Penning thought-provoking stories

"A good story, just like a good sentence, does more than one job at once. That's what literature is; a story that does more than telling a story, a story that manages to reflect in some way the multilayered texture of life itself". This remark of Karen Thompson Walker reflects the significance of a good story. In contemporary Telugu literature, the stories of Daggumati Padmakar falls under that category. Further, it is noticeable that he always believes that quality is important than quantity. That is also one reason in two and a half decades he penned only 17 stories that provoke thought among readers owing to their multilayered texture. However, turning a good ear to his well-wisher's advice in January he released a book 'Aesthetic Space' an anthology of his 17 stories that are published in various online and offline magazines.

Daggumati's stories subconsciously throw light on the present-day society and its ever-changing values according to the situational context. These 17 stories are penned on different themes that will make the reader feel that he is sitting before a psychiatric consultant posing queries to his logic.

The first story 'U-Turn' really poses a question to everybody 'What is your responsibility?' towards society. In another story 'Bharya –Birtha' (Wife-Husband) he has woven a beautiful narrative that resonates the role of the egos between wife and husband that are destroying the sanctity of the holy knot. The story named as 'Inupa Tera' (Iron Curtain) is a smooth and satirical attack on bad parenting; it is also commendable that he has suggested that the ways of supporting children with small normal acts. This story has its merit to be incorporated as a lesson for the pedagogues.

In 'Paridhulu-Prameayalu' he has exemplarily demarcated the significance of rights of a progressive thought daughter and a reformist father. In this story, the daughter refuses the proposal of inter-caste marriage suggested by her father without her consent and defends her individuality with modern thought.

In this anthology, another story 'Seventh Sense' subconsciously makes the readership to become aware of the fact that self-defence is the best method to protect themselves and society. He praises the role of stray dogs' role in making alert the people without expecting any return. In this story, he used a beautiful expression "In reality, every responsibility is a disturbance for laziness''.

'Aesthetic Space' is a story that elevates the sensitivity and sanctity of a relationship. This story denotes physical relationship can seal the sacredness of friendship between a male and female. Further, the writer makes a sensible remark on the present society which wants lives in space stations but failed to find the aesthetic space among them. The other story 'Oka Duhkham Rani Sayantram' exposes the organ donation and its abuse in a very upright manner. 'Oasis' is another story that conveys the message about unselfish love and the value of its aroma. In his 'Punnamma' story, he has tried to disseminate that caste should not become a parameter for honouring people.

All stories by Padmakar are two dimensional and makes the reader think beyond the roles and scenes of the story. This quality of Daggumati Padmakar makes him a bit slothful but a rational writer that can test the logic of readership to draw conclusions. This writer always tries to unveil his inner feelings courageously and follow the remark of Maya Angelou: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." To express his inner feelings about social customs. 'Aesthetic Space' is a good literary work of Daggumati Padmakar.