THE AKADEMI AT THE CARNIVAL

The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi took part in the Chandigarh Carnival (22-23 Nov 2008). A Book Exhibition was organized and also a Literary Quiz.

The Exhibition comprised some of the Akademi's publications and also books by local writers. There were books of popular interest and a lot of reading material for children. The Akademi's stall was thronged with visitors through the two days.
The Literary Quiz was a great draw, too. It was compered by Anil Raina who was assisted by Anupam Nahar. Eight teams took part in the event which offered attractive cash prizes. The first prize went to the team from DAV College, the second prize to Govt College Sector 42, and the third prize to the Institute of Hotel Management.
Above is a picture of the Prize winners of the Quiz along with the organizers.

KAVI SAMMELAN

November 21, 2008
The National Integration Week beginning Nov 19, 2008, is being observed by the Chandigarh Administration.
The CSA hosted today a Multi-Lingual Kavi Sammelan at the Multipurpose Hall, Sector 34 Library. Local poets recited poems from different languages -- Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Kashmiri and English.

The evening was a great success. The auditorium was packed with an appreciative audience and the general mood was relaxed and cheerful. Most of the poems combined wit with levity.

The event was presided over by Dr Puneet Bedi, Principal, MCMDAV College for Women, Chandigarh, who is not just an educationist and administrator but also a creative writer.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

"First Impressions -- Introducing New Authors"

What happens when Nobel / Booker Prize Winners are announced? Invariably, the first reaction is -- Who's he? Never heard of him!!
So it has been this time, too. Not many had heard of Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio before he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. And Aravind Adiga was nobody before he was shortlisted for the Man Booker.

So, who are these writers?

The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi tries to answer this question on December 13, 2008. The main Speakers on this occasion will be Mr Simar Omkar (of Great Books) and Prof Meera Malik (of Panjab University).

All are invited to a discussion of the new names on the literary scene -- the Nobel Laureate for 2008, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, and Booker Prize Winner 2008, Aravind Adiga. (If you first read up something on these two writers, sure, you will find it a rewarding exercise!)

NOTE THE VENUE, DATE AND TIME :
Venue: Chandigarh Arts Council Auditorium, Sector 34 Library (1st Floor)
Date: December 13, 2008
Time: 3.30 pm

Talk by Professor from Oxford

NOTE ADDED ON DECEMBER 3, 2008:

Prof Giles Flew into India on Nov 26th. He landed at bombay and then took a flight to Kolkata where he was scheduled to give a keynote address at a conference. His other speaking engagements were in Varanasi (BHU), Delhi (Jamia) and Chandigarh (CSA, PU). However, with the Mumbai blasts taking place, his itinerary went askew, foreign travellers in India were seen to be vulnerable, and he was called back to UK. Cutting short his India visit, he took the next available plane to London.

THE EVENT LISTED BELOW FOR DEC 8TH STANDS CANCELLED!

So do his other engagements in India.

December 8, 2008: Prof Paul Giles from the Dept of English, Oxford University, will speak on "Contemporary Trends in Literature -- a British Perspective"
Venue: Chandigarh Arts Council Auditorium, 1st Floor, State Library, Sector 34.
Time: 3.30 pm.

Paul Giles is Professor of American Literature at the University of Oxford, UK. He has previously taught at the Universities of Cambridge and Nottingham in the UK, and at Portland State University in Oregon, USA. He served as President of the International American Studies Association between 2005 and 2007, and also as Director of the Rothermere American Institute at Oxford between 2003 and 2008. Among his books are "Atlantic Republic: The American Tradition in English Literature" (OUP, 2006); "Virtual Americas: Transnational Fictions and the Transatlantic Imaginary" (Duke UP, 2002); "Transatlantic Insurrections: British Culture and the Formation of American Literature, 1730-1860" (Penn, 2001); "American catholic Arts and fictions: Culture, Ideology, Aesthetics" (CUP, 1992); "Hart Crane: The Contexts of "The Bridge" (CUP, 1986).

This talk will consider ways in which different cultural locations in British life--television, radio and journalism, as well as the academic world--produce different general expectations about literature. There will also be some consideration given to the role of literary prizes and marketing, and discussion of how definitions of "literature" have diverged markedly over the past twenty years for different kinds of readers. The talk will also consider how "extra-literary" trends are having an increasing cultural impact upon how literature is understood and consumed today.

HIND SWARAJ

In order to celebrate the Centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi's Hind Swaraj, the Sahitya Akademi organized a PANEL DISCUSSION on October 2, 2008.

The main speakers were Rashmi Sudha Puri (former Professor from the Gandhian Studies Dept, Panjab Univeristy) and Prof Sudhir Kumar from Panjab University. The session was chaired by Manju Jaidka, Chairperson of the CSA.

HINDI DIVAS, CHANDIGARH

September 21, 2008.

The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi celebrated Hindi divas today by organizing a lecture on the state of the national language today. The main speaker was the well-known creative writer, Dr Indu Bali, Chairing the talk was the veteran journalist and commentator, Dr Radhe Shyam Sharma.

Indu Bali's talk was a hard-hitting one that targetted those who do not love the Hindi language as traitors to the nation. In an impassioned plea, she espoused the cause of the national language, stressing that we may consider ourselves truly free only when we give due respect and position to Hindi.

Dr Radhey Shyam Sharma pointed out that in all leading countries of the world Hindi is taught at institutions of higher learning and we in India should realise this and do our bit for the language.

DS Gupt, Vice-Chairman of CSA, summed up the views of the two speakers and reiterated that the Akademi should focus on the development and progress of Hindi.

Madhav Kaushik, Secretary of CSA, compered the event.

Creative Writing Workshop

Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi organized a two-day Creative Writing Workshop for College Students in collaboration with Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector-45, Chandigarh, in the College auditorium on 3rd &4th September, 08. About 80 students from various colleges participated. Miss Meera Modi, Principal, Dev Samaj College, welcomed the guests and participants. Ms. Christina, Deputy Manager, British Library, was the Chief Guest and inaugurated the workshop. On the first day Prof. Mahendra Kumar, Chairman, Dept of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, lectured on the intricacies of writing a Play. Dr. D. S Gupt guided the students on how to write Poetry. Mr. Vivek Atray, Director, Public Relations & Tourism, U.T., distributed prizes to outstanding participants. Smt. Neelkamal Puri, a teacher and novelist from Govt. college for Girls, Sector 11, gave tips to the students on Story-Writing and Shri Phool Chand Manav guided them on writing Articles.