Lokabhiramam
I am Gopalam Karamchedu also known as Vijayagopal. I am a writer communicator. I share my thoughts and the collections here. My interests include, books, management, classical music, culture, languages etc..Thanks to all the friends who make my efforts meaningful. You are welcome to add material here. Write to me if you want to contribute.
Thursday, November 27, 2025
Hyderabad Brothers in Delhi 4 songs
The Rain - Translation of a Telugu story of D Venkatramayya
The Rain
Translation of a Telugu story of D Venkatramayya
The rain
D. Venkata Ramayya
Like the difficulties in a poor man’s life clouds spread throughout the sky.
Like the powers of the President Sun in the sky there as if not there.
“In the next twenty-four hours, sky will be overcast. There is likelihood of widespread thunder showers…” just then radio declares.
But then many thought that it would never rain on the day, and then it rained.
And it came with all the gusto.
Like the rich man raging with anger on the poor, like the profits for the black marketeer, like the politicians love for the people before the elections, rain came with all the force. Like the one having more black money than the white, the sky displayed more black clouds than the white.
Like the leader after winning the election Sun stopped appearing in the sky. He disappeared somewhere behind the clouds.
Like the socialism in the country, he became useless despite being there.
Darkness descended during the day.
In five minutes, roads were deserted.
People taking shelter under the porticos of buildings, shops, hotels started looking at the rain.
Raju also pulled the rickshaw aside, reached the verandah of a hotel, and stood in a corner.
The place was already full of those seeking shelter, and those coming out from inside and looking to see whether the rain would stop.
At that time, among those assembled there, there were elders, gentlemen, officers, non-officials, students, clerks, businessmen and many more kinds.
Raju does not belong to any of these kinds. He is a common rickshaw puller. Or a poor soul, despite pulling the rickshaw, is neither able to live nor die.
And hence Raju, is standing away from all the others and is crouching in a corner.
He is looking at the rain like all the others.
He is waiting for the rain to stop.
But he does not want the rain to stop completely.
If it does not stop and continues as a drizzle he will get some good business.
It should be heavy enough to make people wet if they walk and light enough to make them safe if they go in a rickshaw.
Only then Raju will get some good business.
But now the rain is heavy enough to drench people even if they travel in a rickshaw. In such rain people would prefer a taxi and never opt for rickshaw. They would wait somewhere and come out onto the roads only when the rain stops.
Thinking all this Raju swore at the rain “Damned rain”
Even after swearing the rain never stopped.
It is continuing incessantly.
Just then the college boy, after having pooris and rawa dosa and coffee, came out, put some nut powder in mouth, lit a cigarette and looking on to the road cursed the rain English “ Hell with the rain”
Even after the college boys swearing in English the rain never stopped. It continued.
It even grew heavier.
The boy who cursed the rain in English bit his tongue immediately.
A girl drenched in the rain and then taking shelter there appeared very beautiful to him in that half-wet saree. He questioned himself whether he would be lucky enough to watch such a beautiful girl for so long if it never rained, answered himself that it was impossible.
And hence appreciated the rain, an started looking at the girl without blinking.
There are some more, like the college boy, who are appreciating the incessant downpour.
If it continues to rain like this, thought the hotel Ayyar, and felt happy about the chance of people who came for shelter coming in for a cup of coffee, and appreciated the rain without stirring from his seat.
The businessman selling raincoats and umbrellas thought if it continues to rain for another couple of days, his day will be made and appreciated the rain.
A rich man with lots of money but no work, sleeping across the cot on his third floor, sipping a hot drink warmly, appreciated the rain very well.
A young employee who forgot the world in the embrace of the wife, preferring the embrace over the employment, and thinking that it would be much better in the rain, appreciated the rain sans ends.
Rain appreciating itself because there are so many who appreciate it, started pouring further and heavier.
Along with the rain the disgust in Raju’s heart also grew.
He would not get any work unless the rain stops.
Belly would not get full without work.
So is with those at home.
No business right from the morning.
Yesterday was also so, so.
Yesterday it was half filled stomach.
