"Maha Kavya Evam Lok Kavya" - a literary event devoted to the Mahabharata and to the folk traditions of Himachal and Haryana, was held today by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi.
The key speaker was Dr Jesse Knutson from the US who is presently on an extended academic visit to India. He is a scholar of Sanskrit literature at the University of California, Berkley. Knutson made an enthralling presentation on the "Mahabharata", focusing on the inbuilt contradictions and antinomies of the text. Taking up the mahakavya from three different angles -- dharma, kaal, and yoga, he highlighted the complexities of the text and stressed that the Mahabharata is not just an Indian epic, it belongs to the tradition of world literature and may be regarded as a global text as it cuts across geographical boundaries. The talk generated a lot of interest and several noted scholars from the audience engaged in an animated conversation with Knutson. Chairing the session was Prof Surinder Sharma, a well-known and versatile figure in literary circles.
There were two other speakers, Prof Meenakshi Paul from Shimla who spoke on the folk traditions of Himachal, and Dr Karan Singh from Haryana who made a presentation on the folk songs of Haryana. Both these speakers have been engaged in primary research at the grassroots level and they shared their findings with an enthralled audience. Drs Mukta and Chander Trikha chaired the two sessions. Taking part in the discussion were Prof Ramesh Kuntal Megh, Dr Kalia 'Humdum', Prof Vikram Viveki, Mrs Jasbir Kaur, Lalita Jagmohan, and others. Madhav Kaushik, Secretary of CSA, steered the discussion deftly through various important issues.
Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi is thus engaged in bringing literature to the people through various speakers from within and outside the city. it has made a difference to the literary and cultural life of the people by holding programmes at regular intervals. The Chairperson, Prof Manju Jaidka, announced forthcoming activities: on 13th August a Mushaira will be held, on 3rd Sept a Hasya Kavi sammelan. On a smaller scale, a goshti will be organized on 20th August. Details will be posted on the CSA Face Book and Blog. Interested people may thus keep track.
Photographs are available on this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/reorder?uname=sahitakad2008&aid=5635117706054969249
Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi
