( An interview with Sri Vyboina Satyanarayana, an eminent writer, organizer and multi faceted person)
* Can you please tell us about your childhood and education..?
I was born on 17th July 1960 in Pattepuram (China Nindrakolanu) of West Godavari district. But grew up and studied till Intermediate (1966-78) in Hill Colony, Nagarjunasagar, Nalgonda district.
When I was studying in high school, my Telugu master Mr. PV Seshacharyulu, who had read my essays, patted me on the shoulder and said, 'Yes, you can write' and he is behind every letter I am writing today. It was because of his encouragement that I won the first prize in every Telugu essay competition held from class 10 to graduation.
Later for one year (1978-79), I worked as a private school teacher at Nidamanuru Sri Vidyanikethan, Miryalagudem Taluka. Soon I quit that job, came to Khammam and studied B.Sc Electronics (1979-82) at SR & BGNR Government Degree College, Khammam. I conducted tuitions while studying my degree. I worked as a compounder for a doctor.
* Elaborate Some details about your employment...
I applied to every job that appeared in the Employment News magazine. The job that came during the summer vacation of the second year of the degree was a short duty telephone operator job in the telecom department. I did that job from June 1981 to December 1983. Later that job became permanent and was posted in Bhadrachalam so I joined Bhadrachalam Telephone Exchange on 17th December 1983. I worked there for about fifteen years till May 31, 1998.
* Family details..
.I got married on 24th April 1985 to Subhadra from Madhira. On 13th July 1986 we had a daughter Sri Durga Deepti. On August 17, 1988, a boy named Vaibhava Srinivas was born. Our daughter is married to Radhakrishna, son of Dravidadesam party founder sri Krishna Rao of Chennai. My son is married to Sindhu, daughter of my brother-in-law from Madhira. Both our children are settled in life.
* Tell us your activities as an organizer
I was the organizing secretary of the Indo-Soviet Cultural Society (ISCUS) during my intermediate days. On September 9, 1977, we organized the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of famous Russian writer Leo Talstoy under the auspices of ISCUS. Mahakavi Sri Sri, who was the chief guest of the program, entrusted me with the responsibility of taking care of the entertainment. I had the great opportunity to spend two days with great poet Sri Sri at an early age.
I worked till August 1992 as the founding organizer of 'Sahiti Gautami' which was started in Bhadrachalam on February 18, 1988.r. Maganti Suryam, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Rallabandi Kavita Prasad, Basuvula Satyanarayana and I founded Sahithi Gautami together.
Between 1992-98 I served as General Secretary of Sahitigautami. At that time, I took the lead in organizing the writers' meet organized by the Andhra Bhumi Weekly. On that occasion, I came in contact with Yandamuri and Sikaraju.
Apart from that, I celebrated the birth anniversary of Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak by inviting the famous progressive poet Avantsa Somasundar as the chief guest. This program has brought us good recognition. The then Collector of Khammam district, Lakshmi Parthasaradhi, daughter of Tilak's elder brother, congratulated us. Akashvani Kothagudem broadcasted this program on radio.
In the 1990s, I organized Shree Devi Navratri celebrations indefinitely for ten years at the Bhadrachalam Library Centre. I earned a good reputation by organizing those programs in collaboration with prominent businessman Tavidishetti Raja, Pepsi Srinu and Kranti Transport Ramana.
* About your literary contribution...
The first story broadcasted by our country's first FM radio station, Kothagudem Centre, which was launched on March 24, 1989, was the story of 'Potaraju' written by me. More than ten stories were broadcasted by Akashavani Kothagudem Kendram.
Between 1988-90 the stories were published in Andhra Jyoti (weekly). Later, due to the pressure of duty, I could not write. From 1st June 1998 to 31st January 2020 I worked in various capacities in DOT/BSNL in Khammam and finally took voluntary retirement as JTO.
After my retirement I am devoting my time completely to literature.
My writings are inspired by the lives of the people around me that I see everyday. Both progressive literary trends and popular literary trends are seen in my works.
* Whom you got inspiration from..?
I am influenced by Kalipatnam Rama Rao, Chaso, Ravi Shastri, Chalam and Tilak. Also on the other side there is the influence of Yandamuri Virendranath, Malladi Venkata Krishnamurthy, Yaddanapudi Sulochanarani. So far I have published five books. They are 'Swaragatulu and Jaya Narasimha' ( Novels) 'Potaraju' ( A story collection) 'Vasanta Panchami Another Two Novels ( Novels)'Ammanu chuudaali' (Novel) 'Sadhu chebuthava saaru (Novel).
* Any other info...
I have written the last eighty one episodes of 'Kalaya Nizama' daily serial aired on Pocket FM audio channel. I am going to write another daily serial soon. I regularly self-publish my works on the Pratilipi app. I have won prizes in many competitions organized by Pratilipi. I won the Pratilipi Diary competition and also won the 'Pratilipi Ratna' title. I have self-published twelve novels, over a hundred stories, over a hundred essays and over fifty poems in Pratilipi.
With the help of my friends in the film industry, I am constantly working to make a name for myself as a film writer. My Thanks to Murthy of Bhadradri Incredible (Web news portal) for this interview.