Today he did not eat anything till now.
The day was progressing, and it was already late.
Rain never stopped and it appears it will never subside.
Raju was hungry. Irritated too.
He was angry.
Rain never stopped.
Two miles from there – in a hut which was precariously withstanding the onslaught of the rain, Raju’s old mother whose capability of standing up was doubtful, was squatting at the doorsteps, and looking into the unending rain with disgust.
Two children, Raju’s brothers, like skeletal remains, sat next to her, looking into the rain with same disgust and hope that the brother may come and may get something to eat.
Raju was still standing on the hotel verandah.
Raju was hungry.
Raju’s old mother was hungry.
Raju’s brothers, with nothing except bones in the body, were also hungry.
Still the rain never stopped.
The whole day it never stopped.
Raju did not get any business.
To him, his mother and to his brothers there was no food that day.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna - CONCERT at SRIRAMA MANDIR NEW DELHI in 4 Parts
Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna - CONCERT
This is a must listen concert!
Udayam Enerico Seruma Story ఉదయం - ఎనెరికో సెరూమా ఆఫ్రికన్ కథకు తెలుగు...
ఉదయం
ఎనెరికో సెరూమా ఆఫ్రికన్ కథ
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Friday, November 21, 2025
"Weekling" Story of Seela Veerraju (Translation) శీలా వీర్రాజు గారి తెల...
"Weekling"
Story of Seela Veerraju
The Weakling
Gopalam sat on the canal
bank. There is sand where he sat. It is shining white. He is amidst that sand.
Hence, he is visible. Even in the darkness he continues to be visible. There
are stars above. They are twinkling. They emit light. But, don’t appear to be
doing so. That light shines on the earth. It shines on the hills. On the water
too. It shines on everything. But, none can be seen. All of them would be
hidden in the darkness. There would be darkness where they are hidden. Where
there is darkness, there wouldn’t be any light. But, where there is light,
there would be darkness. So, in spite of the stars, it is dark.
Gopalam is looking
into the waters. Waters are not visible to him. There is darkness there. He is
seeing that darkness. It appeared dark. He thought darkness is black. He struck
a matchstick. Darkness was not seen. An iron nail was seen on the sand. It is
dark. Even in light it appeared black. In the light, the darkness was not
apparent. If it is there, it might have appeared dark. It did not. So, darkness
is not blackness. Then, he does not know of what color the darkness is. He
would not worry about things not known. So, he stopped thinking.
He has not stopped
thinking totally. He has stopped thinking about things not known. But, he is
thinking about something that is known. He knows why he lacks peace of mind,
so, he is thinking about that.
Everyone is thinking
that he is a nice man. They keep saying so. No one says that he is not. They
don’t even think so. It would be good if they do so. He would have peace of
mind.
No one knows that he
has done some bad things. They did not even try to know, since they don’t know.
There is a reason for that. On the very day he came to the village, he did a
good thing. There is another house next to the one he arrived. There is a girl
in that house. Suddenly, on the same day she fell sick. People in the house
were very agitated. They had no money to show her to a doctor. G heard the
matter. He fetched a doctor. He paid him.
After a week the girl recovered. Meanwhile her husband came. He cared
for her. He praised G.
The matter became
known to some people. Those some people went and told many people. Many people
went and told many people and some people together. All of them together told
everyone. All of them praised him. Said a ‘good man’. Eulogised him. G laughed in himself. There
was selfishness in his help. He did not know before that the girl was married.
But, his selfishness
was not apparent to anybody. It was hidden in ignorance. That ignorance is like
the darkness. Darkness would be there where light is there. Ignorance would be
there where knowledge is there. But, where darkness is there, there wouldn’t be
any light. Where there is ignorance, knowledge would not be there.
People there are not
fools. But there is foolishness in them. So, he is a good man. Good man means,
one who does good things. It is alright even if good thoughts are not there.
The deeds should be good. There is a lot of difference between deeds and thoughts.
A deed is apparent. A thought is not. Twain shall not meet sometimes. So they
are north and south.
