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At the write place
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The recent Women Writers' Conference organised by the Telugu University, brought together writers who traced the evolution of Telugu literature and contribution of women to various genres of writing. Indifference to literary works by the media and the masses was a common concern shared by the participants. G. MANJULA KUMAR reports.
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Writers gather on the special day.
WITH NEARLY 600 years of impressive history to its credit, women's involvement in Telugu literature has come a long way. Undoubtedly it was a struggle to succeed in a society ridden with social and class conflicts. Telugu has a great tradition of women's writing beginning with Kummari Molla, Ramabhadramma, Madhuravani, Rangajamma, Timmakka, Sukavani and Mudupalani to more contemporary women writers like Vasireddy Sita Devi, Nayani Kumari, Abburi Chaya Devi to more recent writers like Volga, Kuppili Padma, Kondepudi Nirmala and others.
Initially, the creative spirit in women's writing featured verses. Then followed a spell of literary writings which touched on emancipation. With the freedom struggle came new writers who shared concern on issues of social reform and freedom movement. In recent years, a whole generation of young women writers with a pronounced feminist slant emerged who also focused on more contemporary issues like globalisation and its effect on women.
Now, women writers share the same platform as that of men and have received accolades for their achievement. Perhaps to celebrate this, the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University in association with Central Sahitya Akademi organised the All India Telugu Women Writers' Conference coinciding with the International Women's Day recently in the city. The conference saw a get-together of celebrities and budding writers who shared their views and experiences, besides discussing serious issues related to women writers.
The popularity of Telugu writing grew with the advent of the novel. Famous writers like Muppala Ranganayakamm, Vasireddy Seeta Devi, Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani, Koduri Kausalya Devi, Polkampalli Shanta Devi, and Madireddy Sulochana are some names that have set the pace for the Telugu novel. "Though the numbers are less in comparison to men writers at a time when there were no opportunities and encouragement for women, it was indeed an achievement for the first generation writers to express their views and feelings on paper. So popular were the writings of women that there are instances where some men writers camouflaged their identity by adopting female names as their pen names,'' said Prof Sumathi Narendra.
However, it was the Telugu novel that swayed the minds of people. The Sixties and Seventies saw a boom. Novels written by women flooded the market. Many of them were made into successful movies. Dr Vasireddy Seetha Devi fondly recalled the era when women writers reigned. "With the advent of the television the readership fell and with it the patronage for novels."
Prof Katyayani Vidmahe said that majority of the novels during this period were a reflection of changing human relations vis a vis the changing society. "Women expressed their problems through their works and started with criticising the institution of family. The 1980s saw indirect criticism and the 90's saw direct criticism of the patriarchal system and the need to oppose it.''
When asked about the reaction of the men, Vasireddy Seethadevi said, " they tried to sketch women writers as caricatures. Cartoons appeared making fun of women as writers. But eventually they had to accept the abilities of women as writers."
Dr. Sujata Reddy felt that there was need for criticism. "There should be unity among women writers. They should unite to develop the literature and take it to a national level.''
Budding writer Rentala Kalpana felt that upcoming writers were being neglected at the national level. "Presentation from Telugu literary field was few and far between at a seminar held in New Delhi recently. First generation writers had good exposure while the new generation was finding it difficult to make its presence felt. The process is arduously slow. We have to make an effort to promote our works too. The other important aspect that is harming the interests of several writers is groupism.''
According to Kuppili Padma, the most important aspect hampering the growth of literary activity was the lack of space in newspapers and periodicals. "Magazines and newspapers are our main avenues besides book publishing. First, very few newspapers accept literary works. And those who do have reduced the space earmarked for this activity.''
The other problem echoed by young writers was that public libraries had also stopped purchasing books citing lack of funds. Lack of enthusiastic publishers was a deterrent. "The market is small and the publishing costs are high forcing the publishers to maintain a low profile,'' said Padma.
With the reading habit on the decline, and more women working, free time is spent watching television. New ways of promoting readership should be examined. Dr. U. Anuradha felt that translations in other languages was important and suggested that the Sahitya Akademi and the National Book Trust set up a body of translators to promote translation. Television channels can also contribute their bit to the literary field and encourage women writers by serialising their work instead of dishing out serials with inane storylines.
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