3 Review(s)

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.