Ravuri’s Jnanpith-winning book runs out of stock

by V V Balakrishna - HYDERABAD

23rd April 2013 11:26 AM

The fifth reprint of Pakudu Rallu, the Jnanpith award-winning Telugu novel, written by eminent writer Ravuri Bharadwaja, will hit the market in four days.
In the five days since Bharadwaja was selected for the Jnanpith, the entire stock of the book has been sold out and with the demand for the book growing day by day, its publisher, Visalandhra Publishing House, has decided to reprint the book.
“The demand for Pakudu Rallu is very high. We have already started the work for reprint of the book. The latest version will hit the market within four days,” Visalandhra Publishing House manager B Eswar Reddy told Express.
Pakudu Rallu was serialised for three years in Krishna Patrika, a Telugu daily, from 1965. Later, Bharadwaja brought it out in the form of a book on his own. In 1970, Visalandhra Publishing House stepped in and brought out the second print. The last reprint was in 2000.
“Even before the book won the prestigious award, it had demand. Each reprint had more than 1,200 copies.
This time, too, 1,200 copies will be printed,” Eswar Reddy said and added that the book would priced at Rs 290 per copy.
According to  Reddy, the book-reading habit among people has not declined. “Those who are fed up with the TV programmes are reverting to reading books,” he said.
Besides Pakudu Rallu, there is demand for Bharadwaja’s other books. Taking this into account, Visalandhra is bringing out a third print of Kadambari in about four days.
Jeevana Samaram, which highlights the plight of different professions, is yet another book of Bharadwaja that is being republished by Visalandhra. This book will be available at bookstores next month.
“There is a demand for Bharadwaja’s children’s literature too. We are planning to publish around 20 books written by Bharadwaja for children,” Reddy revealed.

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A writer should tell only the truth: Jnanpith awardee

By V V Balakrishna | ENS

18th April 2013 08:15 AM

Ravuri Bharadwaja, the latest Jnanpith awardee and third Telugu to be so, is too modest to boast of his genius.
His modest background and close observation of people and society, moulded him into a good writer but he never dreamt that the nation’s highest and most prestigious literary award would come his way. Born in a very poor family, he experienced abject poverty and pangs of hunger.
He did odd jobs to eke out a living before becoming a journalist and staffer at All India Radio. MS Reddy produced the film, “O Prema Katha”, in 1987 based on Bharadwaja’s story “Karimingina Velagapandu”.
Bharadwaja’s friend and writer Undela Malakonda Reddy says: “Bharadwaja’s prose is more telling than his poetry. His Jeevana Samaralu, a sketch on different caste professions, is a marvellous work.”
The pride of the Telugu literary world  shares his thoughts with Express. Here are a few glimpses:
You have been selected for the nation’s  highest literary award. How do you feel about it?
When a boy falls in love with a girl, he dreams bout it. But I have no love for awards and I never dreamt about this.
What is the inspiration for your writings?
The hunger and poverty I experienced. I moved with people closely and understood their problems. This facilitated my writings to most extent.
What is the inspiration for the award-winning novel, Pakudu Rallu?
As a journalist I used to interview film personalities _ heroes, heroines and others. I watched from close quarters how they behave and came to know about many murky tales in the tinsel world. Pakudu Rallu is a graphic account of life behind the celluloid.
Among your 178-odd books, which are your favourites?
Jeevana Samaram, Kadambari, Pakudu Rallu. Of course, it does not mean that the other writings are not my favourites.
You have penned children’s literature like Keelu Gurram and how is it different from other works?
Children only need to be told the truth. I tried to tell the truth in a lucid  language and in a beautiful manner.
Who are your favourite writers?
Pingali Surana, Chalam, Gopichand,  Pathabhi, Prem Chand, Kodavatiganti are among them.
What hardships have you faced in life?
I studied up to eighth standard. Some told me that I would become a useless fellow and even end up as a beggar. Ironically those who insulted me obtained their master’s degrees later by studying and researching on my works.
What is your advice to upcoming writers?
They must have social awareness and mingle with people. They should tell only the truth in their writings.

Comments(1)

really this great and noble writer has got the award, it was said to note eralier some people got this award though they didn't deserve it, and worst they were to biased, egoistic, and there writing really was very worst

Posted by Gundappa Srinivas at 04/19/2013 09:40 

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GLN Sastry, homeopath and architect of brain fever prevention programme, died on April 2, aged 83 |

