Interview with Dr. C. Narayana Reddy

Andhra Pradesh has given us many prodigies and one such rare prodigy is Padmabhushan Dr. C. Narayana Reddy. He has set a literary trend. A pearl in Telugu Literature, he has held many prestigious posts and received high honours in his area. King Krishna Devaraya has said “Desha Bashala Yandu Telugu Lessa” which means Telugu has equal importance to any other Regional Language. Dr. C. Narayana Reddy has proved the above said proverb and he has given Telugu a prominent position among all other languages. Due to this position in the area of literature he has been appointed as Rajya Sabha member. As a multi-faceted personality a poet, critic, lyricist, play writer, educationalist, administrator and orator of par excellence gifted with captivated command over the music of language he has moulded many in this field to benefit the nation.

HamaraShehar.com met Dr. C. Narayana Reddy in his chambers at Kala Bhavan for an interview. The following is the transcript of the same:

Q: You have played different roles – a writer, poet, nominated Rajya Sabha member and patron of cultural arts. Having lived in different roles how do you define yourself?

A: As said by you, I call myself a multi-faceted personality. In literary field I have played different roles, if asked about my first life, I will say writing and specifically I will say lyric writing.

Q: As the most versatile personality you have seen films and film stalwarts of yesteryears – How do you judge today’s trend in the film industry?

A: I have been a filmgoer since my childhood. From 1961 onwards, I have been active lyric writer in Telugu films. I have contributed over 3000 lyrics. I know what film industry was and is. In these days films are of high quality, very few among them having message oriented goals.

Most of the films depict violence, crime, over-sex and vulgarity. In films coming to my area 'music & lyric', most of the music directors are composing music giving prominence to beat. When compiled the tune, words are not heard, beat is taking the prominence. Authenticity is lost under the spell. This sort of distortion takes place especially in Telugu industry, but in Hindi industry, even though they use all the modern techniques, the lyric is also given prominence.

Q: As a poet, writer what is your opinion about the present generation interests towards literature?

A: In Poetry, the present trend is very good. Poets from younger generation write very good poetry in line with yesteryears. It’s not the Poetry that is diminishing, but it is the Book Culture that is taking the toll. In olden days, children used to read novels, poetry, etc but today’s youngsters demand visual presentation like animation and cartoons.

Q: As a enlightened intellectual how do you assess the political Scenario?

A: Political Scenario is not optimistic. According to me the political pollution day to day is increasing. Election Commission last year released an authentic statement that 30 – 40 criminal record holders are there in the assemblies and parliament. we are witnessing the political degeneration that is taking place.

Q: Consequent to liberalisation and Globalisation thanks to the explosion of IT, how do you envisage growth and development of Telugu for the benefit of Telugus around the globe?

A: Many a time and in meetings on the floor of Rajya Sabha, I have raised the topic of computerisation of Indian languages, especially Telugu. I got reply that Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, and other regional languages are getting computerised. Software packages were prepared for the aforesaid. Once again when verified about Telugu language software development it was confirmed that it was included in the above list. I am happy to know Bill Gates announced packages, which includes Technology Development for day to day use with special emphasis on rural development. As regards globalisation, I am not a firm believer.

Q: Telugu Poetry is in a perishing stage. What steps do you suggest for its regeneration.

A: What a statement!! It is not at all perishing but flourishing. Poetry of the younger generation has real poetic value; but no readership. Amongst novels, short stories etc, Telugu poetry has a strong foothold and is on par with any other Indian language.

Q: Loved, liked and respected by all the political parties and known as the most non-controversial person how do you feel about it?

A: Are you describing about me!! I am a nominated Rajya Sabha Member and I am also with political circle apolitically. I read 5 to 6 newspapers in English and Telugu daily. I know what is going around the world, India and the States, I am fully aware of the political scene. I am an observer. I comment in close circuit, through poetry, in a suggestive manner in favour or against the trend. I am not directly involved in any political controversy.

Q: After taking over as AP State Cultural Council Chairman what changes have been brought about in the cultural field?

A: After taking over as Chairman AP State Cultural Council various changes have been brought in and a variety of programmes with lots of planning being implemented. The list goes as follows:

Cultural Sculptural Art Music Folk Arts Dance Rural Art Drama Hamsa Awards Painting Cultural Development

Other than the above areas the council has taken up cultural complex Kala Niketan construction at Hyderabad. The council is coming up with a book in English providing information about painters and sculptor and many more developments are in progress

Q: What is your message to the present generation?

