SAMAY SE SAMVAD

In its “Face to Face” programme, Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi organized “Samay Se Samvad: A Dialogue with Time”- a special interface with Padmashree, eminent Hindi poet, novelist and thinker, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Shah at the State Library Hall, Sector 34, Chandigarh on 7 March 2009. The Session was chaired by Prof. Ramakant Angiras, Former Kalidas Professor of Sanskrit, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and the Ramanadachaya Puruskar awardee (2008) for his remarkable contribution to Indian culture and philosophy.

Through the recitation of his poems culled from such volumes as “Kachhue Ki Peeth Par”, “Harishchandra Aao”, “Nadi Bhagati Aaee”, “Chak Par”, “Dekhate Hein Shabda Apana Bhi Samay”, and “Anaagarik” Prof. Ramesh Chandra Shah emphasized the overwhelming challenge a creative writer faces in terms of representing the interaction between her /his “kaal-chetana or time-consciousness” and “kalaa-chetana or creative-consciousness”. This creative encounter between results into an aesthetic dialogue between “word” and “world” , which is enriched by newer and newer combinations of “sabda”, “artha”, “samay”, and “sanskriti” – which are known as “sahitya” in the Indian tradition. Because of this well-entrenched notion of cyclic “Samay or Time” – which is temporal and timeless both, Indian tradition does not suffer from the pathological obsession of the West with “dwanda or conflict” between tradition and modernity or post-modernity.

Prof. Shah said that in no other language of the world, this creative–continuum suggested by “akaal-kaal-kalaa-Kalaakriti-Kalakaar” is found. He quoted lines from his famous poem (Shabda, Batao):- “ Shabda, Batao/Kahana Kya Hai? Shabda, Batao Kahana hai?” and “Rachana/Bach jana Hai/Apane aur tumhare/ Vish ka pach jana hai”. He underlined the literary /art tradition of India which demands an artist/poet to be a “cultural leader- a saanskritic naayak”- whose art and aesthetics should be grounded in the aesthetics of existence. Only by belonging to time, one can go beyond time.

In his presidential remarks, Prof. Ramakant Angiras explained the contours of the Indian literary tradition where “sabda-sadhana” is a sine qua non for being a true writer. He said that the infinite connections between a writer’s “drishti”, “darshan” and “drashya”- are manifest as Kavya or Sahitya.

The session was attended by the leading intellectuals of the city, teachers, research scholars and students who enlivened the event with an interesting “Question-Hour” session. Prof Alok Bhalla, formerly from CIEFL, Hyderabad, now at Jamia Milia and an active member of the national Sahitya Akademi in Delhi, also attended the event. Prof. Sushila Singh, from Banaras Hindu University, and Prof Aneel Raina, Chairperson, Dept Of English, Panjab University,Chandigarh, also graced the occasion with their presence.

Earlier, Sudhir Kumar introduced the speaker, Manju Jaidka (Chairperson, CSA), welcomed the guests. D.S. Gupt (Vice-Chairperson, CSA) delivered the Vote of Thanks.