Vallampati Venkata Subbaiah in Chicago

Vasu Reddy from Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

Sahiti Mitrulu of Greater Chicago area held an event to honor the renowned Telugu writer Sri Vallampati Venkata Subbaiah in Chicago, on July 10th 2004. Sahiti Mitrulu is a literary organization formed by Jayadev Mettupalli, Ravi Reddy, Damaraju Lakshmi, Usha Anand and Prakash Timmapuram. This is the first event hosted by this group.

The event was hosted at Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) at Lemont, Illinois. HTGC co-honored Vallampati at the event. While Dr. JL Reddy of Delhi University introduced Vallampati, and Rajender Pampati honored the eminent writer. KV Reddy President of HTGS, Prasanna Reddy and Bhima Reddy of HTGC also attended the vent along with over 50 people.

Vallampati spoke of the works of Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu, with special reference to Siva Tandavam. I was and the audiences were thrilled at the stories and recital. It is truly wonderful to hear this great man speak of another great man and his works. I quickly read one of his books last night called Lajja, which he translated from Hindi, and was written by Taslima Nasrin. The book was about religious strife. I am going to find the rest of the books and translations written by Vallampati and read them.

Vallampati is a Kendriya Sahitya Academy Awardee. He is soft spoken, and in my short conversation very witty and very approachable. He was born on March 15th 1937.

Literary work includes:

Fiction in Telugu
1. Indra Dhanussu (a novel)-1962 awarded Second Prize in �Andhra Prabha� novel contest
2. Doora Theeraalu (a novel)-1964
3. Mamathalu-Manchutheralu (a novel) -1972
4. Jaanaki Pelli (a novel) �1974 about 60 stories published in various reputed Telugu journals.
Literary Criticism in Telugu
1. Naati Kavulu � (Biographies of ancient Telugu poets)-1963
2. Anuseelana - (A collection of critical articles)-1985
3. Navalaa Silpam - (A study of the craft of the novel)-1995
4. Kathaa Silpam - (A study of the craft of the short story)-1996
5. Vallampati Saahitya Vyaasaalu - (A collection of literary criticism on modern literature)-1997
6. Vimarsaa Silpam � (A study of the literary theory) -2002
Translations into Telugu
1. Cheritra Ante Emeti - A translation of E. H. Carr�s �What is Hstory-1983
2. Ceritralo Emi Zarigindi - A translation of Gordon Childe�s �What Happened in History�-1985
3. Prapancha Charitra - A translation of Chris Brazier�s �World History�-1986
4. Pracheena Bharata Desamulo Pragathi, Sampradaaya Vaadam- A translation of S.G. Sardesai� s � Progress and Conservatism in Ancient India� - 1998
5. Pracheena Bharatha Desa Charita-A translation of R. S. Sharma�s �Ancient India-2002
6. Navala � Prajalu - A translation of Ralph Fox�s �Novel and the People�-1992
7. Batukantaa - A translation of Devanuru Mahadeva�s Kannada Novelette
�Odalaala�-1994
8. Lazza - A translation of Taslima Nesreen�s �Lazza�-1996

Literary Criticism in English
1. About 15 papers on English and Indo � Anglican literatures and comparative aesthetics published in journals like �Literary Criterion �, �Literary Endeavor�,
Literary Half yearly�, Indian Review� and �Indian Literature�.
2. About a dozen Telugu stories into English.

Awards

1. Aapi Dharma Rao Award, Hyderabad-1993
2. Kondepudi Sahitya Satkaaram, Guntur-1995
3. Telugu University Award, Hyderabad-1997
5. Saahitya Akademi Award, New Delhi

Work in Progress: A Major U.G.C. Research Project Subject: � A Socio-economic Analysis of Modern Telugu Literature in Raayalaseema�

My congratulations to Sahiti Mitrulu and wishing them success in bringing more literary personalities into our community.

Reporter�s notes form attending the July 10, 2004 event.