Bruised, but not Broken (poems)
-Challapalli Swarooparani
2. An Ethnic Dream
The criss-crossed entangled forest seems
To have gathered its hair neatly into a knot.
Swallowed by a corporate whale
That spits them out in the centre of Shilparamam*
Small huts in deep sleep amidst green trees
Appear doll houses with lime patterns
Alluring.
Nose studs, beaded necklaces, mirror blouses of
The forest’s daughters
Transform into ethnic chic for
Those that live in gated communities.
Mud vessels, lead utensils, bamboo baskets
Fetch a deluge of dollars in multinational shops.
Now, the forest:
Not bamboo groves
Wild beasts, beautiful birds
And immaculate tribal hamlets.
Now, the forest:
A cacophony of bullets
A rock of shelter, the mountain god
Gives into dynamite
And collapses to the ground.
Forest mother, molested by the police
Waits at the court
For justice.
Children from the forest hamlet
Fight over castaway biryani packets.
Right before our eyes
The land beneath our feet
Retreats.
Forest lives gather at the crossroads
The forest remains awake for a whole night
Waiting
For a single verdant dream.
*Shilparamam the market place in Hyderabad
(Telugu: “Voka Ethnic Dream”, translated by Prof. Guntapudi Swarupa Rani, Dept. of English, Sri Padmavathi Mahila University.)
*****
(To be continued-)
Born on 25th May, 1968 At Pyaparru, Tenali Tq, Guntur dt., A.P. Parents: Mariyamma, Mantraiah. Presently working as Professor, Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, A.P. Acting as Head, Chairperson, B.O.S, Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, A.P. Acting as Vice- Principal, ANU College of Arts, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, A.P. Acted as Director, Centre for Women’s Studies, Acharya Nagarjuna University, 2012-19.
Eduction – Ph.D, (Regional Studies), M.Phil (History), M.A (History & Archaeology) obtained gold medal, UGC/JRF .
9 Books Published. Published more than 100 research papers in different journals and edited volumes.
Some of her poems are prescribed for a syllabus in M.A. English course in Sri Padmavathi Mahila University and M.A Hindi in Indira Gandhi Open University, New Delhi and PUC in Karnataka.
Her anthology, Mankenapuvvu was prescribed as a syllabus in A Telugu in Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, A.P, Rayalasima University, Kurnool and Banglore University.
Presented 90 research papers in different National and International seminars and conferences.
Produced Ph.D degrees- 27
Presently guiding 20 Ph.D scholars