ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This anthology opens a window to a thousand years of classical poetry in Telugu, the mellifluous language of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. The classical tradition in Telugu is one of the richest, most original, and least explored of all South Asian literatures. We hope this collection will bring the world of Telugu poetry to the awareness of a wider audience of aficionados, connoisseurs, and scholars.

An introductory essay sets out our understanding of the evolving structure and dynamics of this tradition from its beginnings in the eleventh century to the twentieth century, when classical styles were gradually transformed and replaced by modern modes. We have attempted a synthesis that reflects our own work of the past two decades but that also stands firmly on the foundations laid by great Telugu scholars of this century: Vedamu Venkatarayasastri, Manavalli Ramakrishnakavi, Veturi Prabhakara Sastri, Rallapalli Anantakrishnasarma, Arudra, Bommakanti Srinivasacaryulu, Bommakanti Venkatasingaracarya, Balantrapu Nalinikantaravu, Bh. Krishnamurti, and others. Our debt to these pioneering scholars is profound.

We wish to acknowledge with gratitude the generous support provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities during the years 1994–1996—support that allowed us to meet regularly for sustained periods of work on this anthology—as well as Sharon Dickson's skillful ministrations at the Center for South Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin.

Jerusalem and Madison
May 1998