Hamsa Award, in 2004-05, by the Govt. of AP. Seshendra's first work in print appeared in 1952. It is the translation of Matthew Arnold's Sohrab and Rustum, which is based upon the Persian Epic Shahnama. Initially he focused on poetry and occasionally worked on literary criticism. Seshendra's first collection of prose-poems was entitled Sesha Jyotsna. He composed it in strict conformation with Telugu prosody which was published in 1972 in Telugu and English. Its translations into Hindi and Urdu appeared separately. His magnum opus Naa Desam, Naa Prajalu (My Country, My People, Meri Dharti, Mere Log) brought Seshendra prominence as one of the outstanding poets of India. It led to his nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2004. Shodasi, his tantric commentaries on the Ramayana, and Swarna Hamsa, the study of Harsha Naishadhiya Charita, are works of literary criticism. Kaala Rekha, Seshendras' 1994 book, is a collection of twenty-five essays on various subjects like ancient Sanskrit drama and ancient Greek drama, comparative literature, classical poetry and Aurobindo's Savitri. The collection of poems Neerai Paaripoyindi (literally, "Melted away") was brought out in 1976 in bilingual editions. Death Sarma died on 30 May 2007. Legacy Sarma has been a subject of various thesis dissertations for PhD in Telugu literature. Dr. Vanamali Gunturu, Seshendra velugu niidallo - nannato na anubhavalu, EMESCO 2021 Awards and titles conferred 1994 Sahitya Akademi Award in Telugu literature for his work Kaala Rekha – won 1994 Honorary D.Litt. by Telugu University 1999 Central Sahitya Akademi fellowship for contribution to Telugu literature 2001 Sahitya Ratna by Sri Ram Sahitya Mandal, Himachal Pradesh - won Jnanpeeth award for contribution to Telugu literature – nominated 2004 Nobel Prize in Literature for My Country, My People – nominated 2004-2005 Hamsa Award by Andhra Pradesh State Government for contribution to Telugu literature - won Rashtrendu (Moon of the Nation) by West Bengal State Government Kalidas Samman by Madhya Pradesh State Government Subrahmanya Ekta Award by Hindi Academy - won Rashtriya Sanskriti Puraskar - won Ugadi Puraskar - won Lokamanya Tilak Award - won Member of Kendriya Hindi Samiti - nominated by Prime Minister of India References Dr. Vanamali Gunturu, Seshendra velugu niidallo - nannato na anubhavalu, (a literary biography of the poet) EMESCO 2021 Story on Seshendra by his son in Telugu Telugu poets Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Telugu Recipients of the Kala Ratna 1927 births 2007 deaths