PANEL DISCUSSION ON CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
PANEL DISCUSSION ON CHILDREN'S LITERATUREThe Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi organized a panel discussion on Children's Literature at its premises in the State Library, Sector 34.
The main speaker on the occasion was Dr Rama Rattan, a well-known name in Children's activities in the Tri-city. She spoke at length on the challenges facing writers of children's fiction and shared her first hand experience in the field. Prof Jaspal Kang, Professor, Panjab University Dept. of Correspondence courses, chaired the session. Other speakers included Yojana Rawat of Panjab University, Harpreet Dhiman who teaches in MCMDAV and also is an announcer All-India Radio (Chandigarh), and Navreet Sahi who is engaged in research in Children's Literature. Dr Rama Rattan higlighted the fact that even in children's literature there is a marked gender discrimination, for example, one cannot find 'lori' (lullaby) written for a girl child. She felt that it is time we took to promoting children's literature seriously. Dr Kaang, agreeing with the speaker, felt that "catch 'em young" should be the motto and we should, for an early age, help children develop a love for literature.

Harpreet Dhiman spoke of the popular tales of Tenali Raman, Akbar-Birbal and Mulla Nasiruddin. Navreet drew attention to best loved characters in children's literature and Yojana Rawat spoke of how children's literature has to adjust to a changed scenario in a globalized world.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Manju Jaidka, Chairperson of the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi, spoke of the various activities of the CSA. At present a team of editors is working on selecting and compiling Anthologies of Short Stories and Poems written by Chandigarh writers. Work has also commenced on updating a Directory of Chandigarh writers. In this connection the Akademi is offering stipends to volunteers who will serve as Data Collection Officers. Further, it was announced that the Akademi proposes to select an eminent writer for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations were invited for this Award.

Today's Panel Discussion was a great success, judging from the large strength of the audience and the animated exchange of ideas that followed. It was a highly interactive session with a lot of involvement between the speakers and the audience. What made the event even more lively was a "Surprise Item" which comprised surprise gifts for those in the audience who were able to answer questions randomly thrown at them during the proceedings.

Mr Madhav Kaushik, Secretary of the CSA, ably conducted the discussion and summed it up with a vote of thanks.

The CSA events scheduled for January 2009 include presentations by two eminent persons – Professors BN Goswami and ML Raina on the 10th and 24th of January, respectively.

Le Clezio and Adiga

FIRST IMPRESSIONS, a discussion of the works of New Authors, was organized this evening by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi. The authors discussed were the Nobel Laureate JEAN-MARIE GUSTAVE LE CLEZIO and the Booker Prize Winner ARAVIND ADIGA. The main Speakers on this occasion were Professor Meera Malik (of Panjab University) and Simar Onkar (of Great Books).The two writers discussed today were virtually unknown before they shot into the limelight following the prestigious awards they received. It is but natural that interested readers should be curious about their works. The Booker prize winner, who is known for his book The White Tiger, is a new entrant in the world of letters. As for the Nobel laureate, Le Clezio, even today not many of his books are available in translation.
Prof Meera Malik in her appraisal of The White Tiger spoke of the two diametrically opposite responses that Adiga has evoked among the reviewers. He has either been praised for giving expression to the till-now largely ignored working classes or dismissed for presenting a negative image of India to gain approbation from the Western audiences. She felt that it was too early to judge whether Adiga will move on from the status of a bestseller to becoming part of the canon of Indian literature in English. However, she felt that Adiga's novel was eminently readable.

Simar Onkar talked about the history and politics behind the Nobel Prize. He demystified the aura underlying the Nobel by arguing that it was Euro-centric and gender-biased. However, he felt that Le Clezio deserved the attention that he has been given, because of his cosmopolitan outlook, that has helped him explore civilizations and value systems beyond the dominant Western ones. The presentations were followed by a lively discussion.
Today's discussion was extremely informative as it was exploratory in its approach, opening up new horizons, treading upon new ground, and exploring the works of very new writers. The event was very well attended by literature enthusiasts. It was one more event in the series of literary discussions that are being conducted regularly by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi.

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.

PLAY READING

On Saturday, the 30th of August, at 4 PM, Dr Narendra Mohan, a well-known Hindi writer who has earlier written eight plays, read from his new play "Had Ho Gayi Yaaron" at the CSA office premises in the State Library of Sector 34 on Saturday, August 30, 2008, at 4 pm.
Dr Narendra Mohan is a prolific author who has written poetry, drama and criticism. He has received numerous state and national awards for his creative writing.
The present play is about the fast changing and complex relationship scenario in today's socio-political milieu. The theme revolves around two women caught in the web of a lecherous religious head, a scamp and scamster, a dalit leader and above all the establishment. The two women, inspite of the odds, abuse and injury inflicted on them, carve out their identity as the play progresses towards the end.

multi-lingual kaavi sammelan

What is a poet?

One who can see the world in a grain of sand
Who can fly on the viewless wings of poesy
Who writes neither for fame or money
Who stitches and unstitches a tapestry of words all the time
“A line may take us hours may be….
But if it seems not a moment's thought
All our stitching and unstitching has been nought."
(misquotation perhaps, but you know what I mean.)

A poet would take a trip on the gossamer wings of a dragonglay
grasp a moonbeam and save it for a dark night
Or reach out for a sunbeam alighting on a mote of dust
gather the rainbow colors of a dewdrop before it evaporates
– and use those colors to paint the world in brighter hues.
grasp a fleeting moment, seek the ephemeral,
the transitory,
aeons of life lived in a nanosecond ----
All this and much more
....
Only to perpetuate it in black and white
On the printed pages of a book of verse.



