‘Largest’ compilation of contemporary poetry released

‘Tholi Poddu’ (The Dawn), a 600-page compilation of contemporary poetry in Telugu literature which was released by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at the official Ugadi celebration here on Friday, may well go down as the largest such work in the 1,100 years of Telugu literature from the times of earliest known author in the language Nannayya.

Brought out by the Department of Language and Culture and edited by its Director Mamidi Harikrishna, the work has 442 poems that were recited by 400 poets at the ‘poet-athon’ to mark the first anniversary of formation of Telangana State last year.

Such a programme took place for the first time in the main hall of Ravindra Bharati in the 54-year history of the auditorium. Incidentally, Mr. Rao also released the work in the same hall.

Tholi Poddu is considered a step ahead of a volume of 354 poems brought out by the Editor of Golconda Times Suravaram Pratap Reddy in 1934. In bringing out the book, he had accepted a challenge from literary circles in Andhra questioning the presence of poets in Telangana. Later, an anthology of about 120 poems in the popular ‘Vythalikulu’ which was authored by Muddukrishna in 1970s and quite a few publications at the peak of Telangana agitation a few years ago such as “Jago Jagao”, “Munum”, “Telangana Kavitha” and “Mattadi” were also published but none of them were so voluminous.

Munum had the maximum number of 250 poems.

Mr. Harikrishna explained that the poet-athon on June 7 last year which went on from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. was a unique event, organising which was an arduous task.

A nine member committee was formed to identify the participants from all districts. They came up with poems expressing their desires and ideas about Telangana.