‘FIVE DEPARTED LITERARY LUMINARIES: FLORAL TRIBUTES’

(Prof. D. C. Chambial, Prof. T. V. Reddy, Prof Anil K. Sharma, Prof IV Chalapati Rao and Sri V. V. S, Sharma)

Prof Dr Rajamouly Katta

The five literary luminaries who had departed physically settled as the stars in the welkin to twinkle forever. They were stalwarts in their respective literary fields on earth. They are not physically present on earth with us, but the memories related to our attachments and associations with them are still fresh in our minds. With a sense of reverence to them, we recall their intimate attachments and associations with us when we read their invaluable contributions to contemporary Indian English literature. Their literary output is outstanding to wield their profound influence on all with literary zeal and aspirations.  The departed literary gems were Prof D. C. Chambial, the editor of Poetcrit and writer of several contributions in various genres, Prof. T. V. Reddy, writer of several books to his credit as a poet, critic and editor, Prof Anil K. Sharma, the Editor of Cotemporary Vibes of high repute, Prof IV Chalapati Rao, Editor of TRIVENI, the most esteemed journal from Hyderabad, and Sri V. V. S. Sharma, a committed writer and preceptor of my school days.

Literary figures like poets may depart from the world physically, but they never die as they are alive in the literary firmament, enlightening us, the readers of contemporary Indian English literature. We adore their rich contributions of creative and critical writings. The rich literary contributions of the five departed literary giants: Prof D.C. Chambial, Prof. T V Reddy, Prof Anil K. Sharma, Prof I. V. Chalapati Rao and Sri V. V. S, Sharma, remind us of their associations and attachments with us ever.

Prof D. C. Chambial (Editor, Poetcrit)

First, the sad news of Professor D. C. Chambial’s sudden demise recently, shocked us all deeply. He was not just an editor, poet, critic, scholar and all in one, but also a human being to the core as he inspired all literary figures, especially the budding writers, patting on their backs heartily and encouraging them to come up as writers.  He. as a multipronged genius, had an illustrious poetic career.  As a poet he elegantly delineates the themes in multiplicity for variety.  His poetry reflects a rich variety of concepts: nature, love, life and various other concepts including the sense of contemporaneity to hold mirror to the society he lived in. He criticises the evils confronting the contemporary society. I am under the deep influence of the portrayal of his thematic variety. I had a chance of writing two articles on his magnificent poetic anthology entitled Songs of Sonority and Hope. I had literary discussions with the literary giants like him.  It was Professor T.V.  Reddy, a literary gem who introduced D C Chambial, his intimate friend to me. He received me cordially by publishing my research articles, especially those on Poet Philip Larkin, poems and poems in translation. He wrote an excellent review of my second anthology, Cherished Cherries. It appeared in Poetcrit.  It, in fact, instilled confidence in me as a poet. Moreover, he wrote an article on Cherished Cherries, entitled ‘An Anthology of Plenteous Pleasures’ appreciating my poetry. He also wrote a critical interpretation of my poem, ‘TIME’ culling it from the anthology. The interpretation first featured in Contemporary Vibes, introducing me as a poet to the literary world. It also featured in the book entitled Sensibilities and Realities: a collection of critical articles on my literary works. I was very much impressed by his critical interpretation of my poem entitled ‘TIME’. I recall his positive response in speaking to me on the phone on literary matters. I am indebted to Dr. D.C. Chambial forever for encouraging me in my literary pursuits. I cannot forget his inspirational guidance and insightful encouragement by publishing my literary pieces in almost all issues of Poetcrit, a journal of high repute during the period of his career as the editor.

