“I’ve been attending the Hyderabad Book Fair since my childhood, and it feels special to see my own books displayed today.

My passion for literature began in 2009, during the Telangana agitation. The social and political changes during those times influenced me a lot. I started reading, drawing caricatures, writing, and getting involved in folk arts like songs, dance, and drama. As I explored literature, I realized there were no books about my Banjara tribe in Telugu. Inspired by Toni Morrison’s quote, “If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it,” I decided to write about my people and their stories.

I come from Jakranpally, a small village in Telangana, where my family faced hardships. My father worked as a migrant in the Gulf to support us, while my mother contributed as a farmer. I had to work early in life, even as a caterer, to support myself.

I studied MA English Literature as well as Telugu at Osmania University, after completing my BA in English Literature. I started writing about my life and community, drawing from our rich culture and history. My works include Balder Bandi (2018), Dhavlo: The Song of Lament (2021), Kesula: Flames of Forest (2021), and Chakmak (2023). In 2024, I received the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for Dhavlo.

One of my poems is now part of the Telugu literature curriculum at SR&BGNR Government Degree College, and Balder Bandi is taught in the M.A. Telugu literature program at Andhra University. I’ve also received several awards, including the Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimha Puraskar (2018) and the Banjara Youth Icon Award (2021).

What drives me is sharing the stories and culture of the Banjara people. I want to highlight the resilience of my community, who’ve thrived without modern conveniences. In addition to writing, I worked as a junior college lecturer and currently host Aksharam Program on Doordarshan’s Yadagiri channel, interviewing Telugu writers.

Attending literary festivals across India has helped me learn and grow. I aim to preserve our cultural heritage and share our stories, hoping others are inspired to do the same.”

Ramesh Karthik Nayak, Author, Journalist & Literature Enthusiast