Editorial.
10 December 2009
As the year comes to an end, Thulika.net is coming to you with new look, new articles by new
contributors and, additionally, a “search” box to help you find the articles in the back issues.
Up until now, most of the translations have been done by me, besides Sharada, Australia and a few
sporadic contributions by other translators. Now, for the first time, I am in a position to boast of
contributions from writers and translators other than myself, which certainly adds to the image of this
site. Hopefully, this is the beginning of receiving stories and articles from other writers and
translators or writers who are also translators, Parimala Someswar for instance.
For time to time, I have been addressing the problems involved in translating from Telugu to
English. In the current issue, we have a scholarly approach to the problems by Professor Prabhakar
Rao, Advisory Editor, ICFAI Journal of English Studies, ICFAI University, Hyderabad. This article
should be appealing to all those who are translating stories and poetry from Telugu into English.
The article on Kalaprapoorna, Nidudavolu Venkatarao is long overdue. This is my humble attempt to
bring a literary stalwart of enormous proportions to the current generation students of Telugu
literature. I strongly suggest to all those who could read Telugu to read Nidudavolu Venkatarao’s
works, or at least Nistala Venkata Rao’s treatise on Nidudavolu Venkatarao.
I've mentioned that I am looking for diverse perspectives in fiction—stories that throw light on the
beliefs and lifestyles of Telugu people and illustrate where we come from. The three stories in this
issue are a treat for me.
In the “Reserved Justice”, we see what is known as “reverse discrimination” in America. It is however
interesting to see how it plays out in an Indian context and what other elements figure into the
equation.
As we read “The Bull”, it is not hard to imagine a wildly wandering bull on any street in our towns. It
is interesting nevertheless to watch the people who are anxious to claim its ownership and then
equally quick to disown.
The “Wedding Garments” is a heartwarming story, perfect for holiday season. The garments known
as madhuparkaalu are specially made for the bride and groom to wear on their wedding night. In
addition to their own value as garments for the newlyweds, the story illustrates the spirit with which
the weaver, Puttanna, cherishes his family tradition--making the special garments for the bride and
groom and presenting them to the newlyweds free of charge. But what is the solution when the odds
stack up against him and force him to sacrifice his milking cow? And what is their dharma for the
bride and the groom under the circumstances? This is a moving story highlighting the human values
that go beyond the call of one’s duty.
On a different note, I am glad to inform you that, after eight and a half years, I’ve learned to put the
search box on the home page, finally! Marking my excitement, I’ve changed the look of the home
page also. Additionally, I am working on fixing the broken links. Please, feel free to inform me of any
broken link you may come across.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY READING!
Malathi Nidadavolu
10 December 2009