Fellowships

One of the objectives of the CSA is to encourage talent, especially among the younger generation. Keeping this in view, a promising writer of the city has been nominated for fellowship / travel grant to attend a Writer's Workshop in Pune.

Susheel Kumar a budding writer, will be attending a week-long Writer's Camp at Pune. The Camp is being organized by India Inter-continental C Association/ Writers Club International and Pragati Mitra Mandal Mumbai.

Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi will be supporting his participation.

Shiv Batalvi

Chandigarh, May 6
On his 36th death anniversary, the legendary Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi was paid rich musical tributes by admirers and artistes in a musical soiree organised by Chandigarh Sahitya Akademy. Old associates and young artistes recited his poems and spoke eloquently in his praise. Taran Gujral, Gurdev Singh from England and Govardhan Gabbi presented ghazals of Shiv. Choreography on the poet’s songs by Wamiqa Gabbi and Chandni was well received. CSA vice-chairman DS Gupt honoured the artistes.

ANNUAL ROUND-UP

CHANDIGARH SAHITYA AKADEMI ANNUAL ROUND-UP

The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi (CSA) held an impressive function at the Govt Museum auditorium in Sector 10, on 24th April, 2009. The event comprised a Round-Up of the Akademi’s activities during 2008-09, a Book Release Event, and a Poetry Session. Mr Pradip Mehra, Adviser to the Administrator, presided over the proceedings which were attended by a highly appreciative audience in a hall packed to its capacity.

Prof Manju Jaidka, Chairperson, CSA, made a power-point presentation listing all the activities held during the past year. These included Creative Writing Workshops, Kavi Sammelans, Book Readings, Panel Discussions, Quiz Contests, Literary Discussions, Lectures and Symposia. The CSA has been actively engaged in reaching out to a cross-section of people, involving them in all its events. Highlighting major events of the coming year, Prof Jaidka urged the audience to join the CSA’s efforts in adding vibrancy to the intellectual atmosphere of the city. An illustrated brochure, “Round-Up 2008-2009”, listing the main achievements of the Akademi was presented to Mr Mehra.

The function also marked the release of four anthologies published by the CSA, two in Hindi and two in Punjabi. These anthologies showcase the talent of writers from Chandigarh, compiling their short stories and poems. Their publication is the result of the dedicated effort of a team of editors headed by Dr DS Gupt. In the forthcoming session the CSA proposes to bring out poetry /short story anthologies in English.

The final event of the day, chaired by Principal Dr Harinderjit Kaur, was aptly called “A Gathering of Nightingales”. It brought together a dozen women writers who recited their poems in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. A senior poet, Taaran Gujral, in particular, went down extremely well with the audience with her poem on “Titli”. Other women poets who recited their poems included Roopa Saba, Yojana Rawat, Gurdeep Kaur “Gul” and Gurminder Sidhu.

Compered with great dexterity by Mr Madhav Kaushik, Secretary, CSA, and Ms Suchitra, the function was an extremely successful event, rich and satisfying. The audience was highly appreciative of the Round-Up. In fact many of them were heard commenting that such an event made history, being the first of its kind in Chandigarh. The Chief Guest, Mr Mehra, complimented the CSA’s effort to make a difference to the culture of the City and expressed his hope that in the coming years this would be not just a beautiful city built of brick and mortar, but a place where literature, culture and art flourish in abundance.

Round-Up and More!

MEET THE WRITERS

As part of the Chandigarh Arts and Heritage Festival being held by the UT Administration, the Chadnigarh Sahitya Akademi organized a "Meet the Writers" event at the Govt. Arts Museum Auditorium today. Two very well-known writers were brought in from Delhi --Githa Hariharan and Manjula Padmanabhan. They read from their recent works and interacted with the audience over a question and answer session. The event was chaired by Prof M.L. Raina, a well-known and well-loved intellectual from the city.

In conversation with Manjula Padmanabhan was Prof Gulshan Rai Kataria from Punjabi University, Patiala. He introduced the writer to the audience, outlined he main contribution to literature, and asked her questions related to her work. Ms Padmanabhan read from her recent novel, Escape.

Likewise, Githa Hariharan was introduced by Prof Mina Surjit Singh, formerly from Panjab Univeristy, Chandigarh, who synopsized the literary achievements of Githa Hariharan, spoke briefly about the writer's earlier works, and asked her questions on her craft and ideology. Ms Hariharan read from her new book, Fugitive Histories.

The readings and the question answer session turned out to be very absorbing. After the event two writers were thronged by the audience who wanted signed copies of their books. It was evident that the event was enjoyed by one and all.

Prof Rajnish Wattas, Director of TagoreTheatre and Coordinator of the Chandigarh Heritage Program, was also present in audience.

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.

7th March 2009

CHANDIGARH SAHITYA AKADEMI

INVITES YOU TO


"Samaya Se Samvad: A Dialogue with Time"


Speaker: Prof Ramesh Chandra Shah
(eminent Hindi writer and thinker)

To be chaired by: Prof Ramakant Angiras

Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, First Floor, State Library, Sector 34
on Saturday, March 7, 2009, at 3.30 pm

rsvp: sahitakad2008@gmail.com


(Please join us for an informal interaction with the speaker over a cup of tea at 3.30)