Prof. T.V. Reddy (Eminent Writer)

Next, I recall Professor T.V. Reddy as a close respectable associate of mine with profound feelings on my part. It was he who introduced me to literary luminaries like Professor D.C. Chambial. I had a nice discussion on poetry with him several times.   I like his poetry for it impresses me by its poetic merits and rich variety of themes. I wrote my first article on his anthology entitled Thousand Haiku Pearls. He was very happy by certifying my article as ‘one of the best’.  It was published in THE POETIC ART OF T. V. REDDY: New Perspectives. Later I wrote two more articles on the anthology and these articles featured in THE POETRY OF T.V. REDDY: A Critical Study of Humanistic Concerns (published in the USA) and the journals like Poetcrit. I am happy that he also wrote articles on my anthologies, Kavitanjali: Poem Offerings, and Voices of Silence. He encouraged be appreciating my poetry in his articles. These articles appear in the collection of Critical Articles on my creative and critical writings, entitled Sensibilities and Realities. He was a perfect human being. He devoted his precious time to share his feelings with me. Once he expressed his feelings on the phone that he was pained by inappropriate comments on one of the literary contributions. I used to share with him my responses to the critiques on books. He was a man of virtues and poet of literary values. It was a pleasurable experience for me to speak to him often on literary matters. I am indebted to him for his constant encouragement in my literary pursuits.

Prof Anil K. Sharma (Contemporary Vibes)

The next impressive literary gem, Prof. Anil K. Sharma, the founder editor of Contemporary Vibes. He rendered relentless service to the journal lifelong, encouraging its contributors by publishing their worthy articles and poems in it. His sudden demise shocked all the regular readers of the journal like me. I still recall how he encouraged me by publishing my research article entitled ‘The Essence of Poetry’. I am glad that he was a literary genius to assess the literary merits of writings. I am very grateful to him for he published the research article in Contemporary Vibes (Vol,15 issue No, 50, April-June2020) a journal of high repute.  My happiness knew no bounds as my article drew the attention of Prof. Anil K. Sharma. It was subsequently published in other journals and books. He also published Prof. D. C. Chambial’s critical interpretation of my poem entitled ‘TIME’ in Contemporary Vibes (Vol.15 -57 Oct-Dec 2019).  He was the editor of Contemporary Vibes with his innovative methods of its publication and made the journal shine as the one of high repute.

Prof I. V. Chalapati Rao (TRIVENI)

The person I adore for his virtues as a human being and values as the Editor of TRIVENI. He was none other than I. V. Chalapati Rao contributing ‘Triple Streams’ to the TRIVENI journal of every issue for several years. The Triple Streams stand model and special to the writers and the readers of literary zeal. At the beginning of my career as a poet, I sent my poem entitled ‘TIME’, he published it in TRIVENI on a full page. I was amazed to see my poem in the most esteemed TRIVENI. He published my article, or poem in every issue. I used to speak to him regarding literary matters. He was the first person to call me ‘a prolific writer’ encouraging me to keep writing articles. I felt elated by his kind words to continue as a writer. I was impressed by the literary merits of his ‘triple steams’. He advised me to encourage my research scholars to pursue research on his works. I took up the research work, writing an article on his ‘triple streams’, comparing him with Francis Bacon for his crispy expressions conveying deep thoughts and high themes. The merit of his literary work is characterized by precision, a rare merit of a writer.   I wrote a full-length research article on his ‘triple streams’ entitled ‘Human Values in Triple Streams of IV Chalapati Rao’ and it featured in the collections entitled Flowering of Indian English Literature: New Dimensions and My Observations, and the journals like Metverse Muse. It is the first critical article on his works. Prof I. V. Chalapati Rao departed leaving the journal TRIVENI to his successor-editor to publish it further on the lines of its established image.

Sri V. V. S, Sharma (Eminent Teacher)

