‘Sangama – Pastorale’ by Rajalakshmi N. Rao

Mysore/Mysuru: ‘Sangama – Pastorale,’ a collection of stories by writer Rajalakshmi N. Rao, granddaughter of Kannada literary giant B.M. Srikantaiah (B.M. Shri), was released yesterday on the concluding day of the two-day Mysuru Literature Festival in city.

Speaking at the launch, Rajalakshmi expressed her appreciation for editor Chandan Gowda, noting that he had done an excellent job in compiling the collection.

Commenting on the work, writer Vanamala Vishwanath said ‘Sangama’ evokes the spirit of contemporary women’s writing and reflects the influence of English education on Indian authors. She described the book as “an excellent pastorale, written with a poetic base.”

Writer Manu Chakravarthy offered insights into the depth and range of Rajalakshmi’s literary journey while writer-poet Abdul Rasheed observed that a lack of societal encouragement at the time may have led the author to move away from writing and towards spirituality.