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This volume is perhaps the first such attempt that contains English translations of 25 of the finest Telugu short stories published between 1910 (the inception of the short story) and 1947 (Indian Independence) by noted Telugu authors such as Gurajada Appa Rao, Sripada Subrahmanya Sastry, Munimanikyam Narasimha Rao, Chalam, Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao, etc.
Between 1910 and 1947, Telugu writers touched upon topics like the freedom struggle, patriotism, human relations, corruption in the government, social reform (selling girls for money, dowry, widow remarriage, eradication of untouchability, etc.), British influence on Indian middle classes, nationalist feelings, and the oppression of rural populations by feudal landlords.
This book contains 25 stories from 16 authors, with Gurajada and Sripada contributing ten stories as they were truly the pioneering writers of short stories in Telugu. The anthology touches on a wide range of themes such as social reform (untouchability, widow remarriage, etc.), rural life, middle-class psychology, women’s issues, satire, corruption, superstitions, pseudo-nationalism, etc. All the authors have a special place in the annals of Telugu literature for the early lead they took, the wide range of topics they touched and the way they popularised short stories as a literary genre.
The stories help the readers relate to the times before independence in the Telugu states, both urban and rural. These eminent writers observed the society around them through different lenses and their narration is spellbinding.
Rayasam Srinivas Rao
Rayasam Srinivas Rao (RSR) spent three decades in the IT services industry from 1987 to 2017, mostly in Wipro Limited in senior global leadership roles across geographies like the USA, Europe and Asia Pacific. He served clients in verticals like Automotive and Life Sciences. In his last role in Wipro, he was the Vice President and head of India and Middle East business for Manufacturing SBU. He was also the location head of Wipro’s Hyderabad Development Centre from 2011 to 2016.
After quitting Wipro, RSR joined as the COO of HYSEA (Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association) and served in that role for five years until the end of 2022. He served the Hyderabad IT industry and the nearly 300 members of HYSEA by driving various initiatives in areas like CSR, Sustainability, Leadership Development, Infrastructure Development in the IT corridor, liaising with the government, Technical Skill Development Job Creation, Helping SMEs, etc.
RSR holds a Master's degree in Computer Applications (MCA) from the University of Delhi and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Bangalore University. He resides in Hyderabad, India, with his wife, Anuradha, a senior academic professional. His two sons live in the USA and UK.
Telugu literature, especially the short story genre, has always fascinated RSR. It has been his passion to translate great Telugu short stories into English and introduce them to global readers. This is his second attempt after translating eleven of Sri Kalipatnam Rama Rao’s stories earlier. More such efforts will surely follow.
He can be reached at rsrsrini99@gmail.com.
