Marking the 110th birth anniversary of noted writer Gudipati Venkatachalam, the city-based Chalam Foundation conducted a literary meeting to discuss various aspects of the works of the writer. Over 20 writers and poets from the city discussed at length about various issues touched upon by the late writer in his novels and short stories.
Feminism, independence movement, illiteracy and poverty were some of the issues based on which Chalam had penned novels, stories and dramas. A few enthusiasts sought to know whether the works were of any use to the present day society and this question paved the way for an elaborate discussion filled with arguments and counter-arguments.
Writer and literary critic Vadrevu Veeralakshmi Devi, who won a gold medal from the Andhra University for her thesis on the life and works of Chalam, compèred the discussion. Speaking in detail on the views expressed by the writer in his works and his sympathies for various sections of the society, she observed that there was no expiry date for Chalam’s literature.
“Consumerism is the challenge ahead of the present generation. People are addicted to consumer goods at the cost of their personal freedom. Chalam has the vision to foresee the challenges and documented them in his literary works,” she said, while advising readers go through the works of Chalam time and again, so that they could get the essence of the writer’s ideology.
