Bhaskar Pulikal
Bhaskar Pulikal is a short story writer whose works is reminiscent of the profound themes explored by Dostoevsky and Kafka.
About Bhaskar's Work
Bhaskar Pulikal (pen name: నిర్మలాదిత్య / Nirmalāditya) is a contemporary short story writer whose works intricately weave existential allegory, speculative imagination, and philosophical reflection into the fabric of everyday life. His stories have been featured in literary magazines such as Koumudi, and his bilingual presence in Telugu and English broadens their appeal beyond regional boundaries.
Pulikal’s fiction engages directly with profound themes of mortality, meaning, and human connection, aligning him in literary dialogue with world authors like Dostoevsky, Kafka, Borges, and Márquez, while still preserving a uniquely Telugu sensibility.
Existential Allegory
In Deicide, a narrator recovering from cancer finds solace in conversations with Laurel, a dog, and 'Senator,' a 3,500-year-old tree. This narrative serves as a profound existential allegory, reminiscent of Dostoevsky and Kafka, as it delves into themes of mortality, resilience, and humanity’s philosophical reflection on the quest for divinity.
Dark Parables
Lucifer situates suburban lives against the haunting presence of a neighbor who embodies both menace and revelation, drawing on motifs of darkness and light, much like Dostoevsky's exploration of the human condition. Rest Area Kathalu reimagines transient roadside spaces as existential stations, where characters voice reflections that echo the philosophical reflections found in Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology and resonate with the existential allegory reminiscent of Kafka.
Speculative & Sci-Fi
In ధారావాహిక హత్యలు (Serial Murders) and అ-మర లోకం (The Immortal World), Bhaskar Pulikal bends genre conventions to dramatize futuristic, dystopian dilemmas that echo Dostoevsky's existential allegory and Kafka's philosophical reflection, all while infusing his narratives with profound allegorical depth.
Minimalist Humanism
In ఎడారిలో ఒక రేయి (A Night in the Desert), ordinary characters confront extraordinary circumstances, creating an existential allegory that resonates with the philosophical reflections found in the works of Dostoevsky and Kafka, echoing the stripped-down intensity of Camus’ narratives.
Critics have described Bhaskar Pulikal’s work as “a generation ahead of the Telugu mainstream,” where recognition lags innovation. His contribution lies in bridging Telugu literature to global existential and allegorical traditions, reminiscent of the philosophical reflections found in Dostoevsky and Kafka.