But, usually thoughts
and deeds are one. They are very close to each other. They stay side by side.
So, they are east and south.
Thoughts and deeds are
indices of the heart. That heart belongs to G. so G is north and south. G is
east and south. G is east. G is south.
Similarly G is east
and west. G is east and south. G is west. G is south.
G is everything. G is
there in everything. G’s heart is there in everything. He acts according to the
thoughts. He acts as if thinking. He acts according to the occasion. He changes
when acting. That change is artificial. He does not like that artificiality.
So, he feels bad.
That pain is not
related to the body. It is of the heart. His heart is soft. It loves. Feels
compassion. Feels pain. It is such a good heart. But, that heart made him do
bad deeds. He did them. Feels bad for doing so.
He feels like telling
about that pain to the others. But cannot. All are respecting him. They are
thinking that he is a good person.
He cannot say that
their impressions are wrong. If he does, they would feel cheated. They would
feel bad. He does not like to cause them pain. So, he cannot tell them. He
hides the matter without telling. Hiding so, he suffers. That is his weakness.
The same weakness is his goodness.
Goodness comes because
of not doing bad. It comes out of weakness also. At such place there has to be
artificiality. So, he is acting artificially. Everyone is not capable of acting
like that. It is hard doing work about which we do not know. Hard work causes
pain. His weakness is causing him pain.
But, he has committed
bad deeds. Those deeds are causing him pain. His goodness is causing him pain.
That goodness made him do bad deeds. He is feeling bad because he did them. He
feeling bad and so, he is a good person.
But, he feels that he
is not a good person. No one would endorse that opinion. Everyone respects him.
Honor him. Take advice when necessary. Speak without malice. Share secrets.
They are such nice people. He is unable to continue among them. On seeing their
goodness, he feels like crying. He feels bad that he is cheating them. He feels
like opening up his real self. But he cannot.
He is not acting on
purpose. He is acting without being able to do so. None doubts him. His kind heart
does not allow anyone doubt him.
He has a lot of own
matters. They are bad deeds he made due to goodness. They are not being
contained in the heart. He is hiding them per force. He is suppressing them.
Their pressure increases. It is resulting in pain. They are seeking for relief
some way or the other. It would be better if revealed to someone. Some relief
would be there. But, the chance of disclosure is not happening. His goodness is
not allowing him. The goodness in the other people is not allowing him. Goodness
is hiding from goodness.
G is looking that way.
G is thinking. G is thinking while seeing that way. G who is seeing is not
seeing anything. G who is thinking is seeing certain things. He is not able to
know where they are seen. They are seen from somewhere. Moving like a movie. They
are coming one after other in succession.
He is there in them.
Moving. He is speaking. He is laughing. G is seeing the man in himself. G is
seeing his own image. He is wondering if it the same him who is acting. He is
feeling bad.
The image that G is
seeing is bluffing. It is in love with the girls. It is cheating innocent
people. It is entering the houses of call girls. Gopalam felt bad. But the form
does not. It is laughing. It is moving happily.
G got angry. He shouted at the image. He shouted at self.
G who shouted laughed
in himself. That laughter was not heard outside. It did not cross the lips. Since
the lips were locked it stopped inside. Laughter that stopped went back. It sat
groaning in a corner of the heart. The groaning came out. G unable to laugh,
groaned.
G’s image appeared
again. He wanted not to see it. Image disappeared. Something remained there.
That remainder was darkish. He was
seeing that darkness. He was seeing through the darkness. He was seeing the
darkness through the darkness.
A little light was
seen. There was a lamp in the middle of the light. G’s image came near to that
lamp. G never cursed. There was a female with the image. He was seeing her. He
was seeing the flowers in her hair. They were not giving out fragrance. Looks
they are wilted. They were bent and were dropping on to the shoulder. There was
the white blouse on the shoulder. The Pallu slipped and fell on the cot. She
blew off the lamp.
G closed his eyes.
Darkness. He opened the eyes. Darkness. He was there in the darkness. There was
darkness in him. There was darkness in his heart. The heart was there in the
darkness. G’s heart is darkness. G is darkness. East is dark. North is dark.
