programmes. His live commentary on the opening of road cum rail bridge which was built on river gogadvari between rajahmundry and kovvur, was very famous. This bridge was inaugurated by Phakruddin Ali Ahmed, former president of India. In that commentary he was supported by Sri Sankaramanchi Satyam, author of Amaravathi Kathalu. He was the first person who write Navala Lekhavali that is series of letters in the form of suggesting young girls. The name of this work is Pellade Bomma. It was continuously published in Krishna Patrika during 1960s. He was the first person in this form of work. He wrote Sri Venkateswara Kalyanam a Yaksha ganam in 1961.It was performed by Nataraj Ramakrishna. It was also performed in front of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President of India. At that time, Nataraja Ramakrishna cheated Ushasri, that this Yakshaganam was written by himself, but not by Ushasri. From that day onwards Ushasri had taken his script and not allowed Nataraja Ramakrishna to perform. He is the first person who gave running commentary on the occasion of Krishna Pushkaras in Vijayawada. It was grand success. So many people came to visit Vijayawada just for looking Ushasri, but not for pushkara snanam. It was told by Sriramana, author of Mithunam story. His voice is uncomparable. Ushasri was somehow faced troubles while he was working in the All India Radio, Hyderabad station. There he was suffered from colleagues. Well-known poet Devulapalli Krishna Sastri wanted Ushasri to be removed from All India Radio. If ushasri is in AIR, we should close the station. Immediately remove him from the job. But fortunately, Balantrapu Rajanikantharao, the station director, recognised the greatness of ushasri. Ana immediately send him to vijayawada station. No one can stop the sunrays with their hands... is true in case of ushasri. He translated the speeches of Rajaji, he gave running commentary on the visit of Lal Bahadur Sastri to Hyderabad, and so many occasions. While he was too young, he was blessed by Sri Sridhara Venkaiah, who is famous in astronomy. He told that, Ushasri will be popular by his voice.. Ushasri's wife is Smr. Madhunapantula vyasa venkata satyavati, who is the cousin sister of Sri Madhunapantula Satyanarayana Sastry, residents of Pallepalem, near Yanam. Ushasri is blessed with four daughters. Dr. Gayatri, who is a professional ayurvedic doctor, giving programmes in Etv, SVBC... Smt. Padmavathi who is working as a teacher for 25 years, in vijayawada. Dr.Jayanthi, who did her P.Hd. on Ushasri's works is working as a sub editor in sakshi Telugu daily newspaper. Smt. Kalyani working as in charge for auditing section in a reputed hospital. Ushasri faced so many difficulties, and struggled a lot in the beginning of his career.He also wrote a famous story 'athidhi maryadha' which is a lesson for seventh class children in telugu state and cbse text book.