M Bhoopal Reddy
M. Bhoopal Reddy (born 1959) is a noted Telugu writer, children’s author, and actor known for his engaging storytelling and stage presence. Born into a farming family near Hyderabad, he supported his household while pursuing higher education, eventually earning an M.A. and Ph.D. in Telugu from Osmania University. Reddy has authored over 19 books, including the award-winning children’s short story collection Uggu Paalu, which earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award for Children’s Literature in 2011. He has also acted in acclaimed Telugu films such as Komaram Bheem (1990) and Daasi (1988). In 2015, he became the first Telugu writer to return his Sahitya Akademi award, protesting rising intolerance, moral policing, and the government’s indifference to issues like communal violence and farmers’ suicides.
