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Book Review
Modern poetry in Telugu
SAPTATI OKA LIPTA GA — A collection of poems: Dr. C. Narayana Reddy; Viswambhara Vision Publications, Hyderabad. Copies available from Visalandhra Publishing House, 4-1-435, Bank Street, Vignan Bhavan, Hyderabad-500003. Rs. 50.
MODERN POETRY in Telugu literature has taken different forms in the last 100 years. There was a period of transition when poetry with modern themes was written in classical meters and poetry with traditional themes written in free verse. Different "isms'' have influenced the trend and the pace of modern poetry, as is the case with any other Indian language. Though hundreds of new poets have come into the field of Telugu literature with the advent of modernity and meter less era in poetry, only few remained as the beacon lights. Poetry influenced by Dadaism, Surrealism, Romanticism, etc., have all had their times of glory and decline. There are poets, who with their charismatic personality and a style of reciting efficiency caught the imagination of the readers.
The book under notice is by one such charismatic poet, Dr. C. Narayana Reddy, whose prose narration and poetry recitation have left an indelible impression in the minds of the students of literature and laymen alike. Popularly known as Ci. Na. Ray, he is one of the recipients of the coveted Jnanapith Award for Telugu literature. Presently a member of the Rajya Sabha, he is also the Advisor to the Government of Andhra Pradesh on Culture.
Ci. Na. Ray has been a poet with over 70 volumes to his credit as he reached the age of 70. There is a spectrum of range in his poetry and writings, covering from the smallest poems like "mini kavitha'' to very highly research oriented studies like his doctoral work on modern poetry and one of his latest on rhythm in poetry. He also brought impeccable ghazals into Telugu poetry, with his knowledge of Urdu. His lyrics for the Telugu movies made him more popular than all his literary works put together.
The title of the book under notice literally means (spending the years) 70 as a fraction of a second. Symbolically, this is a collection of 70 poems apart from 18 ghazals found at the end. Each of these poems reflects the poet's command on language, inimitable ability of expression, unique imagination and above all the human face of the poet. If only one can go deeper into his poetry, he can see a number of visuals painted carefully on the canvas of life. There is an underlying philosophy, an urge to understand and present the human nature and a note of harmony and optimism in many of the poems. Though they are prosaic in nature the poems are embedded with an inherent rhythm, as is the case with any of the author's poems. This is a wonderful literary offering of the poet to the Telugu people as he turns 70.
PAPPU VENUGOPALA RAO
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