CSA organized a multi-lingual Kavi Sammelan on the eve of Independence day in the Auditorium of Govt.College, Sector 11, Chandigarh.
Pradip Mehra, Adviser to the Administrator, inaugurated the event. Also present at the commencement was DPI Colleges, Raji Shrivastava.
City poets read their poems in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English.
Here is a group photo of the participants taken at the end of the program.

Creative Writing Workshop

The Akademi organized a one-day workshop on Creative Writing on August 9, 2008, in which about 150 students from different schools participated. They were given training by experts on writing Poetry, Prose, Short Stories and Plays. Resource persons included well-known writers who have made a name for themselves in the field.
It is proposed that similar workshops will be organized during September, October, November and December 2008.

KAVI SAMMELAN

CSA will organize a multi-lingual Kavi Sammelan on the eve of Independence day. This Kavi Sammelan will be held on 14 th August 2008 at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium of Govt.College, Sector 11, Chandigarh.

Sh. Pradip Mehra, I.A.S., has kindly consented to inaugurate

Poets participating in Kavi-sammelan
1. Dr. Atulveer Arora
2. Bhagwant Singh
3. Bhupinder Singh
4. Dr. Chander Trikha
5. Dr. D.S Gupt
6. Gurtej kaur
7. Jagmohan Chopra
8. Dr.Jyoti Khanna
9. Dr. Kulbeer kaur
10. Lalita Jagmohan
11. Manjit Indira
12. Madhav Kaushik
13. Madhukar Arya
14. Nirmal Dutt
15. Prem Vij
16. Dr. Prasoon Parsad
17. Pushpinder Syal
18. Rajinder Chand
19. R.D Sharma Taseer
20. Prof. R.P Chaddah
21. Ms Ratneev
22. Sultan Anjum
23. Sham Singh
24. Santosh Dhiman
25. Dr. Vibha Ray

FUTURE PLANS

Hindi Diwas will be celebrated on September 14, 2008 and Mahila Diwas in March 2009.


The Akademi plans to bring out a Directory of Chandigarh-based writers. All poets, playwrights, and creative writers who either reside or work in Chandigarh may send their particulars (Name, contact details, email ID, particulars of published work) to the Chairperson, Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi, State library 1st floor, Sector-34, Chandigarh. Submissions would also be made through e-mail. The email id for the same is sahitakad2008@gmail.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi has drawn up a tentative Calendar of Events for 2008-09. This is what it looks like:

August 9: Creative Workshop for School children

August 14: Tri-lingual Kavi Sammelan

August 30: Play Reading by Narendra Mohan

Sept 14 : Hindi Divas Samaroh

Oct 2: Panel Discussion on the centenary of Gandhi's Hind Swaraj

Nov 14: Seminar on Children's Literature

December 8: Prof Paul Giles, Oxford University, to speak on "Contemporary Trends in Literature -- a British Perspective"

December: Competitive Events at the Chandigarh Carnival

Jan 2009: Poetry Festival on Republic Day

Feb: Events at the Rose Festival

March : Women's Day Celebration

The CSA proposes to continue with its regular activities like Workshops, invited Lectures, Book releases, discussions, etc. Publications like a Newsletter, Journal, Blog, are on the anvil.We also propose to collaborate with other similar organizations. In this direction some exchange has taken place with organzers of the national Sahitya Akademi.

CHANDIGARH SAHITYA AKADEMI - 2008

Chandigarh, July 5

The Chandigarh administration has re-constituted the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi for a period of two years. Prof Manju Jaidka has taken over as chairperson of the Akademi and Dr D.S. Gupt as vice-chairman. Madhav Kaushik will be the secretary. Here is a picture of the three in the office of the Akademi: ---

Non-ex-officio members are Hindustan editor Aku Shirvastav, book promoter Ajay Arora, senior lecturer at GCM-11 Dr Aruna Abrol, former principal of Government College of Commerce and Business Administration Bhupinder Singh, senior lecturer at GCM-11 Geetanjali Kalra, principal of Dev Samaj College of Education Dr Jyoti Khanna, Punjabi poetess Ratniv, senior lecturer at GCG-11 Neelkamal Puri, former editor of Jagriti Prem Vijh, Urdu poet Rajinder Chand, freelance journalist S.D. Sharma, secretary of Writers’ Forum Shyam Singh, Prof Sudhir Kumar of PU, and principal of DAV Senior Secondary School- Sector 8 - Dr Vibha Ray. The term of the members is two years.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE
CHANDIGARH SAHITYA AKADEMI

* To encourage and promote study and research in the field of literature.
* To promote co-operation among men of literature and literary association, and to encourage establishment and development of such associations
* To publish and to promote publication of literature including monograph, journals etc.
* To establish and maintain a library to cater to the needs of various organizations.
* To give recognition and to otherwise assist approved literary associations.
* To award scholarships and prizes to deserving men of literatures.
* To accord recognition to poets, writers, dramatists etc. for outstanding achievements.
* To encourage and foster the revival and development of literature.
* To promote the study of literature in the regional languages and to organize surveys of and to encourage surviving indigenous men or literature.
* To foster cultural contiaty within the country and also with other countries through exchange of personnel.
* To encourage or to arrange translation of outstanding literary works from English into local language and vice-versa.
* To publish or to assist organizations and individuals in publishing outstanding literary works including biographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias etc. in the local languages.
* To provide a from for the integration of the state by arranging seminars and Symposia on topics of language and literature.
* To maintain liaison with Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi and other literary organization in the neighboring states.