South is dark. Darkness everywhere.
He again lit a
matchstick. There was light around him. He looked from that light. From the
light he saw the darkness. Darkness was visible. Matchstick burnt off. There
was darkness around him. He saw from that darkness. From darkness he saw
darkness. Darkness was visible.
He could see only one
thing. That was darkness. Darkness like the ignorance. Darkness that sinned. He
sinned in that darkness. That sin was giving him pain. He wants relief from the
sin.
But relief was not in
his reach. His goodness was not allowing him liberties. It is binding him. It
is hiding his bad deeds. He thinks of disclosing. But he cannot. There are no
friends worth disclosing to.
G has friendship with
many. That friendship is serious. But there is no intimacy in that friendship.
There is respect in it. Fear would be there where respect is. There would not
be intimacy where fear is. Where there is no intimacy, private matters don’t
come up. So, he is not able to tell anybody. Honour is not allowing him to tell
anybody. Goodness is not allowing him to tell anybody. Honour and goodness
together are stopping him from telling. Out of goodness came honour. Out of
weakness came honour. Out of weakness came fear. So, he is a timid man.
G has fear for the
people there. He fears before the goodness in them. He wishes that the goodness
is not known to him. For that he wants to keep a distance. But, they keep
coming closer to him. They open their hearts’ doors before him. Beyond the
doors there are their clear hearts like white papers. No stains on them.
Neither any soot on them. They are clear like the jasmines.
He fears on seeing the
hearts. He fears to see such white color. So he does not move around in bright
light. Away from the day he sits in a dark room. Moves around in darkness.
Keeps thinking in darkness. He has no fear for darkness. It is his habit to sit
by the canal in darkness. But, during the day he would not venture there. He
does not like light. So he does not move about in light. He has fear for light.
Those without fear
will also drop off the feeling of disgrace. That would mean that brave people
are devoid of shame. But, G is a timid man. So G has a lot of shyness feeling.
Shy G cannot talk happily. Cannot go round happily. He keeps quiet. Shyness is
making him silent.
Bashfulness is an
ornament for women folk. But G is a man. So the character is a wrist watch to
him. Shyness is the waist belt for G.
Together they are
making him handsome. Adding honour. But, it appears they are not giving him any
happiness. He thinks of dropping them. That appear as fetters to him. He wants
relief from those fetters.
But, G has no freedom.
G cannot talk freely with anyone. Cannot tell private matters to anyone. Cannot
even ask for counsel. Shyness stops him from asking. Goodness stops him from
asking. Honour stops him from asking.
It would have been
better without that honour. He could talk with all as he wished. He would act
as he wished. No need of doing anything stealthily. No need of cheating
anybody. He would do it out in the open. He would tell all and laugh it off.
But he has this honour. So he is an unlucky person.
G is an unlucky
person. He came to know of the thing only that morning. Sumati came that
morning as usual. Sumati is a friend’s sister. She takes tuition from him. He
gives tuition. He would make her sit for a while, chat up and send away. He
likes her. Loves her. The love remained in his heart. Never came out. It is
trying to do so. A good day is not nearby. If it is there, it would have come
out.
That girl came and
asked him for help. He loved that girl. So, agreed to help immediately. That
girl told. She is in love with the math teacher in the school, it appears. He
also loves her. They would like to get married. She asked him to tell the
matter to her brother. Somehow, he should make the brother agree, said she.
G has to do that
favour to that girl. G never said he wouldn’t. He said he would. She has a lot
of respect for G. she feels he is a good person. He is in pain because of that.
He felt bad because of the bad ideas within him. He felt bad because she
recognized those bad ideas.
He suffers for
everything. Very soft heart. He cannot bear when the others are suffering. He
is thinking about the action needed so that they don’t suffer.
Far away a small light
flickered. He got up and went near. An owl was peeping from a hole in the tree.
He made noise. It ran away. It went into another tree’s hole and slept.
G started from there. He walked along the canal side. Ran. He ran
into the midst of new people.
G ran away.





