A history of Telugu literature; - Cristo Raul

124 A HISTORY OF TELUGU LITERATURE
emergence of new social and political ideals, a fresh and
truer conception of poetry is coming into vogue. It is
realised that the poet is something more than the maker
of verses, however beautiful. The poet is the seer, who
sees life anew. The poet is the visionary, who imparts his
visions to the reader.
The reaction against kavya may carry the poet to the
other extreme. If great art alone does not make noble
literature, neither does great thought alone. Doubtless, life
is the major partner ; but art has a vital interest. Quarried
stones must be cut and polished. The neglect of form is
only a passing phase. If our poets lay firm hold of the
simple truth that true literature is the artistic expression
of life, there is no need to be pessimistic of the future.
The fecundity of the last few decades inspires hope for the
future. A literature that has survived four centuries of
kavya must have had a charmed life. The love of art is
always with the Telugu poets. What literature stands in
supreme need of is baptism by full immersion in Andhra
life. Then the modern renaissance may yet add a new
chapter to the Telugu literature, which can worthily
compare with the glories of the Kavitraya and the grandeur
of the Ashtadiggajas.