Pavan Chittapragada, a very dear friend of mine - for over 30 years, had translated my earlier poem - All these years in Telugu.
Proud to say that this is the first "work" of mine that is translated in another language.
Here is the link.
https://manatelugumaata.blogspot.com/2019/06/blog-post.html
Pavan and I "must have" first met when we were in tenth grade during a city-level debate competition in the last century. The reason I say "must have" is - there were 50 other kids representing our respective schools in a debate competition on a rainy afternoon. I am sure we probably ran into each other that day during the competition.
But, the first time we really met was on a Telugu newspaper headline. It was a short blurb in a local newspaper titled - "పవన్ ప్రకాష్ ల ప్రతిభ" - Some journalist showing talent in combining our names that reads "Pavan Prakash la Prathibha" - along the lines of "Pavan and Prakash's talent".
The two of us were selected for the next regional level in a different city and that is where we really met in person. Since then, we went to college together, stayed in touch with each other and our families are growing up together in two different countries. Last year, it was great to see our kids spend time together during the holidays.
Between the two of us, the one who retained his talent for the native tongue is my friend. For those who can read Telugu - here we meet together again in the translated world ! For those who can't - sorry that you are missing the translation - it is better than the English version !
