“I am honored to share that I have received the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2024 for my collection of short stories, ‘Dhavlo’ (Song of Lament, 2021). This recognition reflects my passion for sharing the stories and culture of my community, the Banjara people.
My love for the arts, literature, and culture began in my school days at Sri Vijaya Sai High School in Bodhan, Nizamabad. It was 2009, and I was in the seventh grade during the height of the Telangana agitation movement. The events unfolding around me deeply influenced me. I started reading books and magazines, drawing caricatures, and writing captions. I also got involved in folk songs, dance, and drama.
As I delved deeper into literature, I noticed there were no books about my tribe, the Banjara community, in Telugu literature. This realization sparked a fire within me. 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,” resonated with me deeply. Inspired by her words and by the fight for equal rights and social justice championed by writer Mahasweta Devi, I knew I had to write our stories.
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, ‘Dhavlo: The Song of Lament’, a short story collection published in 2021, ‘Kesula: Flames of Forest’, a compilation of Banjara short stories edited along with Prof. Surya Dhananjay, and ‘Chakmak’, a poetry collection published in 2023.
Writing gave me a sense of pride and responsibility towards my community. I wanted to share our stories, emotions, and traditions with the world. By doing so, I hoped to preserve our cultural heritage and ensure our history and way of life were not forgotten.
Receiving recognition for my work has been humbling. One of my poems is now part of the Telugu literature curriculum at SR&BGNR Government Degree College, Telangana State, and ‘Balder Bandi’ is taught in the M.A. Telugu literature curriculum at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.
I’ve also received several awards, including the Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimha Puraskar (2018), Telangana State Literary Award (2018), Banjara Youth Icon Award (2021), and Ravi Sasthri Kadha Puraskaram (2023).
But beyond the accolades, my motivation lies in sharing the unique aspects of Banjara culture with the world. I want to highlight the resilience and resourcefulness of my people, who have thrived for generations without modern amenities. In addition to my writing, I work as a junior college lecturer, teaching English and conducting interviews with Telugu writers on Doordarshan’s 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 gratitude and hope. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my people’s stories and preserve our cultural heritage.”
– Ramesh Karthik Nayak, Author, Lecturer and Media Enthusiast
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