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| Charles Brown,Telugu scholar homegrown.co.in |
Charles Philip Brown (1798–1884), a British administrator and Indologist, remains an enduring icon in the history of Telugu literature. Born in Calcutta on November 10, 1798, Brown was the son of Rev. David Brown, a linguist and missionary associated with Fort William College. Following his father's death, he went to England and later returned to India after completing his civil service training at Haileybury College, apparently started by the East India company to recruit officers for their operations in India.
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| Brown's own handwriting upload.wikimedia.org/ |
As part of the East India Company’s policy encouraging civil servants to learn local languages—initiated by Sir Thomas Munro—Brown chose Telugu while posted in the Madras Presidency. Under the guidance of renowned scholar Velagapudi Kodandarama Panthulu, he attained remarkable fluency in the language. His administrative duties in regions like Cuddapah (Kadapa), Rajahmundry, Guntur, and Machilipatnam brought him closer to Telugu-speaking people and deepened his passion for the language and culture.
In Kadapa, where he served as district collector, Brown purchased land in Erramukkapalle and built a bungalow—later converted into ‘Brown College.’ He tirelessly collected, edited, and published classical Telugu works, including those of Vemana, Tikkana, and Potana. With the help of local scholars such as Juluri Appaiah and Advaita Brahmaiah, Brown revived neglected Telugu manuscripts and published them. His most notable contributions include the first Telugu-English Dictionary (1852), Telugu grammar books, prose readers, and learning materials for Englishmen interested in Telugu.
Telugu language is one of the richest languages in India and the great Tamil poet ''Subraminiya Bharathiyar'' called it a musical language - "Sundara Teluingil pattu essaithu."(compose song in beautiful Telugu). For unknown reason, the contribution in Telugu literature declined after the decline of Vijayanagara rulers, who were great patrons of Telugu. Charles Brown said, "Telugu literature was dying out; the flame was flickering in the socket. In 1825, I found Telugu literature dead. In 30 years I raised it to life". No doubt, he breathe a new lease of life and resurrected it.
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| C.P. Brown Library,Kadapa,AP education.sakshi.com |
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| Palm manuscripts, C.P. Brown Library, kadapa,newindianepress.com |
Above images: CP Brown Library in Kadapa. Started in a new building in 1995, it celebrated its silver jubilee in November,2020. Janamaddi Hanumath Sastri (!926-2014), who had researched Brown's life, established a library in Kadapa in his memory. The library has some of the rarest collections of manuscripts that date back to the 11th Century. Researchers and scholars can access two hundred-year-old palm leaf manuscripts on education, medicine, Vedas, Upanishads, Ayurveda, Mantra Sastra, Jyotish Sastra (astrology), hundred-year-old handmade paper bundles on various subjects in CP Brown Library, which will be of great help to the young research scholars............
The Telugu language is quite indispensable for young people who want to learn Carnatic music which is fundamental to many branches of music, including film music. Brown did work on Tyagaraja (Swamigal) who wrote extensive compositions (kirtans) on god ''Sri Rama'' in chaste Telegu whose Aradhana takes place every year at his Samadhi on the banks of the River Cauvery in Thiruvaiyaru town near Thanjavur city Tamil Nadu.
Brown’s service extended beyond literature. During the 1832–33 famine in Guntur, he implemented relief measures that won public admiration. He also established four schools (two each in Cuddapah and Machilipatnam), offering free food and Telugu-medium education. Despite financial strain—spending his own money and taking loans for publishing—he never wavered in his mission.
Brown retired in 1854 and later served as Professor of Telugu at the University of London. He died on December 12, 1884, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, a historic cemetery known for its notable burials, in London.
On his 226th birth anniversary (November 9, 2024), Telugu people fondly remembered this ‘Karma Yogi’ who immortalized their language. Thanks to Charles Philip Brown, Telugu literature was rescued from decline and given a new life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Phillip_Brown
https://news-crunch.com/blog/remembrance-day-cp-brown-the-saviour-of-telugu-language
