Noted poet and writer Nandini Sidha Reddy addressing a meeting.
| Photo Credit: File Photo
A strong votary of Telangana’s culture and identity and an eminent Telugu poet Nandini Sidha Reddy (Sidda Reddy), has been selected for the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for his anthology of poems ‘Animesha’.
The Sahitya Akademi on Monday announced its annual awards in 24 Indian languages recognised by it. Mr.Reddy is among the 24 authors/poets chosen for the prestigious national honour.
The first chairman of the Telangana Sahitya Akademi, Sidha Reddy was born to Bala Sidha Reddy and Rathnamala in 1955 in Bandaram village of the erstwhile Medak district. His father was a Communist leader who fought against the Razakars.
Mr. Reddy completed his MA at Osmania University, followed by an MPhil and PhD in 1986. He worked as a Telugu lecturer and retired from Siddipet Government Degree College in 2012.
Mr. Reddy has been active in literary circles since his student days, running study groups and editing small magazines such as ‘Rose’. He later founded the Manjeera Rachaitala Sangam (Manjeera Writers Forum) and the Telangana Rachaitala Sangam, and edited a couple of literary magazines.
He has published seven major poetry collections, beginning with Diviti (1974). BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and BRSLP deputy leader T. Harish Rao congratulated Reddy, calling his selection a moment of pride for Telangana.
KTR described him as a ‘towering literary figure’ whose work strengthened Telangana’s cultural identity.
Former Telangana Sahitya Akademi chairman and poet Juluru Gouri Shankar said ’Animesha’ portrayed the suffering of migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Published – March 16, 2026 07:28 pm IST
