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Monday, Feb 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Professor favours activism in writings

Staff Reporter

Says evils in the society could be better exposed and castigated

WARANGAL: A writer cannot be expected to bring about radical transformation in the society on the basis of his writings alone and at the same time, a writer cannot shirk his responsibility, observed associate professor of English, Kakatiya University K. Damodar Rao.

Speaking at a workshop jointly organised by Ministry of Human Resources, National Book Trust and India Society of Authors here on ‘Urban – Rural divide: Role of writers and publishers’ Mr. Damodar Rao opined that evils in the society could be better exposed and castigated if the writers become activists. The writer becomes more visible and audiences become wider and he would be followed and heard more keenly.

Mr. Rao, winner of national-level poetry translation competition of Sahitya Akademi, pointed out that Kandukuri Veereshalingam had fulfilled this role.

Influencing masses

“In recent times, writers-balladeers like Gadar are doing the same influencing the masses on many just causes,” he noted. The academic said that writers like Mahasveta Devi provided good example by combining their writings and activism. Popular writer Arundhati Roy is also taking part in various activities exposing the brazenness of State terrorism and other evils thus creating awareness among the people, he observed.

Several writers and poets – V.V.B. Rama Rao, A. Naveen, Namilikonda Balakishan Rao, Potlapalli Srinivasa, R. Chandramouli and others read out their papers.

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