Chetti Bhanumurti (born 23 February 1888;[2] died 6 January 1973[1]) was a Hymn Writer whose hymns are found in the Hymnal in Telugu.[3] Bhanumurti was a Pastor of the Canadian Baptist Mission/Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars who also led the Principalship of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada from 1945-1956 leading to its affiliation to the nation's first[4] University, Senate of Serampore College (University) in 1946[5]
Chetti Bhanumurti, CBCNC | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 February 1888[1] Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | January 6, 1973(1973-01-06) (aged 84)[1] Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | L.Th. (Senate of Serampore College (University)) |
| Occupation | Theologian |
| Church | Canadian Baptist Mission/Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars |
Offices held | Pastor, Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars Teacher, Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada and Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam |
| Title | The Reverend |
Comparative religion Scholar R. R. Sundara Rao who researched at the University of Wisconsin–Madison highlighted the literary standard of Chetty Bhanumurti terming him as a pioneer hymn writer whose songs had the element of Bhakti.[6] The Old Testament Scholar, Victor Premasagar was also enthused by the lyrical content in Bhanumurti's compositions,[7] especially Hymn Number 94 titled Yesuku Samanulevaru (Translated Who is equal to you Lord?) with direct reference to Psalm 71:19 and strikingly similar to Tyagaraja's composition in Kharaharapriya. Dayanandan Francis brings Chetti Bhanumurti in the line of another Hymn writer, Puroshottam Choudhary and writes,
Like Choudari, Bhanumurti also is interested in picking up ideas, thought-forms and even ragas from popular Hindu poems and lyrics, while at the same time endeavouring to broaden the perspectives found in such religious literary forms with distinctive Christian ideas.
In 1915,[8] Bhanumurthy discerned his avocation towards priesthood and went for ministerial formation to the Serampore College, Serampore, a constituent College of the nation's first University,[4] studying up to 1918,[8] during the Principalship of George Howells, as a candidate of the Canadian Baptist Mission/Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars where Bhanumurthy obtained a Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.).[2]
Bhanumurthy taught at the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary in Ramayapatnam[2] and later on moved to Kakinada where he taught at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Kakinada along with Muthyala Theophilus who was his colleague. This was the period when A. B. Masilamani joined the seminary for spiritual formation. In 1952, Bhanumurthy became Principal of the seminary.
Roger E. Hedlund, the Missiologist writes that along with the Bible, the Christian Hymnal in Telugu also forms the main bulwark of Christian spiritual life for the Telugu folk and of equal use to both the non-literates and the literates as well.[9] In such a context, it is noteworthy that sixteen of Bhanumurthy's compositions are found in the Christian Hymnal in Telugu with the following sequence,
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Archibald Gordon 1945-1952[10] |
Principal, Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada 1952-1955[10] |
Succeeded by |
| Religious titles | ||
| Preceded by M. Venkata Reddy,[11] 1912/ T. Israel Raju, 1915-1917 |
Pastor,[11] Andhra Baptist Church, Kakinada 1913-1914, 1918-1919 |
Succeeded by T. Israel Raju, 1915-1917/ D. Jeevaratnam,[11] 1920-1927 |