A literary gala of the neo-octogenarian prolific writer Mukunda Rama Rao

Prolific writer Mukunda Rama Rao Vallapu @81.  Traditionally, it’s called Asheeti, completion of 80 years. A milestone gala event celebrating his salubrious & creative completion of 80 years of life happened on 22 Dec 2024 in Hyderabad at Amaravati Hotel, Habsiguda.   

It was a blend of literary breeze from every aide; warm, informal & friendly reception; and a lunch of gastronomic pleasure. 

The rendezvous witnessed the launch of a couple of his new books in Telugu—a collection of poetry—Raatri Veestunna Gaali (The Breeze Wafting in the Night)—and a collection of articles Aasakti (Keen Interest) reflecting his literary tastes. One of the beauties of the event—as a symbol of passing on the baton to the future generation—was that the books were released respectively by—Neev and Neha—grandson and granddaughter of the evergreen pair Mukunda Rama Rao & Subhashini. 

True to the meaning of her name, Subhashini endearingly shared with the galaxy of literary audience—how her consort Mukunda is highly introspective, equanimous, and totally dedicated to the realm of literature—reading, writing, translating—like a sage, even at this age of his. He is given to dipping deep into his literary meditation in the cavern of his studio on the first floor of his abode. He would never demand any eatables or beverages from his better half. Whatever she prepares and offers him, he would more than gladly accept and relish them. Mukunda & Subhashini are certainly a made-for-each-other endearing twosome. 

The other family members present were: Lavanya (eldest daughter) & Ramu Naidu (son-in-law); Kalyan (son) & Radhika (daughter-in-law). Neev and Neha are the kids of the latter pair. 

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The galaxy of the guests included retired vice-chancellors, professors, litterateurs, poets, singers, critics, writers, publishers, journalists et al. 

Galaxy of Guests (In the alphabetical order)

A.K. Prabhakar; Anumandla Bhumayya; Bhumika Satyavati ; Biram Sundara Rao; C. Mrinalini; Chandrasekhara Reddy; Chillara Bhavani Devi; D. Satish & his better half; Desharaju; Ganeswara Rao; Gorati Venkanna; Gumma Veeranna; I. Venkanna; K. Shivaram Chaya; K.P. Ashokkumar; Karri Srinu; Kasturi Muralikrishna; Laxmi Reddy; Mandalaparti Kishore; N. Gopi; Nikhileswar; Ommi Ramesh Babu;  Polamarasetty Krishna Rao; R.V. Rama Rao;  Raja Hussain; Rajesh Patel; Rambabu; Ranga Rao;  S.V. Satyanarayana & his better half; Sheela Subhadra Devi & her daughter Pallavi; Sikhamani; Sudhama; Sumanaspati Reddy; Tadepalli Patanjali Sastry;  Tallvajjhala Shivaji; Uppaluri Atreya Sarma; Vasanta Laxmi; Vihari; Wilson Rao. 

Family Members who Attended

Mukunda Rama Rao, the hero and his wife Subhashini; eldest daughter Lavanya & son-in-law Ramu Naidu; son Kalyan & daughter-in-law Radhika; and granddaughter Neha & grandson Neev through his son. 

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Yallapu Mukunda Rama Rao, originally a software engineer with Hewlett Packard—and with country-wise and overseas exposure—is a prolific & extensive writer with a diverse oeuvre of 30 remarkable books. He has won a garland of prestigious recognitions including—the Telugu University Award for Translation (2017) and the Ajo-Vibho-Kandalam Life Time Achievement Award (2024). A tableau of his books was on display at the event.

He is noted for his poetry collections based on the theme of the basic five elements; and his work on Nobel Laureates. 

As per my literary friendship with Rama Rao, I have translated a few of his pieces, interviewed him, and made him a part of two special features of Muse India—SUFISM & SUFI LITERATURE (Issue 73: May-Jun 2017) and—BHAKTI LITERATURE IN TELUGU (Issue 101: Jan-Feb 2022).
Germane to the occasion, I penned and read out an acrostic ode in Telugu to Mukunda. I wish Mukunda Rama Rao, modesty personified, and his wife and family a longevity of harmonious happiness.

To sum up, here is my translation of one of his Telugu poems ‘Niagara’ published in The Hans India daily (27 Sep 2015).

Repose within me Please

Thou endless Mass of Water!
Thou dissolve into tears,
And gush into a gurgling downpour.
Losing thy steady bed, thou the Torrent
Tumble off the awesome precipice and cascade down.

The Rainbow hugs the sunlight,
And hits his head against the rocks,
Unconscious of his own enchanting wonder.
What an airy organ sending the body a-thrill!

Not the one to forget the etiquette
Even at the height of thy parting pain,
Thou the Cataract bid farewell to thy home
Sprinkling all over thy copious teary spray.

There’s none to lead thy way
And un-retraceable is thy course;
Yet bound thou and rush ahead
To reach a destination of no return.

While the likes of us capture thee in photos galore and save;
Mother Nature, in good time, freezes thee in her lap –
To behold thee and feast her eyes on thy arresting beauty!

In spite of the passage of time
Thou stay put in my heart –
As a tireless and delightful Lake.
A ceaseless tune of flute thou art;
And as an unforgettable memory thou live on.

Let a droplet of thine – even as a shadow, though –
Rest In my body forever and ever.
Who are thee? None but the grand Niagara!