FOREWORD
The literature of a living and progressive nation shows a healthy change when it comes into contact with the literature of another nation. It is only the unthinking that apotheosize what is their own and condemn whatever belongs to others. Modern Telugu literature has been adopting new methods of expression and discovering new channels of activity under the influence English thought and literary criticism. This is a happy sign foretelling new era of unrealised possibility and undreamt of achievement, in the near future.
The allegorical poem of Mr. Narayanamurti is original in its central conception and ideas. The life-history of a drop of water, its mysterious birth and experiences, earthly and heavenly, is in itself a colourful theme allowing scope for many a purple passage of description. The inferior artist would have remained contented with giving that life-story in graceful and charming language. But, Mr. Narayana murti is a poet, in the true sense of the term, a man who sees the inwardness of things hence; hence, he so treats the subject that it at once becomes brimful of suggestion, throwing light on many intricate problems of the human soul. The drop of water lives much the same life as the human being, - born in mystery, undergoing
