Chaso — Chaganti Somayajulu, a Telugu modern storyteller par excellence embodied socialistic thought. He was a humanist and an intellectual to the core who turned into a consummate Marxist and pitched his pen as a sword in defence of the weak. His 18th death anniversary was observed at the Public Library in Dwarakanagar, Visakhapatnam, under the aegis of Praja Spandana, a forum for people's cause. As the winds of progressive thought swept the literary shores of Telugu in the second quarter of the previous century, the ripple brought to the fore a new generation of poets and storytellers. And Chaso is one among the pioneers that led the Telugu short story to greener pastures. Laden with fragrance of social relevance, his writings sparkled in realistic aura. While his characters sprang from real-life scenario, his taut treatment and craft lent them an eternity of a thought-provoking hue that reflected the dark shades of the troubles and travails of the lower strata in society in its stark reality. Terming him a literary colossus, speakers in the meeting paid glowing tributes to him. Speaking on this occasion, noted writer and daughter of Chaso, Chaganti Tulasi said that Chaso advocated the cause of the oppressed and the voiceless in society. He never compromised on principals in life and lived by what he believed in. He propagated the ideals of Gurajada and was rightly called a literary heir to Gurajada. A keen observer of the life as he was, he picked up his themes from the real life scenario and immortalised them in his work. He was a trend setter in the realm of Telugu modern storytelling, who had left his indelible mark on the canvas of Telugu literature, she said.
Chaso's other daughter, Chaganti Krishna Kumari spoke on Chaso Katha — Thyagarja Krithi. She said that Chaso stories run like lyrics in prose and this lyrical quality lent a beauty of its own in the treatment of the theme. She substantiated her observation through a detailed analysis of Chaso story Empu (Choice) that dealt with the nitty-gritty of the economics, the beggars' community lives by. Also, she analysed the stories Vooha Urvasi and Bommala Pelli . Writer A. S. V. Ramanarao, playwright Viriyala Lakshmipati, Bhamidipati Subbarao, U. V. Narasimha Murthy and others spoke. Founder Praja Spandana C. S. Rao presided over.
