Budget 2025: FM Nirmala Sitharaman quotes Telugu poet and playwright Gurajada Appa Rao – Who was he?

Union Budget 2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting Budget 2025 on Saturday, February 1, referenced renowned Telugu poet and playwright Gurajada Apparao (1862-1915) during her address.

Quoting from the iconic poem ‘Desamunu Preminchumanna,’ Sitharaman said, “The great Telugu poet and playwright Gurajada Appa Rao had said, ‘Desamante Matti Kaadoi, Desamante Manushuloi,’ which translates to ‘A nation is not just its land; a nation is its people.’”

She linked this sentiment to the government's vision of Viksit Bharat, highlighting goals such as eradicating poverty, ensuring universal access to quality education and healthcare, achieving full employment with skilled labour, increasing women’s participation in economic activities to 70 per cent, and strengthening India's agricultural sector to become a global food supplier.

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The finance minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to "Sabka Vikas," emphasising a development strategy that prioritises the poor, youth, farmers, and women.

Who was Gurujada Apparao?

Gurajada Venkata Apparao (21 September 1862 – 30 November 1915) was a trailblasing Indian playwright, poet, and social reformer, widely celebrated for his contributions to Telugu literature and theatre. Born in Rayavaram, Andhra Pradesh, he is best known for his iconic play Kanyasulkam (1892), which critiques social injustices and remains a cornerstone of Telugu literature.

Apparao’s works often addressed the struggles of women and challenged societal norms, establishing him as a pioneer of modern Telugu drama. He was also a strong advocate for social reform and played a key role in promoting the use of spoken dialects through initiatives like the Andhra Sahitya Parishat.

Honored with the titles Kavisekhara and Abyudaya Kavitha Pithamahudu, Gurujada Apparao’s legacy continues to inspire generations, cementing his place as a transformative figure in Indian literature and social thought.