A PASSIONATE FEMINIST
KUPPILI PADMA
A heart filled with
compassion, a pen flowing with powerful prose and a nature loving soul , yes
its none other than the poet, writer Kuppili Padma the established feminist.
Having earned applause even from the eminent critic Cheraa, Padma takes her own
firm stand in the Telugu literature. A
writer well known in a few genres of writing from more than two decades
constantly Padma has made her mark in Telugu literature. Hailing from a village
Kuppili(North coastal Andhra, near Vizianangaram), after which her surname was
taken Padma made a consistent contribution to modern Telugu literature as a
short story writer, a poet, and a writer of columns and musings.
Her famous column ‘Maidaanam’ which ran for
about a decade in the daily Vaartha brought her a lot of accolades. Her
commentary on the contemporary issues and lives of people in Andhra and
Telangana , rural and urban, and much more issues were penned by her eminently
in this column. Her translucent style of writing wins the hearts of the
readers. She has to her credit six collections of short stories, three novels ,two
collections of creative prose and a book of poesy recently released in the Vijayawada
book festival(2018). Kuppili padma kathalu another one more collection of her
short stories were recently published by the prestigious publishers
Visalaandhra publications of Andhra Pradesh.
Along with these she has an English
translation of her stories ‘Salabhanjika and other stories’ which was edited by
the senior translator duo Alladi Uma and Sridhar. From her first book
Amruthavarshini(1993) (a collection of love letters), to her recent book
Kuppili Padma kathalu and , poetry anthology ‘nemaleekalu poosina kaalam’ Padma
has never left the consistency of writing. Her stories have been chosen to be
translated into English and other languages. Some of her stories like
Salabhanjika and others have been chosen to be translated and published in the annual and periodical collected
anthologies like Nurella kathaku vandanam , and Katha selection of best short
stories from Telugu.
Speaking recently in her
book release function in Vijayawada Padma says all her woman protagonists in
her writings show the state of woman in the changing times. She religiously
admits her women show the evolving modern woman in the twentieth century. Her
stories deal with women in all phases of life and places of life. The concept
of New Woman coined in the end of nineteenth century is evident in all her
writings. She deals with the subjects of the working woman in the working
places and also with the materialized relations between woman and man. The
government must take the responsibility of providing equal opportunities and
safety to women. And she continues saying ‘we as feminist writers do present in
all our effervescence the problems of women for their notice. So she concludes
‘writers are the communication between
the governing institutions and public’.
A woman with a clear
vision of hope and ambition Padma is an ardent feminist writer who demands
nothing more but ‘ a woman her genuine space in the society’. As the eminent
VIctorian Virginia Wolf demands “a room of one’s own” to a woman, Padma as a
woman of letters of faith and hope in improving the social consciousness as a
writer demands the respect for womanhood in all walks of life. Her letters and
sentences are filled with aesthetic beauty and her sophisticated narration in
her stories makes the readers completely read the story. Padma is not a writer
of fantasy but reality in real terms. Her way of dealing with the women oriented
subjects convince the readers and makes
them think objectively. A socially conscious writer, sailing in her paper boat
of letters Padma is an asset to the modern Telugu literature. A woman with a
sweet smile and gentle speech but resolute in her ideals and conviction Padma
is the writer really in need of the hour. She has won many awards from many
great institutions which include Tenneti Hemalatha best writer award and Chaso
Sphoorthi award and recently she has another feather in her cap by winning the
most prestigious Vasireddi Seethadevi award(2017).
A writer dealing with the
urban woman problems Padma stands in a commendable position in the modern
Telugu literature. Nature and human cannot be dealt as two separate entities
says Padma in an interview , it is the fusion of both makes the genuine story,
she faiths in. As an eminent feminist Kuppili Padma stands up to the mark in
the modern Telugu fiction as she deals with all aspects like globalization too
in her stories. Her short story collections “salabhanjika and other stories”,
and “the Loss of innocence” prove her mettle in
dealing with the agitating life of the modern woman. A writer in local
lingua franca but with global themes Padma is the woman writer of the century. . I sincerely wish most of her works should reach the
international readers all around the globe. Working as a creative head in media
channels Padma has the caliber and execution in movie and tele film making too.
With words that befall like snow flowers as one of her creative muses have the
name ‘manchupoola vaana’ (rain of snow blooms), Padma is unique in her style
and putting forth her opinions in her writings. She does not fret and fume on
men but tries to show him his place and a woman how to earn her space. She
arises a hope in the women to look forward to better their conditions of life.
She speaks with dignity and self confidence about any issues and shows ardent
faith and hope in the grand future of women.
Telugu literary lovers
look forward for much more valuable contribution from this woman of letters in
the future.
Jagaddhatri
Writer,
translator and literary critic.