A: I don’t believe in sending messages. I can only give suggestion. In my generation too we had generation gap. Our elders expressed the same. We adopted the required and left the rest. The present generation too, should accept the good and adopt the same. A Tree will be strong when roots are strong. However big the tree may be, once the roots are out, it will fall. Likewise, the younger generation should keep their roots firm and flourish in whatever field they are in.

We are very honoured having interviewed the enlightened intellectual like Dr. C. Narayana Reddy. All of us at HamaraShehar.com wish him all the success in his future ventures.

Interviewer: Lakshmi Mantha

Profile of Dr. C. Narayana Reddy

Dr. C. Narayana Reddy, Member, Rajya Sabha and Chairman, Andhra Pradesh State Cultural Council is an established writer with high repute in modern Telugu Literature with a multi-faceted personality as a poet, a critic, a lyricist, a playwright, an educationalist, an administrator and an orator Par excellence gifted with a captivating command over the music of language. Dr. Reddy combines in himself the genius of a creator and the charm of a communicator.

Dr. Reddy, the recipient of the highest literary award of the country, i.e. Jnanpith Award for the year 1988, is the most distinguished poet of his generation. A poet of over five decades of standing, Dr. Narayana Reddy has to his credit more than 67 publications. He is a trend-setter through many of these works. He is at home both in poetry and in literary criticism. His research work on Modern Telugu Poetry assessing the influence of tradition and experiment on it has been a classic since its publication in 1967. Another dimension of his poetical personality is he has over 3,000 film songs to his credit.

As a Telugu professor at the Osmania University, Hyderabad, Dr. Narayana Reddy has achieved great success in the classroom, with his critical acumen, incisive insight and poetic sensibility. He has been holding important and responsible positions in academic and administrative fields. He was born on 29th July, 1931 in Hanumajipet Village, Karimnagar District, Andhra Pradesh, India and received doctorate in MA from Osmania University, Hyderabad. He held several key posts such as:

Chairman, A.P. Official Language Commission Vice-Chancellor, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University Vice-Chancellor, P.S. Telugu University Adviser to Govt., A.P. for Culture and Language

Residential Address: Plot No.48, Road No.6,
Type A, Film Nagar,
Hyderabad-500 033. A.P.
Res. Phone: 3548451

Titles and Honours

Honorary D.Litt. From Meerut University Honorary Doctorates from Andhra, Nagarjuna, Kakatiya Universities Padmasri and Padmabhushan Honours from Government of India

Literary Awards

Awards from Central and A.P. State Sahitya Academies Soviet Land Nehru Award (“A” Category) Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award Raja-Lakshmi Award Kumaran Asan Award Jnanpith Award (Highest Award for Literature in India)

Foreign Visits

Visited U.S.A., Russia, Canada, Italy, Denmark, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Yugoslavia, and Mauritius etc. Visited United Kingdom to study the working of British Open University. Visited Oxford and Cambridge Universities and held discussions with Indologists and professors of Oriental studies from 9th to 17th May 1987.

Representing all the Indian languages, participated in the World Poetry Festival at Struga (Yugoslavia) in 1990 in which poets from 40 countries were present.

Participated as leader of the cultural delegation in the Third World Telugu conference held in Mauritius in 1990 December.

Participated and delivered keynote address in Telugu Conference of American Telugu Association, Los Angeles, U.S.A. in 1994.

Participated in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Bharatiya Jnanpith held in England in 1994 in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Nehru Centre, London.

Publications

Over sixty-seven published works including Long poems, Volumes of free Verse, Prose-plays, Gazals, Lyrical plays, Collection of essays, Literary criticism, Aphorisms, Epigrams, Translations etc.

His Magnum opus “Viswambhara” which secured him Jnanpith Award, is a social epic unfolding the story of man. It is translated into many of the Indian Languages and also into English and French.

In his book “Matti Manishi – Akasam” (Man beyond Earth and Sky), a long poem of 100 pages, he portrays Man as a vibrant force co-ordinating Time and Space. Many of his works are translated into English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and other languages.