Sundaram Learns

by Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao, V.V.B. Rama Rao (Translator)

This Classic Describes Graphically The Political And Social History Of Two Decades (1915-35) Of Telugu Culture. In this novel, the key role Sundaram gradually learns the art of living while experiencing the life's social intrigues and contradictions.

230 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

About the author

Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao (28 October 1909 – 17 August 1980), also known as Ko Ku, was an exponent of the Telugu literature in the 20th century. He believed that literature which criticises and enriches human life and ultimately reforms the human thought of its time is the only relevant form of literature.

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story revolves around Pre-independence entwine with Telugu culture.

[Hari Krishna Maharshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I read when I was in school. My father was my inspiration to read this book and I really liked it.

[Surendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice must read every one

[Naveen Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the wonderful Telugu books I’ve ever read.

[NAGA KOUSHIK PASUPULETI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaduvu by Kodavatiganti Kutumbarao garu is a timeless novel that reflects the struggles of a young boy in middle-class Telugu life during the 1920s—child marriage, poverty, rigid customs, and the quest for education. What I personally loved most were Sundaram’s childhood moments, his bond with his mother, his tuitions, and his school life, which felt very real and touching. The book shows that education is not just for earning money but for gaining awareness, rationality, and freedom from blind traditions. Raw, honest, and deeply relatable, Chaduvu made me think and left a lasting impact

[Rama Krishna Reddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

No idea why this is a revered text. Any telugu book I pick from this era have very similar issues - no real character arc, bunch of philosophy tagged to few incidents, majority of incidents contribute next to nothing to the story. These novels seem mostly semi-autobiographical and have nothing impactful to share.

[Kranthi Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

katha jarige kaalam: 1910-1940. Rachna kaalam: ~1950

Chaduvu meeda ishtam unna oka abbayi katha. Daaniki vere kaaranam emi ledu, chaduvutunnappudu ochhe anandam, vikkasam chendutunnananna bhaavana tappa. Novel lo chala events (world war 1, freedom movement, non-coperation, swadeshi movements, great depression) vanti events valana oka middle class telugu mid-size town lo jeevitam yela nadichedo kallaku kattinattu raasaru. Rachana kaalam munduga teliyakapote, ee story 20 years mundu karigindi ante nammeyyochu. Kaani 100 years aindi ani telisinappudu, telugu family and social life peddaga em maaraledemo anipistundi - mukhyanka mana lo unde negative aspects of - caste, judging people by money, unnecessary emphasis on family conficts, traditions and superstitions etc.

EE novel lo unna vaala experiences chooste, 100 years tarvata kooda aa maatram new life experiences, habits and exposure leni vaallu inkaa chala mandi ippatiki untunnaru ani telisi baadhaga untundi. Andaru daily routine activitieslo, evari paridhi lone giri geeskuni unde vallani cheeste pity kooda anipinchadu, endukante vaarilo chaduvukunna chala mandiki aa stomata undi kooda aa yeruka undadu.

Chaduvu ante dabbu sampaadana ki maatrame ani namme vaariki ee pustakam oka chempa pettu. Anni mana chetullone undavi anataniki, jeevitam nerpinche vaatini sveekaristoone ishtamaina pani chesinappudu niraasa nispruha ki taavu undadu ani kooda cheptundi.

Konni events chala manoharananga raasaru - oka 16-18 year abbai meeda tana chuttu unde manushula prabhavam, tana buddhiki reality ki unde conflict ni deal cheyyatam, taanu nammina daani kosam teginche anta dhairyam, paripakvata inkaa raakapovatam. 10th class tarvata oka peddayana ochhe Career advice aite 100 years tarvata kooda telugu vaalla gnaanam akkade agipoindi anipistundi!!

First time oka chennai lanti cityni, north-india lo Benaras lanti place ni choosina experiences kooda timeless. Ippudu oka telugu person first time ye Delhi, Newyork choosinappudu ide type of internal feelings untayi. KoKu also references this as similar to barrister parvateesam.

Chaduvu enduku ante, chaduvu meeda ishtam kosam!! This istam is the constant thread in the book inspite of all the happenings in life!! saahityam, pustakam, aalochimpa chese oka vaakyam - veetiki unna power alaantidi. Idi chadive vaallaku andariki telusu, chadavani vaalaaki artam kaadau. S/o satyamurty movile lo line unnattu ''Gnanam ante ade-telisina vadu cheppaledu, teliyani vaadiki artam kaadu''.

My thoughts - Read more, see more and actively seek new experiences and ideas. Especially in 2023. KoKu could do it in 1920s (100 years ago, think about it 100 years!!) with the same average telugu middle class background froma small town, having lost his father as a kid, dependent on his uncle, having a child marriage etc. For most people like this, life today isn't harder than this!!

The purpose of education to develop rationality, understand subjectivity and irrationality as a species, to be able to have frameworks to think and understand complexity (which most things in nature, life and society are) to make sense of the world, to train to have multiple perspectives, accommodate diversity of people and thought, instead of being too judgemental, local, authoritative and dismissive.

Reading is also an activity of innate joy for any age and not seeking constant external validation and stimulation through activities or people, which you notice all around. It is also a best way to find peace, company and pleasure even when no one is around.

[Bhanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that is not just entertaining but also a near accurate sketch of the cultural, political and socio-economic landscape of this country, and particularly of the society the protagonist lived in.
Life was hard and prospects bleak in every generation of the book but they still lived on finding something to live by no matter how tough the situations are. We are almost 90 years past the point when the story reaches it's prime and to think of all that changed and all that stayed constant, is fascinating and sometimes scary. That alone makes this book a must read by every person who is interested into the history of this country, especially the beginning of the modern era.

[Yenigalla Chamu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book depicted the way of our education system during the freedom struggle period.

This book made me understand how privileged we were with the advent of the internet and with the access to multiple sources of information for each and every question we came across.

[Raja Sekhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5