Rachakonda Viswanatha Sastri (Ravi Sastri) (Telugu: రావిశాస్త్రి) (1922–1993) was a Telugu writer who published several novels and more than 60 short stories in six volumes. Often praised for his unique style, Ravi Sastry supported marginalized communities.^[1] Professionally, he was a lawyer.^[2]

Education

Rachakonda Viswanatha Sastry graduated with honours to obtain his B.A. from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. In 1946, he completed his B.L. degree at Madras University. Having gained professional expertise in law by working with Taatha Sriramamurthy, an established senior lawyer, he started his own law practice in 1950. He began his career as a dedicated congressional leader. In his later years (1960) he was influenced by Marxist theory.

As a writer

In 1947, he observed the lifestyle of the inhabitants of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, as well as major changes in urban lifestyles at Visakhapatnam. The perceived inhumanity in these new ways of life caused much distress, and Sastry was the first, after Gurajada Apparao and Sripadala, to employ dialects in writing about the effect of these changes.

Career

After the novel Alpajeevi, he wrote two unfinished novels, Raju MahiShi (రాజు మహిషీ) and Rattalu Rambabu (రత్తాలు-రాంబాబు). Near the end of his career, he wrote the novel Illu (ఇల్లు). Alpajeevi is considered his best work among the several novels that he wrote during his career. But "Raju Mahishi Prema Manishi" delved deep into the social fabric of the then-middle class, lower class and upper class society and brought out the structural weaknesses plaguing those classes very articulately. In fact, it was compared to the beauty of the unfinished statue of Lord Visweswara at Varanasi.

Stories

He wrote six stories (ఆరుసారా కథలు) which analyze the effects of the Liquor Act in Andhra Pradesh and also about the misuse of this act. These stories are now famous in Telugu literature.

Novels

• Kathasagaram (కథాసాగరం) (1955)
• Aru sara kadhalu (ఆరుసారా కథలు) (1961)
• Rachakonda kathalu (రాచకొండ కథలు) (1966)^[4]
• Aru saraa kathalu (ఆరుసారా కథలు) (1967)
• Raju mahishi (రాజు మహిషి) (1968)
• Kalakanthi (కలకంఠి) (1969)
• Banisa kathalu (బానిస కథలు) (1972)
• Rukkulu (ఋక్కులు) (1973)
• Rattalu – rambabu (రత్తాలు- రాంబాబు) (1975)
• Sommulu Ponayandi (సొమ్ములు పోనాయండి)
• Govulostunnayi Jagratta (గోవులోస్తున్నాయి జాగ్రత్త)
• Bangaram (బంగారం)మూడుకథల బంగారం
• Illu (ఇల్లు)
• Alpajeevi (అల్పజీవి)

Dramas, playlets

• Nijam – Natakam (నిజం నాటకం)
• Tirasktruthi – Natika (తిరస్కృతి నాటిక)
• Vishadam – Natika (విషాదం నాటిక)

Honors

In 1983, he was honored with the Kalaprapoorna Award by Andhra University. He refused this award. He received a Sahitya Akademi Award in the 1960s. Sastry returned in 1975 as a mark of protest against emergency and his incarceration during that period, though he came out on parole.( he did not receive kendra sahitya academy award. List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Telugu)

Recent Article

• Ravi Sastry... Ravi Sastry!* (On the occasion of his 101st birth anniversary...) He fought against the injustices prevalent in society. He stood up for the rights of the oppressed and voiceless. As a writer, philosopher, literary critic, and social activist, he expressed the pain of the marginalized, undertook literary journeys for future generations, and advocated for the unfortunate. He became renowned as Ravi Sastry, the author of thought-provoking stories, novels, and courtroom arguments. Born on July 30, 1922, in Anakapalli, he grew up amidst the lush green fields. It was from there that his literary journey began. He enriched Telugu literature with new dimensions for short stories, innovative paths for modern fiction, and a literary lifeline for the deprived and oppressed. He dedicated his life to serving the people through his writings and became a literary mastermind.

• Early Career as a Lawyer:*

After completing his degree at AVAN College in Visakhapatnam, he pursued an honors degree in philosophy from Andhra University and later joined the Madras Law College in 1942. For some time, he practiced under the prominent lawyer Shri Ramamurthy, and in 1950, he settled in Visakhapatnam after completing his legal studies. He relentlessly fought for justice, representing criminal cases and defending the rights of underprivileged sections of society.

• Distinctiveness in the Uttarandhra Region:*

He spread his influence with his writings, bringing prominence to the Uttarandhra region. Ravi Sastry's works resonated with clients, lower castes, and the lives of common people, becoming the essence of his storytelling. He composed many creative and poetic works that provided solace to the suffering of the downtrodden. Ravi Sastry's contribution to Telugu literature was comparable to a sculptor, as he skillfully crafted each sentence. He was the one who introduced the unique narrative style in Telugu literature, exemplified by his novel "Alpajeevi." He is considered the architect of concise and impactful sentences in Telugu literature, following the era of Buchi Ramamurthy. This is best exemplified by his novel "Alpajeevi."

• The Voice of the People through His Works:*

Ravi Sastry's literary works became the voice of the people. For the sake of fame, accolades, and recognition, he did not compromise his ideals. The admiration of the common people mattered the most to him.

Acting

He was not only a writer, but an actor. He played the role of an artist in the playlets Nijam and Kanyasulkam. Nijam had over 100 performances. Ravi Sastry said, "Every writer should think that my writings are neither harmful to the good nor helpful to the bad."

Death

Ravi Sastri died on 10 November 1993.

References