Brief Life Sketch

V R Narla ( Narla Venkateswararao) was an outstanding journalist in Telugu. He edited Andhra Prabha, Telugu daily from Chennai from 1940 to 1956. He founded andedited andhra Jyothi Telugu daily from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh from 1958 to 1980.
He was trend setter in Telugu journalism.He introduced new features, brought out several talented personalities into limelight through dailies. Some of them were: Sanjiv Dev, G.V.Krishna rao.He also set new example through his editorials by reviewing great writings. He exposed persons in high places like Tanguturi Prakasam, Sanjiv Reddi, Jawaharlal Nehru.
He constantly criticised the reactionary writers like Viswanatha Satyanarayana for their caste mindedness and degradations through hierarchy.During emergency imposed by Prime Minsiter Indira Gandhi, he protested by not writing any editorials and left the country to USA where he toured to see national partks, museusms.

V.R.Narla participated in freedom movement of India during late 1920s,and was arrested, jailed for one year. His book Neti Russia was banned by the British government in India.
Narla collected thousands of books from his early days and read extensively. At the time of his death in 1985 there were 24 thousand books in English and Telugu. The collection was kept in B R Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad for public use and research. These books cover wide range of history, art, architecute, culture, criticism, poetry, religion, humanism, anthropology.Majority of the books are in Telugu.
Narla toured extensively in the continents,Russia, China, Australia, Egypt, USA, Europe and collected rare art pieces on Buddha. Narla arranged the collections into several categories and kept in his residence. He named his rooms as Buddha room, Siva room, Krishna room where he arranged books and art on those personalities.
Narla was member of Rajya Sabha ( 1958-1970). During those days he participated in delegations along with Dr Radhakrishnan and toured.
Narla wrote in English and Telugu, both poetry and prose. His plays are published by Sahitya Academi, Delhi and translated into several Indian languages. His play Seetha Josyam created much controversy in literary world. Similarly his criticism on Gurajada as edited by Avasarala Surya rao upset communists.Narla published research works on Vemana, Kandukuri veeresalingam.
Narla evolved from Journalism into Humanism and published several critical research works during his last days. They include The Truth about the Gita, an essay on upanishads and puranas, Man and his world; Gods goblins and men.
Narla kept his diaries with details. Some of them are kept in State archives, Hyderabad. India.