TELUGU
Autobiographical fiction
AMBIKA ANANTH
MADHURAVANI – Oohathmaka Athmakatha: Pennepalli Gopalakrishna, Visu Communications Pvt. Ltd. Opp. NIMS, Punjagutta, Hyderabad and 3B, Orchid Villa, West Marredpalli, Secunderabad-26 Rs.125.
Some books become the vehicles of reform and wield major literary and cultural influence. “Kanyasulkam” is a Telugu play which was written by Gurazada Apparao in 1892 portraying the then common practice of giving Kanyasulkam (bride price) among the priestly community of southern India. Written in an easy, reaching out manner, it is the first Telugu play to deal with social issues. Stirring up controversies in the initial phase, it became one of the most popular works for all time, with messages condemning social issues like child marriages and the concomitant suffering of child-widows.
Madhuravani and other characters like Gireesam, Karakata Shastry, Ramappa Pantulu in the play have a socio -historical context. With her manners, mores and ethics Madhuravani doesn’t come across as a banal character but gets immortalised through fine brush strokes of the creator. “Even commercial sex workers have morals,” says she, and that statement forms the basis of her character.
This book is in first person narrative – an imagined autobiography of Madhuravani – written in an easy and attractive language and idiom. It can be called as the first of its kind in the Telugu literary scenario. In this autobiography she introspects, questions, challenges some assumptions, and clears some doubts. For example, she talks about how sex-workers in Japan are respected and how they maintain self-esteem. A very interesting book.
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