Next, I am bound to recall my preceptor, Sri V. V. S. Sharma who taught me English and Telugu, my vernacular at my Hight School, Veenavanka (Telangana State, India). He was a teacher of devotion and commitment. As students, we keep adoring our beloved teachers like him as we are exposed to their teachings at all levels. We develop love and affection, regard and reverence for the teachers who lay indelible impressions on our minds.  We feel their company pleasurable and enlightening. Years glide and they leave the world, but we cannot forget them and the memories about them still linger in minds.  Our answer to the question, ‘Who do you adore the teacher or God? We answer it by saying that the teacher is adorable first because he is seen advising and guiding us in the right ways. My revered teacher, V. V. S.  Sharma was special in encouraging me to participate in curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities.  He shaped me into a brilliant student, and so I stood first in every class to get the Merit Scholarship.  I secured marks in English as per his wish, competing with the state rank holders. On his advice and wish I did research in English literature. My academic progress and career development are ascribed to his committed teaching of English. His teaching was value-based, and guidance was virtue-based. I can never forget him as my teacher in my life. When I settled in life and career, I wanted to felicitate him as a mark of respect for him, I heard that he was not alive. The news of his premature and untimely death filled my eyes with tears. I still recall him as a teacher and his love as a perfect human being and his guidance as an illustrious teacher.

The five literary luminaries: Sri V. V. S. Sharma, Professor I. V. Chalapati Rao (TRIVENI), Prof. Anil K. Sharma (Contemporary Vibes), Prof. T.V. Reddy (an eminent poet) and Prof D.C. Chambial (POETCRIT) by their writings, impressing me more than other literary figures.  They are memorable for their distinctive qualities and abilities as writers and teachers par excellence. Their writings as well as teachings are enjoyable as they are enshrined in their books as the treasures of the literary firmament and so they are ever memorable and adorable. They, at the same time, shine ever in the welkin as the stars to shine ever for their invaluable service to the field of literature as literary luminaries.

Bio:

Dr. Katta Rajamouly, Professor and Head, Department of English (S.H), Ganapathy Engineering College, Warangal has won the third place at the national level and the sixth place in the international level in the poetry contest conducted by Metverse Muse, a reputed journal for poetry. He has to his credit 206 poems, articles and short stories and forty-five critical, creative and ELT books. The Poetry of Philip Larkin: a Critical Study, My Observations, Art of Speaking, the Skill of Skills, Learn English through Conversation, Grammar and Dictionary of Grammatical and Literary Terms. He has books of Poetry: Beauty in Variety, Cherished Cherries, Petals of Insight, Voices and Silence, Kavitanjali, Myriad Hues of Varied Perfumes, New Horizons, Strides of Tides, Moon Beams in Clouds, Beams of Blooms, Cuckoos Sing Haikus and Dazzles of My Musings are his books of poetry. Post Gandhian Days, Thorns in the Path, Shadows of Realities, Naked Truths, Tales for a New Sunrise; Time Tells Tales, Marriages Mirages, Mini Tales for Tiny Tots, Dazzles of Darkness and Beauties of Realities are his short story collections. Rajarishi in Quest of Peace, Tears and Smiles of Telangana,, Smart Child, Tears of Tribal Hamlets, Ebbs and Tides, Shadows Shattered, Life Tides, Dowry Venom, and Love without Love are his novels. His research books Essence of Poetry, Inconsistencies and Inadequacies in Traditional Grammars and his ELT books English Language Laboratory, Communication Skills par Excellence, English at Our Doorstep, Grammar in Charts and Learn English through Copious Examples, and translation books: Kavita Vaideshiki (108 English poems into Telugu) The Rays from the Roots (108 Telugu Poems into English) are under publication. His poems appeared in The Dance of the Peacock, Indian English Anthology (ed. by Vivekanand Jha), and O Sweetest Love. His review poem ‘The Dance of the Peacock’ on The Dance of the Peacock is in its review column. His poems, short stories, reviews and critical articles in reputed journals: Contemporary Vibes, CLRI, Muse India, Poetcrit, Metverese Muse, TRIVENI, Ruminations, Creation and Criticism, Kakatiya Journal of English Studies, EduTracks, Satavahana Journal of English Studies, Musi and other journals. The reviews of his books appeared in journals like Poetcrit.

Dr. Katta Rajamouly, Professor and Head, Department of English (S.H), Ganapathy Engineering College, Warangal Email: [email protected]

The article was received on 30/04/2025 accepted on 10/07/2025 and published on 30/07/2025