The departments of English and Telugu at Government College (Autonomous), Anantapur, jointly organised a seminar titled ‘Contemporary Short Story: A Perspective’, with special reference to eminent novelist Shantinarayana’s celebrated Telugu short story Draupadi, translated into English by P. Bayapa Reddy, Senior Fulbright Fellow (USA).

The seminar brought together eminent writers, academicians, faculty members, research scholars, and students to deliberate on the relevance of contemporary short fiction in addressing pressing social concerns and promoting literary discourse.

The programme was presided over by Associate Professor and Head, Department of English, Government College (Autonomous), Anantapur, Talanki Jeevan Kumar. Mr Shantinarayana highlighted the social responsibility of literature and emphasised that contemporary short stories serve as powerful instruments for questioning injustice, promoting human values, and inspiring social transformation.

He appreciated the efforts of the departments of English and Telugu in introducing students to socially relevant literary texts through interdisciplinary academic discussions.

Delivering the keynote address, noted writer and literary critic Adavaala Seshagiri Rao explained the artistic richness of Telugu short fiction and underlined its enduring relevance in contemporary society. He observed that literary translations play a vital role in introducing regional literary traditions to wider national and international readerships while preserving their cultural essence.

Mr. Talanki Jeevan Kumar stated that the programme created greater awareness of the contemporary short story as a dynamic literary form, promoted critical engagement with socially relevant literature, highlighted issues concerning women’s empowerment, instilled confidence among young women through literary interpretation. He also urged the younger generation to employ literature as a medium for identifying, questioning, and addressing social issues and added that such academic initiatives nurture critical thinking, creativity, and social responsibility among students while strengthening interdisciplinary learning.

Published - August 08, 2026 07:23 pm IST