Visakha Book Festival shines spotlight on Telugu literature

Telugu literature was shaped by the intellectual and creative force of Uttarandhra, with Visakhapatnam emerging as a vital cultural centre.

The region produced influential writers who not only enriched the language, but also redefined its ideological and aesthetic direction. Figures such as Gurajada Appa Rao, Sri Sri, Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry, Adibhatla Narayana Dasu, Srirangam Srinivasa Rao, Raavi Sastri and Patanjali Sastri broke away from rigid classical traditions and introduced progressive, socially conscious themes.

Their writings engaged directly with lived realities—addressing caste, class, gender and human dignity and in doing so, reshaped the very purpose of Telugu literature.

Set against this rich literary backdrop, the Visakha Book Festival on Andhra University Grounds, running until Friday (January 2) celebrates both the legacy and the living spirit of Telugu literature. Organised by the Vijayawada Book Festival Society (VBFS) on the sidelines of CITU’s Shramika Utsav, which has been promoting book reading for over 36 years, the exhibition affirms the idea that literature must remain accessible, dialogic and deeply rooted in society.

The book festival is about much more than selling books; its aim is to bring writers and readers together and restore literature as a shared cultural experience.

“The festival urges parents to see books as essential for a child’s emotional and intellectual growth. Notably, these festivals are no longer limited to elite urban spaces. They are reaching people across districts. The reading culture, once feared to be fading, is clearly reviving. Young readers in particular are actively seeking classical and progressive Telugu literature,” D. Uday Kiran, Coordinator of VBFS, said.

Seminal works such as Kanyasulkam, Mahaprasthanam, Jeevana Yatra, and Chivaraku Migiledi are gaining renewed attention. Even novels published decades ago are finding new audiences today.

“The book exhibition witnessed an overwhelming response from readers across regions and ideological backgrounds,” Mr. Uday Kiran said.

Indira Parinika, a Class IV student from Cambridge School, expressed her joy after purchasing storybooks and science-fiction. She shared that reading gives her immense pleasure, especially when she feels stressed by schoolwork. “Books help me relax and imagine new worlds,” she said.

The author (Gouthami Paltati) is an intern with The Hindu