Page 9 - EDUSURE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 22

Verses of Sweat and Toil

Gopal, a Telugu and Hindi lan-
guage teacher at UPS Ajilapur
Tin Veldanda Mandal in Na-
garkurnool District, spoke with
Edusure about his happiness at re-
ceiving the Sahitya Academy Yuva
Award. Although born into a low-in-
come family, with his mother work-
ing as a daily-wage employee in agri-
cultural farms, and his father as a
shepherd, he worked hard to become
a well-received writer.

What inspired you to write
kavithalu?
My interest in poetry was sparked
by reading Telugu poems and verses
by renowned poets and attending nu- T Gopal, a Telugu and Hindi language teacher at UPS Ajilapur in Veldanda
merous literature programmes Mandal in Nagarkurnool District, received the Sahitya Academy Yuva Award
throughout my undergraduate years.
I used to write short poems when I improvements and tips to strengthen
was in B.C. Residential School, Na- their literary skills. I also encourage
garjuna Sagar. One of my poems on them to learn from their peers and
friendship was published in the Ma- occasionally read out poems written
habubnagar district edition of by students from other schools.
Eenadu when I was in intermediate
school. How do you feel about receiving the
Sahitya Academy Yuva Award?
Tell us about your first kavitha.
I am delighted to receive the
My teachers, Ravichandra, Telugu Sahitya Academy Yuva Award for my
pandit at my intermediate college, E Dhandakadiyam poetry. The title al-
Parameshwar, Telugu teacher, and N ludes to the experiences of rural folk
Sujatha, Telugu pandit at ZPHS who work day in and day out to make
Kalakonda, Ranga Reddy District, ends meet. In villages, most of the
Kanaka Vani, a senior lecturer, DIET people wear kadiyam to hand. My
lecturer, Hyderabad, played a key role stories describe the activities of the
in the development of my literary hand ornamented with kadiyam. This
skills. G Rajya Vardhan Reddy, renowned prize, in my opinion, is a
physics teacher, ZPHS Kalakonda, token of respect for country life and
Ranga Reddy District, has financially the Telugu language.
supported me at every step of my ed-
ucation. Kavisangam, a Facebook ac- How do you juggle your passion as a
count, also provided a valuable plat- poet and responsibilities as a
form for exploring literature. As a teacher?
professional, I started my literary ad-
venture with a four-line poem. My My love for my profession as a
writing is inspired by poverty, the teacher and literature compete with
hard work of people trying to make each other. As an enthusiastic
ends meet, a mother's love and efforts teacher, I make sure that they learn
to raise a family, and the significance to better their understanding, speak-
of relationships. ing, and writing skills in Telugu and
Hindi, alongside improving their cre-
How has your career as a poet ativity.
influenced your teaching?
What advice do you have for your
Reading and writing poetry is part students?
of my Telugu class. I give students as-
signments that will help them im- I want the children to succeed in currently focused on writing a col-
prove their Telugu reading and writ- their writing talents. My primary re- What is your future goal? umn, "Kavileka" on the Facebook
ing skills, such as composing poetry sponsibility is to identify and hone group Kavisangam. I have completed
using words like "Amma," "Chettu," their skills to carve out a place for I want to pursue Ph.D. in the Tel- thirty essays and plan to write twenty
and "Badi." I then have them read themselves. Poverty should not im- ugu language and become a professor. more before compiling them for a
their small poems in class and suggest pede success. Regarding my literary career, I am print edition.

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