|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Many languages, one celebration Himmat Singh Gill on
men of letters coming together to mark the 50th anniversary of the
Sahitya Akademi
Novelists, poets, critics, university professors, a few hangers-on who understood little but made a lot of noise, mediapersons who went about interviewing only the known names in contemporary literature, and quite a few overdressed ladies participated in the Festival of Letters organised to mark the Sahitya Akademi’s 50th anniversary at the India International Centre, Delhi. Giriraj Kishore, who writes Hindi fiction and who was present for the literary event, said that a writer always holds back a little of what he has to say for another occasion and added that writers even tell lies at times. Nirmalendu Goon from Bangladesh, while speaking about India's contribution to the creation of his country in 1971, forcefully commented that it would be best if India was not divided, but in case this were to happen then the country should be divided into many more sovereign states. The young Fathimath Nahula from Maldives, who has written 10 novels,15 TV dramas and countless short stories, spoke about how her first book sold well and helped her to continue her writing. Poet and novelist Amit Chaudhuri said that he suffered "from pangs of guilt" when writing in the English language, and only looked up to some writers "from other countries" and those who "are dead". Zaheda Hina from Pakistan, while reading her short story, said very candidly, "Jhun bhi aurton key khoon ki keemat kya hai"? With one line she had said it all. Makarand Paranjape in a stirring discourse advocated India-Pakistan friendship, and said that as we had a "common past and a common present, we could live in a common future too." Surjit Patar, the Punjabi poet, brought the house down with his lilting words. He also said the Partition had divided the people for no reason.
Akademi president and Urdu writer Gopi Chand Narang in his address said that though writers from this region had a certain degree of commonality in spite of their different cultures and religions, no writer would wish to lose his or her identity. The humorous Harish Trivedi, while delivering the keynote address, said that as a teacher and critic he had no business to be there. "Sheikh ki dawaat men mai ki kya talab/Ehtiyaatan kuchh mangaa li jayegi" Eminent historian from Pakistan K.K. Aziz spoke about the modern Urdu ghazal: "The ghazal has been the victim of attacks by prominent men since the beginning of the modern era." Both Kamleshwar and Nirmal Verma, eminent Hindi writers, couldn’t come as they were unwell. But the strikingly handsome thinker U.R.Anantha Murthy, Pratibha Ray, Upamanayu Chatterjee, an IAS officer and writer who won this year's Sahitya Akademi award in English, and Sutinder Noor, who won the award for Punjabi writing, were all present. Literary titan Ahmed Faraz from the scintillating world of Urdu writing could make it from Pakistan for the conference on the Literatures of South Asia. Recognised as the successor to Faraz Ahmad Faraz, Faraz sahib was one of the first persons to visit India when Atal Behari Vajpayee and General Musharraf started initiating talks between the two countries. He spoke about his disappointment with the politicians who have their agendas and "play with the sentiments of the people". Fifty years after its
inception, one must pose the question about the utility of the
Sahitya Akademi itself. Does state patronage impinge upon its
freedom or constrict the voices of its poets and writers? Publishing
works in 25 languages, the leading organiser of literary
meets showcases the national literary heritage and every year
selects and awards writers of the country. It can be said that as long
as the Akademi remains morally accountable not only to itself but
also to its writing fraternity, is neither leftist nor rightist in
its outlook, and is not allergic to change or suggestion, all will be
well with this organisation which has enjoyed half a century of
fruitful existence. |
Damodar Mauzo, the
Konkonese writer from Goa who writes with a large measure of
seriousness, said that all the writers who had gathered, including those
who had not won any awards this year, should have more literary space
and more time to interact with each other. A point well made, since one
also felt that in this conclave the events were too rushed and there was
hardly any time for an informal and cosy chat with other writers,
especially those from abroad. An open, free-for-all discussion on the
lawns of the Sahitya Akademi at Rabindra Sadan would have been a welcome
addition at this annual get-together.