There are hundreds of homeo physicians in the state, but Dr GLN Sastry stands out. He is considered the father of homeopathy in Andhra Pradesh.
Homeopathy is known as poor man’s medicine and Sastry practised it as such.
When the dreaded Japanese Encephalitis (JE), known commonly as brain fever, spread across the state killing several children between 2000 and 2007, Sastry with his thorough knowledge of homeopathy, saved thousands of lives.
He is the main architect of the BCT programme for the prevention of JE in the state. BCT is a combination of three homeo medicines--Belladona, Calcarea and Tuberculinum. Sastry prepared a module dosage for Japanese Encephalitis and prevented the spread of the decease to a large extent.
Following Sastry’s combination, several organisations took the initiative and distributed the pills to children in schools. The government too took up the distribution of the pills in a big way.
Sastry was born on August 15, 1930, at Agiripalli in Krishna district. His family later shifted to Nandigama, where he completed elementary schooling.
Later, Sastry fought with his father and studied homeo medicine. He was a student of Dr Gururaju Homeopathic Medical College at Gudiwada in Krishna district from 1947 to ‘51. After the diploma in homeopathy, Sastry shifted to Miryalaguda in Nalgonda district and practised there for 10 years. He collected only a nominal fee from his patients.
Later, Sastry joined the government service and worked as professor at homeo colleges in Hyderabad and Gudiwada.
He was superintendent of Government Homeopathic Hospital, Malakpet, Hyderabad, and served as a member of the Central Council of Homeopathy during 1990-97.
He was the founder-member of the Indian Institute of Homeopathic Physicians (IIHP) and severed as its national president. He continued as honorary president of IIHP till his death.
“Sastry’s contribution to homeopathy is remarkable. He brought pressure on the state government to include homeopathy in its medical services in 1956,” IIHP national president KRK Prabhakarmurthy said. He also recalls the services of Sastry in Bholakpur area in Hyderabad when epidemics like cholera spread.
According Dr SK Vashisht, a homeo drugs manufacturer, Sastry started his private practice in Mirayalguda among the tribals and had a very successful practice.
He charged only 4 annas (25 paisa) per patient and was still able to earn Rs 1,000 per month, he said. Sastry is survived by four brothers.
He had no children and his wife died 20 years ago.

Comments(6)

This is sad news about a remarkable man who did remarkable things using homeopathy. Homeopathy is an extremely effective medicine in times of epidemics because, as described in this article, a specific targeted response of already existing homeopathic medicines matched to the general symptoms of the disease can be formulated very quickly and cheaply and rapidly distributed throughout the affected population. One day the West will come to recognise and use what India already knows and values about homeopathy.

Posted by Stephen Gordon at 04/04/2013 16:10

On behalf of the family of Dr.G.L.N.Sastry we convey our thanks for your kind words at the moment of bereavement. We continue the rich medical legacy of Dr.Sastry. We once again thank you for your touching words..

Posted by Dr.Srinivasulu Gadugu at 04/05/2013 11:27

We can honour Dr Sasty's memory world wide by developing the beautiful quality of humility this great man showed in service to the brotherhood of man, in using the world's best - but commonly neglected or forgotten- collective and preventive medecine known: homeoprophylaxy. May we follow in his steps truly! Martine Jourde

Posted by Martine Jourde at 04/04/2013 22:38 

Dr.Sastry's life was indeed a tough one. Inspite of that he touched so many lives and saved so many. Having lost his mother at a very early age,he raised his younger brothers and was a great motivational factor behind their success in life. Salute to a very responsible soul. His life needs to be celebrated.

Posted by Bindu at 04/04/2013 23:41 

I am inspired to read about the life and work of such a generous man and a great homeopath.

Posted by Kristi Rielly at 04/05/2013 09:03

 

One less dangerous quack, spouting witchcraft instead of medicine. Homeopathy. Is. Nonsense!

Posted by Some fella at 04/05/2013 11:04 

Power play in Andhra Pradesh

By VV Balakrishna - HYDERABAD

Published: 31st Mar 2013 11:29:11 AM

     Andhra Pradesh is reeling under power cuts. As if that was not enough, the government has proposed a hike in tariff to net Rs 13,000 crore in 2013-14 besides mopping up another Rs 12,000 crore in the form of fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA). It has been enough for the Opposition parties in the state to take up the “power struggle” in the run up to general elections in May, 2014.
The CPI and CPI(M) along with eight other Left parties first took to the streets on the issue. They launched an indefinite fast at Indira Park last week, which was foiled by the police after four days.  “We will not rest till the government withdraws its proposal to hike power tariff. The FSA amount should be borne by the government,” demanded CPI(M) state secretary B V Rahagavulu.
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) too extended its support to the Left cause. “We will take support from YSRCP, but that does not mean that we will forge an electoral alliance with the YSRCP in the next elections,” said CPI state secretary K Narayana. He hinted that CPI would sail with the Telugu Desam Party in the next elections.
The day the four-day Left’s indefinite fast was foiled by the police, TDP MLAs began their indefinite fast.  Several MLAs fell sick after three days of fast, which was launched on the premises of old MLA quarters.
Meanwhile, the Left parties have called for a state-bandh on April 9. The TDP too has extended its support to the proposed bandh. On the other hand, the YSRCP too took up some agitational programmes and has decided to participate in the state bandh.
On the face of it, it seems that all the Opposition parties are united on power tariff. But, when it comes to real politics, the YSRCP blames both the TDP and the present Congress government for the power crisis. “Naidu is responsible for killing of three persons in 2000. He should give an explanation for it,” demanded YSRCP MLAs.
However, the TDP blames Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for the collapse of power sector in the state. “Rajasekhara Reddy is responsible for the present crisis. For the sake of commissions, Reddy encouraged private players in the power sector. He mismanaged the power utility. The TDP streamlined the sector and augmented the installed capacity of power generation,” alleged TDP MLA Payyavula Keshav.
However, the ruling Congress claimed that not a single acre of crop will be allowed to dry up due to shortage of power. “The past chief ministers are responsible for the present power crisis. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is streamlining the sector effectively,” claimed T Jayaprakash Reddy, Congress MLA and a known loyalist of the Chief Minister.
Notwithstanding the agitations, the power tariff in the state would be increased from April 1. Though the discoms proposed a burden of around Rs 13,000 crore, the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) may allow the discoms to collect an additional amount of around Rs 9,000 crore from the public in 2013-14.