A need for Swatch Bharath in Literary
circles- Sahitya Academy raise to the occasion- an intolerant appeal from a
tolerant citizen.
In brief language
is the queen of sciences and king of arts because all arts and sciences can be
expressed and explained fully; enjoyed and experienced at least to a certain
extent through language.
Language helps
better understanding of many things.
So there is
no need to explain further as from religious scriptures to political speeches
to all scripts, to research findings to song lyrics are weaved out of words of
some language.
The
greatness of language over any other medium like music, painting, science etc
is its unhindered, unlimited access to any or many or almost all dimensions of
life known and perceivable to human beings. In that aspect language is
omnipotent in its influence and impact.
As a medium
it uses two methods Oral [speaking] and written [writing].
Whether it
is used to express and explain thoughts, ideas, concepts, facts, events,
actions, reactions, feelings, imagination, stories, discoveries, descriptions,
fantasies, social, religious, cultural systems, dreams etc determine the
favorite frame of reference of the speaker or writer.
Whatever is
the frame of reference it is wrong and very narrow to generalize writings, all
writings as having something to do with some political ideology. There cannot
be more degrading view about writing.
One person’s
writings on any subject/topic may manifest a tinge of or totality of some regional
culture; another’s may manifest a tinge of or totality of some local festival; another’s
may manifest a tinge of or totality of the fantasies he/she dreams of; another’s
may manifest a tinge of or totality of rational /philosophical approach in
everything.
So the level
discussion about writing in general in our Sahitya academy reveals a very conditioned
and confined mentality which is not at all healthy for the nation.
As we are
after almost six decades trying to take great strides in economic development ,
scientific activities, technological achievements etc we also need to pay
attention to ensure to revive the glorious literary traditions of our nation
which have been gifted to the world through great literary descriptions of Kalidasa,
the great epics of Valmiki and Vyasa etc; to great philosophical literature through many
scholars starting from Adi shankara through Swami Vivekananda to Shri Auro
Bindou to Rabindra Nath Tagore to Kabir to Kamban to JK to Osho etc and also
synchronize them with great writings of the globe in various languages. Kindly
excuse me for not mentioning many great works in many great languages of India
as the list will be too big and besides I have not savored them in their original
language.
The hall
mark of most ancient literature in India has been the unbiased, unconditioned
and board minded expression in any topic they chose, never shunning anything
out of any bias, that’s why as a civilization, perhaps Bharath was, perhaps the
first country to have a detailed discussion in atheism through scriptures.
So, at any
cost the literary scenario has to be saved from the narrow gutters of political
ideology peddlers, especially the self proclaimed leftists who have appropriated
the label of intelligentsia. It is actually a very good sign that some among them
have realized the need to clean the literary scene by coming forward to return their
awards voluntarily.
It is a good
beginning, let Government of India/Ministry of Culture/Sahitya Academy etc please gracefully accept all the awards
returned back and give it to those scholars who have been denied them for narrow
political reasons.
By doing this we can fulfill the need for Swatch Bharath in
Literary circles.
