Prof Cheng Lok Chua's talk on Chinese American Contribution to Literature, 1st Dec 2012
A constant endeavor of Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi is to organize forums in which local writers, academicians and lovers of literature may get a chance to interact with visiting men and women of letters. In times such as ours, when the world seems to have shrunk to manageable proximities, an exchange is desirable across borders spatial and temporal. With this in view, the CSA, as explained by the Chairperson of the Akademi, Manju Jaidka, is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to bring in travellers from distant lands who will bring with them stories of different peoples and cultures.
This morning the CSA organized a talk at the UT Guest House by such a visiting scholar. Prof Cheng Lok Chua is an Emeritus Professor at the California State University at Fresno, currently on a Visiting Fulbright assignment at Nepal. He is now in India on a brief visit. An eminent professor of American Literature and the writer and editor of several books and journals, Lok Chua's talk this morning was on "The Chinese American Gold Mountain: An Asian American Version of the American Dream" . He spoke at length on the Chinese American contribution to literature, illustrating from two well-known texts, Lin Yutang's Chinatown Family (1945) and Maxine Hong Kingston's Woman Warrior (1976).
Going back in history, Prof Lok Chua explained how the early Chinese immigrants first landed in America during the gold rush of the mid-nineteenth century, worked hard at the mines, the railroads and plantations, battled all exclusionist policies, finally settled down in their new location, and came to be regarded as an important, much respected part of the American society.
Chairing today's session was Prof Brajesh Sawhney of Kurukshetra University who steered the lively discussion that followed and also summed up the session with a reference to the present multicultural and multi-ethnic texture of America today.
Prof Anil Raina, Vice-Chairperson of the Akademi, and Shri Madhav Kaushik, Secretary, thanked the audience for their enthusiasm. It was further announced that the next event would be a local Goshthi in early January which would showcase writers from the city who had published books in the last couple of months. Concerned writers may get in touch with the Akademi. Further, a Literary Quiz will be organized in mid-January, primarily for college students but also open to the public.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi is accepting SHORT STORIES (between 1,000 and 2,000 words) and POEMS (not exceeding 2 pages) in English, Hindi and Punjabi for possible publication in a forthcoming anthology. Contributions may be submitted at the CSA office (1st Floor, State Library Sector 34) right up to Dec 20, 2012.
Photographs of this mornings talks are posted on FB. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.564551490228596.149029.100000212495273&type=1
