Vignettes of Ramarao Kanneganti

Somehow, the experiences of childhood and youth leave lasting impressions. Reminiscing about the events of long ago and enjoying the music that was popular during the growing years are among the major preoccupations of expatriate Telugus. We form Telugu associations, arrange Kuchipudi dances and watch old movies to satisfy the thirst of nostalgia. However, the memories of the village scenes, the walks you took with friends along the creek that ran by the village, the smells of the flowers in the backyard etc. cannot be brought back by any organized effort. But fortunately, such things can be enjoyed in the works of good writers. Kanneganti Rama Rao is one such writer.

Rama Rao is from Sowpadu, a village in Guntur District, studied in different towns in AP, then at IIT Madras, and at Rice University in the USA. At Rice, he and a friend, Ananda Kishore, developed the Rice Inverse Transliterator (RIT) software that has become very popular.

Rama Rao writes in a soft and gentle language. His love for the Telugu village is unmistakable and deep. His stories can transport you instantly for a walk along the banks of Godavari, for an incomparable Telugu feast, or to a gossip session under the proverbial tree which serves as the city hall in many Telugu villages. Read his stories and enjoy the village scene.

By the way, if anybody asks what it feels like to read a Kanneganti story, tell her/him that it is like coming into the shade from a hard day's work in the hot sun and drinking a tall glass of Nimma Majjiga blended with ginger, green chillies and curry leaves. It doesn't get any better than that.