VIJAYAWADA: Eminent poet and literary critic Addepalli Ramamohan Rao passed away in Kakinada on Wednesday while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at a private hospital. He was 80 years old and is survived by wife and four sons.
Born on September 6, 1936 in Chintagunta Palle village near Machilipatnam of Krishna district, Ramamohan Rao stayed in his native village till 1970 before migrating to Kakinada. It is in Kakinada, where he worked as a teacher and lecturer in MSN Charity College, that he became popular as poet and literary critic. Known for his straightforward nature, Rao was one among the first who opposed the shadow cast on socio-economic structure by globalisation through his works.
Ramamohan Rao, who patronised short poetry, had penned over 40 compilations of poems including ‘Antarjwala’, ‘Madhujwala’, ‘Raktha Sandhya’ and ‘Godavari - Naa Prathibimbam’. He also authored critical reviews of Sri Sri works and Jashuva works and, was considered authority on those subjects.
His death was mourned by many including poets, writers, literary critics, who described it as void in the Telugu literature. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu also condoled his death and recalled the poet’s contribution to Telugu literature.