READING ROOM

Though the Novel is a popular form in the present age, criticism on it is not found in abundance. The first attempt at a novel was made in 1872 by N. Gopala Krishnama Chetty through his "Sri Ranga Raja Charitra". But "Raja Sekhara Charitra" of Kandukuri Veeresalingam which was published in 1876 is considered the first novel on account of its fulfilling the complete formalities of the novel form.

An accountable and developed shape of the novel can be found after 1920 which has fluorished in different mature forms, keeping pace with latest trends. After the first critical effort of K. Brahmaiah Sastry who belonged to the "Age of Awakening", it is quite surprising to note that no individual critical work on a novel is found upto nearly 80 years.

Only a few articles were published in Telugu journals. It was M. Naga-bhushana Sarma who came out with his first critical work on the evolution of hundred years of the development of novel with his "Telugu Navala Vikasamu". He gave a brief history of Telugu novel With a special focus on some famous novels in Telugu. Dr. B.V.Kutumba Rao published only the first part of his doctoral thesis on the development of Telugu novel which is incomplete.

P. Venkateswarlu received an award from A.P. Sahitya Academy for his Work on Telugu novel which briefly reviewed the same upto 1974. In recent tirnes a good nuinber of theses in the universities have been published on different aspects of the Telugu novel. Dr.C. Ananda Ramam on the aspect of family life (Telugu Nava-lalo Kutumba Jeevana Chitranam), Dr. P.Sanjee-varnma on social awareness (Telugu Navalalo Samajika Ghaitanyarn), Dr. P. Varavara Rao on Telangana Revolution (Telangana Vimochanodya-marn) have broughtout critical works. Dr. K. Srirarna Murthy received the Academy award for his work on the element of Psycho Analysis (Telugu NTavala Sahityamlo Mano Visleshana) and Y. Rama Krishna Rao has done research on the "Stream of Consciousness" (Adhunikandhra Sahityamlo Chaitanya Srawanti).

A few works were also published on the famous novelists individually. Dr. N, Roma-chandra and Y, Eda Reddy on Chalam, Dr. A. Venu Gopal on Gopichand, Dr. Katyayani on Butchi-babu, Dr. M. Satyanarayana on Adavi Bapiraju published research dissertations. Some critical works are found only on the famous novel of Viswanatha Satyanarayana "Veyi Padagalu". In fact there are many other novels of Viswanatha which are also worthy of critical study but untouched sofar. Dr. R.Srinivasa Chary, K. Suva-rchala and P. Saras vati wrote works on some aspects of Viswanatha's novels. So far no prominent criticism is found on the individual woman novelist though the novel form is experimented predominantly by a good number of women writers.

Telugu short story started in 1910 with Gurajada Appa Rao (DIDDUBATU) and reached the pinnacle of international fame with the story of Palagummi padmaraju (GALIVANA). But it is unfortunate that only a few critical works have appeared - on this form which occupies a significant place in Telugu fiction.

Md. Khasim Khan published first work on the Technique of short story. Or P.Dakshina Murthy gave a detailed account of the Telugu short story through his doctoral thesis. G. Venkata Subbaiah has dealt with a few story writers in his book "Akshara-bhishekam". Dr. R.Madhava Rao on Muni Manikyam, Dr. G.Sankara Rao on Malladi Rama Krishna Sastry and Dr. A.Koteswara Rao on Butchibabu published good theses. R. Chandrasekhara Keddy and S. Rajavardhan have also brought out critical works on Gurajada and Madhurantakam Rajararn respectively.

From:The Evolution of Telugu Literary Criticism.

By;PROF.S.V.RAMA RAO