The present state of chandObaddha kavitvam (was: kavi raaskhasulu)
V. Chowdary Jampala (cjampala@desire.wright.edu)
Tue, 23 Jul 1996 14:10:26 -0500 (EST)
Ari gaaru said that traditional poetry is dead and his harsh assessment
appears to have rankled a few people. The question to me is not whether
the classics (e.g. pOtana's bhaagavathamu) will continue to be cherished
(I think they will be - for at least a few generations to come, for reasons
both literary and social). The question is whether the art of traditional
(defined by me for the purpose of this discussion as chandObaddha kavitvamu
written in non-vyaavahaarika bhaasha) poetry - is an art whose time is
already past or does that art have a present and a future? Ari's position
on this is clearly stated. It is also clear that some of the participants
in the current discussion think that the classical literature should be
beyond any criticism. What is not clear to me is whether some of these
participants believe that the traditional poetry is an active, virile art
form. Sometimes it seems to me that this group has disproportionately more
members (compared to the general Telugu population, Telugu readership,
Telugu writers, and other Telugu literati) that practice and venerate
this form.
If the traditional poetry has a presence these days, what are the current
major works in this form and in whose hands is this art flourishing these
days? What are the well regarded works in this form that were published
in the last quarter century or so (or say since raamayaNa kalpa vRUkshamu)?
Regards. --- V. Chowdary Jampala