Nidadavolu Malathi

Nidadavolu Malathi hails from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. She was born to Sri Nidadavolu Jagannatha Rao and Seshamma on June 26, 1937. Her father worked as Math teacher in Theosophical Society High school, Adyar, Madras. Both her parents cherished progressive views, which are reflected in their children's upbringing. Malathi has Masters's degrees in English Language and Literature from Andhra University and Sri Venkateswara University; and master's degree in Library Science from University of Delhi. She worked as Assistant Librarian, and Librarian in Sri Venkateswara University from 1964 to 1973. She moved to America in November 1973. She also taught Telugu as Second Language in University of Wisconsin, Madison, during 1978–2006.[1]

Malathi started writing stories in the early 1950s in Telugu, and has published in several prominent magazines of the times. After arriving in the United States in 1973, she started writing in English as well. She has a website, thulika.net wherein she publishes English translations of Telugu stories.

thulika.net,[2] founded in June 2001, features 120 translations and critical/analytical essays by Malathi, a few by other translators. Malathi has published translations of her own stories, My Little Friend and Other Stories in e-book format.

Malathi publishes her original stories and articles in Telugu on her blog. ([3] ) In response to a question why her stories are not appearing in magazines in India, she said it was basically a communication problem.[4] After moving to the U.S., she found herself alienated from the literary circles in India for want of regular communication channels. As a result, we do not find her stories in Indian journals. Nevertheless, she remains active on her Telugu blog, website, and other Internet avenues.[5] Malathi created the site, http://thulika.net in June 2001 with the specific goal of introducing Telugu traditions and culture to non-Telugu readers through eminent Telugu fiction and informative articles. Her passion for disseminating Telugu cultural values and traditions, and commitment to putting into practice what she believes in are noteworthy. She finds it gratifying that university professors and scholars in the U.S., Britain, Canada and France have welcomed these articles. Some of her articles have been reprinted, and some referenced; that gave her additional motivation and impetus to continue her work. Thulika site is dedicated to introducing exclusively Telugu writers and Telugu stories to non-Telugu-speaking audience around the world, and she remains committed to that end. Malathi selects only stories that depict a wide variety of views, perceptions, lifestyles that are peculiar to Telugu people, traditions, and culture.

As of January 2022, the site has featured 198 articles. 137 Telugu stories in translation (120 translated by Malathi.).[6] 53 Analytical/informative articles. (48 written by Malathi.).Some of the articles by Malathi such as "What is a Good Story?", "Dynamics of Transcultural Translation", "Native Element in Telugu Stories," and informative articles such as "Atukuri Molla", "Kanuparti Varalakshmamma", "Bhandaru Acchamamba", "Nidudavolu Venkata Rao" have been well-received, and being used as reference sources by research scholars around the world. Thulika.net is a one-person operation; receives no money and offers no remuneration for published articles.

1968 and 1969. Nidadavolu Malathi was honored at Andhra Pradesh Women Writers Conferences organized by Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi.[7]

1970. Her short story, "thrushna", received special prize in Ugadi short story competition conducted by Andhra Jyothi Weekly, and published on 10 April 1970. It has been translated into Hindi by Yelamanchili Lakshmibai, and published in Andhra Pradesh Magazine in April–May 1972 issue.

1971. "Chiruchakram" [The Small Wheel] received first prize in Ugadi [Telugu New Year] Short Story Competition, and published in Andhra Jyothi weekly magazine, April 2, 1972. For English translation. Also, the story has been translated into Kannada by Nirupama, and published in Sudha magazine, June 13, 1971.

IN TELUGU In e-Book format: Novels

• Chatakapakshulu
• Maarpu

Anthologies of short stories:

• kathaamalathi. v.1
• kathaamalathi. v.2
• kathaamalathi. v.3
• kathaamalathi. v.4
• kathaamalathi. v.5
• inte sangatulu. v.6.

Anthologies of critical/informative articles:

• vyasamalathi. v.1
• vyasamalathi. v.2
• vyasamalathi. v.3
• vyasamalathi. v.4.

Anthologies of miscellaneous short short fiction and articles:

• ennemma kathalu. v.1
• ennemma kathalu. v. 2

Books in print in English: Her translations have been published in 3 volumes:

• Spectrum of My People (Jaico), (republished under the title, Short Stories From Andhra Pradesh). 2006 and 2009.
• Front Porch (Sahitya Academi). 2009.
• Penscape, An Anthology of Telugu Short Stories (published by Lekhini, Hyderabad). 2011.
• Beyond the Shores of the River Existentialism. Translation of Astitvanaadam aavali teeraana by Munipalle Raju. Delhi: Sahitya Academi. (In Press).

Books in print in Telugu

• Nijaanikii feminijaanikii madhya
• kathala sankalanam. BSR Foundation, 2006. (out of print)

- kathala attayyagaru, (anthology of 22 short stories in Telugu). Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India:Visalandhra Publishing House, 2010. Outside India, distributed by avkf.org.[8]

• 
  Malathi WithKalipatnam Ramarao Kathanilayam
• 
  Malathi Participating in Sahitisadassu

• Malathi Nidadavolu: Native Element in Telugu Stories
• రాగం...భూపాలం
• అమెరికా జీవితం వల్ల తేడాలు తెలిశాయి : నిడదవోలు మాలతి ముఖాముఖి