Naresh Kumar (Naresh Kumar Soofee)

I am Naresh Kumar, known in Telugu literary circles as Naresh Kumar Soofee. I come from a small village in Peddapalli district, Telangana, that was wiped off the map by Singareni coal mining. I currently live in Hyderabad, where I work as a book designer and editor.

I have been writing for nearly a decade. My literary journey began with poetry, and over the years my work has explored social realities, love, politics, history, and human relationships.

My published poetry collections are Nisshabdam (2019) and Anamakuni Aathmageetham (2024). My short story collections include Peruleni Vennela (2023) and Memories of Mangalipalle (2024). My novels are Hidimbi (2025) and Mukkonapu Premakatha (2026). I have also translated the internationally acclaimed novel Jamilya from English into Telugu.

Beyond my work as a writer, I am actively involved in book design, editing, and publishing, contributing to contemporary Telugu literature through the making of books as well as writing them.

I believe that literature is my way of discovering myself amidst people, history, and marginalized lives of understanding who I am, both as a human being and as a citizen. This belief continues to shape my writing.