Sahitya Akademi awardee Ramesh Karthik Nayak is the voice of the marginalized

Literature From Lived Experience: Ramesh Nayak | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Behind the limitations and dictates of the imagination of urban middle-class literature lies a wealth of Indian vernacular literature that explores the neglected fringes of our society. A representative of the Banjara tribe in Telangana, Ramesh Karthik Nayak, 26, is one such voice. He hails from Vivek Nagar tribal thanda in Jakranpally mandal of Nizamabad district.

Nayak is the youngest and first Telugu author to be awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2024 for his short story collection Dhavlo (Song of Lament, 2021). His literary journey includes four books – three collections of short stories and one collection of poetry – all written in the Banjari language in Telugu and English script. Besides winning several awards and features in international and national publications, his writing has been included in university curricula across institutions in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Reflecting on his own lived experiences, he depicts the reality of the indigenous nomadic community of Banjaras, also known as Lambads, who originated in Rajasthan but are now dispersed across the country.

“Since childhood, I scribbled poems on the back of my school notebooks and was scorned by teachers who often tried to stop me from writing. But I knew my calling; I wanted my Banjara community to have a voice,” recalls Nayak. After passing Class X at SVSHS Bodhan, he took up several odd jobs like catering, distributing leaflets, selling books at events and even repairing ACs before his foray into writing. “Once my first collection of poems, Balder Bandi, was published in 2018, there was no looking back,” he says.

‘Fragmented Identity’

Nayak is the first writer to open a window into the way of life of the Banjaras, their culture and heritage to contemporary readers. His work explores the politics of identity and belonging, the innate beauty of the nomadic landscape, and the myriad challenges faced by the tribal community.

“The Banjara identity is extremely fragmented, our festivals are hybrid, colorful and flamboyant clothing is now slowly disappearing, and oral history is increasingly lost in translation. I want to capture the essence of our community because we have remained hidden from the mainstream literary space for a long time,” he points out.

While his award-winning Dhavlo (2021) in Banjari delves into the grotesque life of Banjari, his collection of Banjari poems Chakmak (2023), written in English, delves deeper into the displacement and crises experienced by the nomadic tribes. Here, Nayak questions the concept of “origin” and evokes the loneliness that comes with uprooting.

Through his work, he tries to shine a light on the talent that lies in the shadows. “This (Sahitya Akademi) award and media coverage brings more attention to my tribe and other tribal communities in the Telugu states; it is also a rare example of recognition of tribal talent. Now the nation can see the talent that lies on the margins and in self-taught artistes who come from little to no privilege,” he says.

Published – 20 Jun 2024 15:59 IST