Chandigarh
Sahitya Akademi (CSA) has made quite a niche in the City Beautiful with its
regularly held literary events, book-readings, interactions with writers, and
poetry sessions.
“The pull
Of an old scar…
Another winter”
and
“Stars adrift…
The loved ones who left
One by one.”
(Both verses recited by Arvinder Kaur)
Today the
CSA held a two-tiered session at the UT Guest. The morning session, Abhivyakti,
showcased creative writers in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu while the post-lunch
session focused on writers who have made a name in the English language. All
the writers belong to the city and have been quietly engaged in their creative
pursuits.
Punita Bawa
is a novelist and poet who recently brought out her book “Neeljal ki
Sonemachhlian”. She is also trained in music and highly accomplished orator and
speaker with a mellifluous voice, much in demand as a compere and host at local
events. This morning she recited some poems from her latest collection. Her poetry
has a strong feminist streak evident in the themes which revolve around the
rights of women and the discriminatory attitude of our society towards the
fairer sex.
Rajwanti
Mann, Deputy Director in Haryana Archives, is a researcher and poet. She acquired
proficiency in Urdu and now writes in the language. She has recently published her
debut collection of poems with the title “Babool ki Chhaanv”. Coversational in tone, her poetry reaches out
to the reader with its directness and sincerity.
Arvinder
Kaur teaches in the local Govt. College. She has been writing poetry in Punjabi
and in English and can deftly handle long poems as well as short haikus. This
morning she spoke of Haikus, giving an introduction to the genre as it
originated in Japan. Arvinder has
adapted the Japanese form to local taste and her first book of Punjabi haikus,
“Nimolian,” was published earlier this year.
Manjit
Tiwana has been writing poetry for the last fifty years and is a well-known
name in Punjabi literature. In fact popular opinion rates her close to Amrita
Pritam; she is now a leading voice in Punjabi poetry. Although something of a
recluse who has spent time away from the local literary scene, she opened up
today with the audience and enthusiastically read some of her poems. In her opinion, kavita is “sanjeevani booti” that keeps her going. Highly symbolic,
her themes are personal, dwelling on family relationships, loss, pain and grief.
Presiding
over the morning session was Brajendra Tripathi, well-known editor, critic and
poet from the national Sahitya Akaademi, who has represented India at many
forums, national as well as international. He complimented the CSA on
organizing multi-lingual literary events and was particularly pleased with the
response of the audience to the poetic renderings of the day. Tripathi read
some of his own poems which touched upon several emotional issues, raising
questions like “What is home?” Is home something abstract or concrete? How does one define home? Is it
an institution? Whatever it may be, home is a concept that cannot be defined; its
meaning is not found in dictionaries and encyclopedias.
In the
post-lunch session there were three more writers of the tricity and the session
was chaired by Nirupama Dutt.
Neelkamal
Puri teaches in Govt. College for Girls, Sector 11. A very popular teacher, she
is also into creative writing and has the distinction of being one of the leading Chandigarh residents capable of using the English language with ease and
felicity. Her first book was Patiala Quartet,
a city where she spent many years and to which she is emotionally attached. Her
second novel, Remember to Forget, is
set in Ludhiana, the city where she was born. In Puri’s novels the city is not
simply a place but a character that has a major role to play in the story. She
spoke at length about the beliefs underlying her writing and read excerpts from
both her books. The audience was particularly moved by her passages on the
infamous practice of female infanticide prevalent in the Punjab.
Rajbir
Deswal is a cop-poet. A senior IPS officer, his love for literature is
well-known and he is often in the news for the poetry he has published. He writes in English and also in Hindi and Urdu
(in Devnagari script). This afternoon he discusses his themes and read his
poems before an interested audience. His Urdu poetry, in particularly, was
greatly appreciated. From an earlier collection, “My Own Khajurahu,” he recited
some pieces, explaining the nuances of the symbols used. A poem with the title “His
Master’s Choice” was appreciated for its wit and subtlety.
Anuradha
Bhattacharya is a young upcoming poet who has published two slim collections of
poems. She teaches in Govt. College and has a passion for English. The poems
she read this afternoon spoke of experiences that have touched her life. There
is a certain innocence about her work, a freshness that speaks of her talent
and holds promise for the future.
Nirupama
Dutt, editor, critic and poet, who writes with fluency in English as well as
Punjabi, presided over the session, concluding with a couple of poems recited
before a highly appreciative e audience. She had a word of praise for the speakers and for
the platform that CSA provides to the burgeoning literary talent of the city.
Thanking the
audience, Manju Jaidka, Chairperson of CSA, announced that the next CSA event
would be held on 11th January and then on 8-9 February 2014.
Announcements will be made over Facebook and Blog. Photographs of today’s event
will be posted on these sites.
CSA
