TELUGU
Stories on rural Andhra
SAROJINI PREMCHAND
KSHATHAGAATRAGAANAM: A. Applanaidu; Visalaandhra Publishing House, 4-1-435, Vijnana Bhavan, Bank Street, Hyderabad-500001. Rs. 100 .
THE AUTHOR has drawn 16 starkly realistic pictures of life in the villages and towns of northern Andhra Pradesh. Victims of political and economic upheavals, the peasants, small landholders, and artisans helplessly witness the shattering family bonds and uprooting of cultural norms. Vagaries of nature compound the misery of farmers. Welfare measures do not reach the deserving due to the mean and corrupt ways of the officials and self-seeking political leaders.
In ‘Yaanagali’, the good intentions of the mandal development officer, Sarala, and president-elect Santhamani bear no fruit owing to the cunning and power-chasing husband of the latter. The fatal combination of caste and politics, and wealth and power push the deprived into despair.
Applanaidu’s language has the flavour of the soil and his deep anguish at the state of society stands out.Saraswatakka in ‘Prayaanam’, Madam bank manager, and Budhadu are some of the well-etched characters. But in ‘Sha’, ‘Rendu Prasnale’, and ‘Vaalmikam’, the main plots are weakened by multiplicity of characters.
The title, meaning the ‘song of the wounded’ aptly describes the content of these depressing but brilliantly told stories.
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