Swagatam Prakashamgaa Appudappudu

She glows in myriad ways
The Hindu, December 22, 1997
She likes to be called a feminist,but not in the radical sense. Methodology and not dogmatism prioritses her writing. She believes in peaceful co-existence because life is a series of Short stories for her. W. Chandrakanth meets Abburi Chaya Devi whose authority on women's issues is matchless.
A certain delicateness, profound convictions, a disciplined and healthy attitude towards life and above all, a cultured outlook,This in effect, sums up Abburi Chaya Devi.
For Telugu readers Aburi Chaya Devi, is no new name. Yet,her writings suddenly acquired significance in the Nineties when feminists and protagonists of women's empowerment discovered that probably Chaya Devi is one of the foremost writers who had been contributng to the cause, much before others woke up to the necessity. "I have seen how women are deprived of justice at the workplace and at home too.Exposure broadened my vision" she says.
The fact that she got married into the Abburi family, known for its intellectual superiority and domineering nature, could not deter her from attaining glory. Those who know her confirm that "the towering personalities of either her husband Varada rajeswara Rau, or her father-in-law, Ramakrishna Rao, could not restrain her talent. She excelled to the extent that she almost humbled the giants", It is a tribute to the frail woman that she held on to her own. Her stories have the power to correct the standard vision of the male chauvinistic world so much so that the present day writers look up to her for approval of their works - and that applies to all hues of feminists.
"Influences, yes, But not in the sense of people or books. It is the strict discipline imposed by my father and the traditional atmosphere surrounding me that evoked strong feelings. Influence of a liberal brother who was then abroad allowed me to pursue studies which led me to secure an M.A. (Political Science)degree in 1953 from Nizam's College" she says. Chaya Devi has written selectively. Methodology and not dogmatism gets priority in her writings. When the central character of her short story "Sukhaantam", a woman who toils tirelessly throughout her life and decides to end by taking pills says in the end "it is only to sleep well at least once and not a suicide".
Gender sensitivity is the mainstay of all her stories. For example "Bonsai Bratuku" (Bonsai life) tells us how a (girl) child's growth could be stunted by a strictly regimented life. "A child brought up in a world free of hyporacracies grows into a strong person giving shelter to others in times of crisis, otherwise like a Bonsai plant, it can flourish only in a protective atmosphere" Chaya Devi concludes.
It is this delicate presentation of hers that makes her stories outstandingly simple and yet they convey the message more compellingly than many others. Chaya Devi likes to be called a feminist, but not in the radical sense. " Freedom is never absolute. It is a freedom from jealousies, hatred and want. Cordial
relationship and a compromise not in the sense of slaverly. I believe in peaceful coexistence because life is a series of short stories". Traces of Jiddu Krishnamurthy's influence? She is proud to admit. "In fact from the beginning I have been attacted to his philosophy".
Her marriage to Varada Rajeswara Rau, a man of refined tastes and poet, in 1953, meant an intellectual fusion which helped her talent blossom forth. The encouragement she had had from the family made her do a course in library science in 1958 in the Andhra Univiersity. She worked as a librarian in several libraries and eventually took voluntary retirement from JNU,Delhi, where she worked as a deputy librarian, and settled down in Hyderabad. Interaction with literary personalities and artistes helped her to optimise her finer senses.
Apart from talks over AIR, she edited "Kavita", a magazine on Telugu poetry and brought out books on her father and husband. Some of her stories got translated into Marathi,Hindi, English, Tamil and Spanish too and she bagged the Srimati Vasireddy Ranganayakamma Memorial Award and the Telugu University's award among several other recognitions.
An anthology of modern Telugu poetry and translations of popular fiction from English are some of her other contributions She is not against men writing on women's issues but asks "Can they sustain if forever? Once in a while a good story or poem may come from them. When women veer round feminism they can do proper justice to the cause. Feminism is not fashion, it is a passion and way of life. It is not irresponsibility or absolute individualism too".
Abburi is a known doll-maker. She gives a Freudian interpretation to this: " I was prevented from playing with dolls in childhood. So I took up to the hobby when I grew up". Tragedies in life have not deterred her from pursuing her goals. It is the strength of her character that sustains her clear vision.

--W. Chandrakanth (Based on an interview)

Swagatam Prakashamgaa Appudappudu a book by Smt. Abburi Chaya Devi is available for download from Vikasa Dhatri.