Kotiganahalli Ramaiah (born 1955) is a Kannada Dalit writer from Kolar, Karnataka. After serving in the Post and Telegraphs – Railway Mail Services, Canara Bank, and holding various positions in the field of journalism, he chose a career as a writer-activist. His contributions to theatre, especially in rural Karnataka, have been immense through his plays, theatre groups, and street performances. He continues to contribute to the literary world through his writings. His literary works include poetry and plays, some of which have been published along with significant contributions to films, television, and folklore. Ramaiah’s worldview is shaped by his deep understanding of indigenous knowledge systems, diverse reading, and experiences in journalism. He has received several notable awards, including the Karnataka Nataka Akademy Award (2004), the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award for his overall contribution to Kannada Literature (2005), the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award (2012), and the Suvarna Ranga Samman – Kannada Sangha Kanthavara (2012).
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Let Polly Thrive: May anyone shout as they please
Author: Kotiganahalli Ramaiah, Translator: Anusha Ravi Sood
Who are you?
Let Polly Thrive: May Anyone Shout as They Please poses this very question. Can a piece of laminated paper define your identity, or should society’s rules dictate who you are? Why can’t a man dream of food, or a buffalo fall in love with a girl? A quirky yet hard-hitting play, it holds up a mirror to you and me, forcing us to take a long, honest look at ourselves. Perhaps the answer lies within this unusual love triangle between a man, a woman, and a buffalo—or maybe it flickers under the lantern that lights up a Dalit woman’s home. Could it be hidden within the farce of communism among the privileged castes, which reeks of casteism?
Well, if you can figure out this riddle, let me in on it too.
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