HYDERABAD: Former vice-chancellor of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University and wellknown Telugu litterateur Nayani Krishna Kumari passed away at her home in Hyderabad on Saturday. Krishna Kumari (86), daughter of legendary Telugu poet Nayani Subba Rao, had been suffering from old-age related ailments for some time.
She served as the vice-chancellor of Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University from 1996 to 1999. Before that, she had worked as a professor and head of Telugu department, Osmania University. She was also principal of Padmavathi Mahila College in Tirupati.
Krishna Kumari, who was born on March 14, 1930, to Nayani Subba Rao and Hanumayamma in Guntur, began writing stories on the history of Andhraites called ‘Andhrula Katha’ when she was 18.
Like her father Subba Rao, Krishna Kumari also did a lot of research into folklore studies and folk literature. She was awarded doctorate for her research in folklore from Osmania University. In her dissertation ‘Telugu Janapada Geya Gaathalu’ (Telugu Ballads) published in 1977, she discussed at length the origin and development of Telugu ballads in the Telugu folk literature. She is survived by husband Madhusudana Rao, two sons and a daughter. Her mortal remains will be consigned to flames on Monday. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy mourned the demise of Krishna Kumari.
