Biography
Mohammad Ismail (pen name Islamil) is an Indian, Telugu-language poet, academic and university administrator.
He was born in Konaseema and grew up in the East Godavari district. He was educated at Pithapuram Raja's College at Kakinada, where the poet Devulapalli Krishna Sastri was one of his teachers and a neighbour. At the school he initially became a Marxist and a student activist, but turned away from it. Later influences included Brahmo Samaj, including one of its exponents, Peddada Ramaswamy; the writings of "Tarakam"; Krishna Shastri and Chalam. A philosophy student, he went on to receive a master's degree from Andhra University, then worked as a lecturer in philosophy at Kakinada, Anantapur and Vijayawada. He was also a principal in his alma mater, Pithapuram Raja Government College.
In his thirties, Ismail began writing poetry, and published his poems in the prestigious literary magazines Bharati and Kala keli.
As of 1999 he lived in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
Books
Years link to corresponding "in poetry" article, for poetry, or "in literature" article, for other works. ..
