Re: More on Galpika

Sankhavaram Panini (panini@eri.uchsc.edu)
Fri, 27 Oct 1995 11:42:29 -0600 (MDT)

> Look at the recent discussion on "galpika". What is a galpika? Let us try a few
> definitions at it. Once we agree on what it means, then that is what it is
> going to be.

As I said in my first post, sodum rAmmOhan defined galpika as a short
story with the purpose of educating the reader (at least that's my
understanding). In other words, it is comparable in length to a kathAnika
but with an educational (?) message rather than a moral one. Sree Jampala
appeared to define a galpika as a satirical or allegorical short story that
is very brief (no more than a single printed page). koku's galpikalu do
fit Sree Jampala's definition and share the common property that they
dispense with explanations and provoke the reader to think for
himself/herself.

Since I am not familiar with galpikalu by other authors, I don't know
whether alternate definitions are possible.

Regards,

pANini