Short-story writer, journalist Uppala Narasimham who grew up in Devar Yamjal village in Shameerpet has a photographic memory of his childhood. He grew up in an atmosphere where folklore reined; people who used to beg in the morning in his village had unusual storytelling capabilities too. He would give up school sometimes to hear those peculiar yet refined Telugu words that the artisan community and the labourers uttered. A young Narasimham would later make a note of it; this practice eventually piqued his interest in literature. That he also had political inclinations is not much of a surprise, he was witness to a feudal system where there was consistent exploitation by the zamindars sans any human dignity. Veteran journalist A B K Prasad had given him the title Matti Manishi in a foreword he wrote for Narasimham’s Tiragabadda Bhumi (for which he won the Nutalapati Gangadharam literary award). The tag has stayed with him ever since, as evidenced in his just released short-story compilation Matti Manishi-Uppala Narasimham Kathalu .
Books written by Uppala Narasimham
Writing on society
Dedicating his life to Telugu literature, Narasimham’s repertoire goes beyond writing. He worked with director Narsing Rao for Maa Bhumi and Rangula Kala , and has scripted two plays — as part of Jana Natya Mandali — wrote for radio, television, had started a literary group Katha Vedika (that spread across three states in the 80s), a film society in Secunderabad apart from working on documentaries. “Journalism helped me communicate my thoughts to a larger audience, I thought it was an apt vehicle to bring about change in society. I was always attracted to writing; I wrote columns for various Telugu publications,” he states.
Experimenting with various literary forms helps one become a true artiste, Narasimham says. He admits short stories are his strength. A signature trait of his writings are the incompleteness with which they end; an aspect he feels is a true reflection of life. He grew up admiring the likes of writers like Chaganti Somayajulu, Kaloji and Gopichand. “Most of what I read reflected the ethos of a middle-class society, so I felt there had to be a voice for stories from smaller towns.” The new wave-cinema that Shyam Benegal introduced and Narsing Rao brought forward through stories from rural Telangana region were a constant source of inspiration.
Given his interest in rural progress and the upliftment of the downtrodden, his sharp responses on extremist groups and Maoists have always been progressive without any political inclinations. His books on Ambedkar ( Ambedkar Brahmanudu ) and Gaddar ( Gaddar praja gayakudu ela avuthadu?) defied popular perspectives and cemented his position as an author among literary circles. “Many keep telling me that I’ve done work in various fields, but I must admit my cause has been for a progressive society, regardless of the medium. The documentary on Jayaprakash Narayan was because he brought forward a certain purity and fairness to politics.”
Tech turn
The real turning point in his life, he says, has been the idea to establish his periodical Wifi Telangana (distributed free of cost) that updates readers about every technological development that impacts the region. “It was during 1991 that we began using computers instead of bromides. I remember how big an impact had Bill Gates created with Microsoft. Within one stroke, he had changed the way the world functioned. I made an extra effort to understand technology then, most of what I read was in English,” he states. After updating his skills, there were days when he carried a computer at the back of his scooter to explain its importance in villages. “Over time though, it became difficult to do it across each section of the society. So, the idea of a periodical came along. Inspired by the resurgence of the Telangana region and its development since formation of Telangana State, I’m happy that my words are reaching many people. I dedicate this to people who want to read about technology in Telugu; something that I didn’t have an access to.”
However, his unfulfilled wish is to make a feature film some day. “I am still not sure if it will happen, it involves a lot of money. There’s still hope though.”
