Essence of Life and Other Stories (Contemporary Telugu Short Stories)

by Palakurthy Dinakar

2020226 pages

About the book

Prof. Raamaa Chandra Mouli born on 08-07-1950 is basically a postgraduate in mechanical engineering, residing at Warangal and presently working as Vice Principal, Ganapathy Engineering College, Warangal, A.P, India. He is an eminent poet, short story writer, Novelist and literary critic. To his credit he has 53 published books which includes 346 short stories, 32 novels, 12 anthologies of Telugu poetry and 4 anthologies of Telugu literary essays. He has participated as Indian delegate in 22 nd’ World Congress of Poets, Greece during July 2011, World Congress of Poets during March 2016 at Taiwan. Most prestigious awards he secured includes Swarna Nandi Puraskaram from Govt of A.P (2011), Kalaaratna Puraskaram (2018) from Vamshee International, Swarna Lekhini Puraskaaram (2018) from Writer’s Corner. Life Time Achievement Award (2018) from PENTA SI B of Philippines. Telugu University Kavitha Purskaram (2007),Cinare Kavitha Puraskaram (2008), Dr. Aavantsa Somasundar Kavitaa Puraskaaram (2012), Freeverse Front Puraskaaram (2012), Guntuuru Sheshendra Sharma Kavitha Puraskaaram (2015), Kolakaloori Bhaageeradhi Kavitha Puraskaram (2012), Citizen Extraordinaire Leadership Award (2007-08) by United Writers Association, Chennai, etc.. He has also won the Best Engineering Teacher Award (2000) from Govt. of A.P. He authored 6 prestigious textbooks for mechanical engineering students. He has penned story and dialogues to 5 Telugu movies. Several of his works are translated into English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam,Punjabi and Bengali. Prof. Mouli has secured the world famous Nmaji Naaman Literary Prize 2019, a life time achievement award choosen from 2386 entries. On selecting 60 awardees globally he is only one Indian.

The present collection, Essence of Life and Other Stories contains nineteen contemporary Telugu stories in English translation, which delineates the writer’s deep anguish over the depleting levels of human values and his concern for the youth. The stories are replica of the behaviour of the human nature. Most of the stories have been published in different Telugu journals and bagged awards and rewards. They have drawn the attention of many literary lovers and critics and are the focus of discussion in literary corners in and around the state. The present stories leave an indelible impression on the reader’s mind with their theme and techniques of storytelling. The reader would definitely find his own life reflected in the characters in many of the stories. The stories have a distinct voice, style and uniqueness which attract the reader instantly. They reflect the leitmotif of the predicament of the contemporary man vis-a-vis modernity, technology and consumerism.