Paturi Nagabhushanam

Paturi Nagabhushanam (20 August 1907 – 24 July 1987) was described as the doyen of the Andhra Library Movement from Andhra Pradesh, India.

Paturi was associated with the national independence movement and an ardent follower of Gandhiji.

His contributions are noteworthy - in spreading library movement in the state of Andhra Pradesh among the public, strengthening Andhra Pradesh Library Association propagating adult literacy, the establishment of library school for imparting training to library workers and giving library education under State government certification and publishing books, periodicals, LIS textbooks.

He is the founder of Sarvottama Granthalayam in Vijayawada.

Nagabhushanam was the first child born in a middle-class orthodox farmer's family to Paturi Burraiah (father) and Smt.

Paturi Dharinamma (mother) in Pedapalem village, near Tenali, Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh State, India on 20 August 1907.

He has set up a National educational school in the name of "Seva Asramam" (Service Centre) in his native village 'Pedapalem' in the year 1928 joining with Mellacheruvu Venkateswarlu, who took training in Gandhiji's Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat.

In Seva Asramam, he organised programmes like - propagation of Hindi along with regional language Telugu, following Gandhian principles like - making yarn from cotton, khadi promotion, reconstruction of villages, upliftment of Harijans, etc. He also established Naturopathy Hospital, Khadi Swadesi items Store to supplement the Seva Asramam programs in order to encourage the use of Indian goods, naturopathy.

He further promoted agriculture, animal husbandry.

He was behind the establishment of a school called "Navya Bharati" in a remote village - Revendrapadu of Guntur District, with residential facilities with an aim to promote vocational programs, to inculcate the hidden capabilities in the students along with formal education.

He was again imprisoned for another 6 months in 1932, for participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

After his primary, secondary schooling in Pedapalem, Kuchipudi and Nidubrolu villages, and intermediate studies at Layola College, Madras, Paturi Nagabhushanam received Library Workers Training organised by the Andhra Pradesh Library Association for summer in 1934.

Further, he obtained a Diploma in Library Science (D.L.Sc.) from Andhra University 2 years of Summer School during 1936–38.

Paturi also worked during Quit India Movement in 1942, secretly couriering newspapers and pamphlets.

He had cordial relationships with famous personalities of national movement like Dr. J.N. Melkote, Sri Ramanand Tirtha, Sri Jamalapuram Kesava Rao, Sri Madapati Hanumantha Rao, Sri K.V.Narasinga Rao, Sri Suravaram Pratapareddy, and others.

The government of India recognised Paturi as a freedom fighter and presented the citation on the Bronze leaf.

Paturi was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

He was a member of the Andhra Pradesh State Board for Gandhi Memorial Fund for 15 years.

He took charge as Gandhi Tatva Pracharak (Campaigner) of Vijayawada Centre and published pamphlets promoting Khadi sales, cotton weaving, upliftment of Harijans, removal of untouchability and village industries.

He wore Khadi throughout his life and gave utmost importance to Gandhi's Safai programs involving in the cleanliness of surroundings, self-help, etc. He was a member of the editorial board, Gandhian Literature Publication Committee.

On the occasion of Gandhiji Centenary Celebrations, he translated 10 works from different languages on glimpses of significant aspects of Mahatma's life history and gifted them to young boys and girls.

Paturi also started Sarvodaya Press in Vijayawada in 1950, appointing women for composing, binding and printing, etc. to support their economic empowerment.

He functioned as the Director of Chemicals Limited, Nidadavole and Sramajeevi Press, Madras.

Paturi served Akademi Andhra Pradesh Sahithya Akademi as a member for five years

In Andhra Pradesh State, the library movement was launched by Sri Ayyanki Venkata Ramanaiah, and it was further lead and spread by Sri Paturi in multidimensional ways.

Paturi's contributions to the spread of library movement, library education and to the Andhra Pradesh Library Association for more than five decades were highly significant.

Paturi's published works in regional language Telugu include - 15 Indigenous Works, 15 Translated works into Telugu, 6 Compilations, 19 Editorial Works, and other publications.

He prepared textbooks according to the syllabus of the Certificate Course in Library Science in Telugu language and published them.

They also became reference books for library science.

Paturi published 20 volumes of books written by a popular farming expert Sri Goteti Jogi Raju on agriculture and farming before 5 decades.

They were considered as authentic sources on the subject and revised by the agricultural scientists from time to time.

He published and propagated books on adult education written by Sri Gadicherla Hari Sarvottama Rao, the pioneer in the adult literacy movement of the time.

They were - Vayojana Vidya 1,2,3 Volumes (Books on Adult Education) and Vayojana Vachakalu (Adult Education Readers).

He also received Training conducted for Adult Education Teachers at the state level conducted by Madras Government at Vijayawada and also a one-month training program organised for the Writers of Adult Education Materials at Mysore in 1953.

He married Ramineni Chandramolaka Rajesweramma at an early age, while studying Intermediate course.

He had a son Late Sri Suri Babu, and two daughters Late Smt Sujata and Dr (Smt) Sarada.

He took his last breath in the presence of his family members and the members of the association executive body, on 24 July 1987 at his 80, while undergoing treatment for cancer in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Paturi Nagabhushanam was associated with national movement from the student stage.

When he was a student of Loyola College, Madras, he worked as a volunteer for the All India Congress Conference in Madras and also participated in an agitation organised against Simon Commission in Madras.

He also took part in Salt Satyagraha and imprisoned as a political detainee for one year in Alipur Camp Jail near Bellary.