Kakarlapudi Narasimha Yoga Patanjali, a legend of telugu literature, was born on the 29th of March 1952 to Late Sri. Dr. K.V.V.Gopal Raju and Smt Sita devi.He was the second among 6 brothers and a sister and hails from Alamanda, a village in Vizianagaram district of North coastal Andhra Pradesh. He studied in Maharaja College, Viziangaram and graduated in BCom from Andhra University in 1973. In his journalism career spread over 33 years, he worked for major newspapers and publications starting from Eenadu (1975-84), Udhayam (1984-90), followed by Samayam, Andhra Bhoomi, Mahanagar, Andhra Prabha, T.V.9 and Saakshi.
His love for literature, started at a very early age and his first publication, “Dikkumalina College”, an anthology of short stories, came out in the early 70s. Later on two more collections of short stories,’Adharra Banti” and “Choopunna Paata” were released. His novel on the police system, “Khaki Vanam” won him many laurels.”Gopathrudu”, adjudged as his magnus opus by critics offers a close-up portrait of the politico-social process of a non-issue mounting into an issue of utmost significace. “Veera Bobbili” is the prequel of it while, “Pilakatirugudu Puvvu’ is its sequel.”Pempudu Janthuvulu”, “Appanna Sardar”, “Raju Goru”, “Oka Dayyam Aathma Katha”,”Mera Bharat Mahan”, “Gelupu Sare Batakadam Ela?”,”Rajula Logillu (incomplete)” are a few more of his works. His columns in many newspapers and magazines were instant hits. Some of them were brought out in the form of a book titled”Patanjali Bhashyam”. His complete works were recently brought out as a combined volume titled, “Patanjali Sahityam (Vol 1 & 2)”.
Spirit of renaissance forms the core of his creative gut. One can find a measured blend of this “moral” attitude and an engaging element of magical realism- or marvelous reality- in most of Patanjali’s writings. This concoction certainly serves as an elixir of life for the injured emotions of the serious readers who forgot to laugh years ago while freeing the relatively lighthearted readers from the monotony of re-reading the same old rubbish for decades.
Patanjali dutifully carried forward the literary mission launched by Gurazada Venkata Apparao for the last four decades. Rachakonda Viswanatha Sastri remained the guiding star for Patanjali while Leo Tolstoy, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and GabrielGarcia Marquez are a few men of letters who exerted their influence on Patanjali’s literary persona.
Patanjali won several prestigious awards which included Chaso Sphoorthi Puraskaram, Raavi Sastri Rachana Puraskaram and Nandi award for best dialogues for the movie “Sindhooram”.
After almost a year of battle with cancer, Patanjali passed away on the 11th of March 2009. He is survived by his wife Smt. K. Prameela Devi, and 3 daughters.