“I was always passionate about arts, literature, and culture. My writing started unintentionally during my school days, around 2009, when I was in the seventh class at Sri Vijaya Sai High School, Bodhan, Nizamabad. It was a peak time of the Telangana agitation movement, and I was influenced by the events happening around me. I began reading books, magazines, drawing caricatures, and writing captions. I also participated in folk songs, dance, and drama arts.
As I delved deeper into literature, I realized that there were no books about my tribe, the Banjara community, in Telugu literature. This sparked a fire within me, and I knew I had to change that. I was 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.” Also writer Mahasweta Devi’s fight for equal rights and social justice inspired me to take action.
I began writing about my life experiences and my people, drawing from our rich culture and history. My literary works include ‘Balder Bandi’ (Ox-cart), a poetry collection published in 2018, ‘Dhaavlo: The Song of Lament’, a short story collection published in 2021, ‘Kesula: Flames of Forest’, a compilation, edited along with Prof Surya Dhananjay, which is a collection of Banjara short stories, and ‘Chakmak’, a poetry collection published in 2023.
As I progressed in writing, I felt a sense of pride and responsibility to my community. I wanted to share our stories, emotions, and feelings with the world, and I believed that by doing so, I could help preserve our cultural traditions and ensure that our history and way of life were not lost over time.
I’m currently working on a compilation of Telangana Banjara short stories along Prof. Surya Dhananjay. Down the line, I’m motivated to share our stories, emotions, and feelings with the world, and I believe that by doing so, I can help preserve our cultural traditions and ensure that our history and way of life are not lost over time.
Receiving recognition for my work has been a humbling experience. I am honoured to see my work recognized in academic circles, with one of my poems being taught in the Telugu literature curriculum at SR&BGNR Gov’t Degree College, Telangana State, and Balder Bandi being taught in the M.A. Telugu literature curriculum (2nd year) at Andhra University, Vishakapatnam. Moreover, I’ve been honored with the Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimha Puraskar (2018), Hyderabad, Telangana State Literary Award (2018), Bodhan, Banjara Youth Icon Award (2021), Warangal, and Ravi Sasthri Kadha Puraskaram (July 2023), Udayini, Visakhapatnam.
But beyond the awards, I’m driven by a desire to share the unique aspects of my culture with the world. I want to highlight the resilience and resourcefulness of my people, who have survived for generations without modern amenities. I want to share stories that showcase our traditional preservation methods, which have allowed us to store food for decades without pesticides.
I’m not trying to convey a specific message or promote a particular agenda. I just want to share our stories, emotions, and feelings with the world. I believe that by doing so, I can help preserve our cultural traditions and ensure that our history and way of life are not lost over time.
In addition to my writing, I’m also working as a junior college lecturer, where I teach English and conduct interviews with Telugu writers on the Doordarshan (Yadagiri) channel. I’m committed to sharing our stories and preserving our cultural heritage for future generations.
As I look back on my journey, I’m filled with a sense of gratitude and hope. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my people’s stories and preserve our cultural heritage. I’m hopeful that my work will inspire others to do the same, and that together, we can create a world where our cultural traditions and history are valued and preserved.”
- Ramesh Karthik Nayak, author, poet, lecturer, and media enthusiast