Glimpses from the Times Literary Fest Bangalore 2019- 1

The Times Literary Fest Bangalore 2019 was held on 23rd  and 24th February at Jayamahal palace Bangalore.In this post, I share glimpses from the first day (only day) which I attended. In the key note address, at the inaugural session titled Astitva:Existence,Being,Identity", the modern day "Mythology man" Mr Devdutt Patnaik shared his take of the 21st century  definition of  mythology.  Later, he also participated in a discussion with Ms Shobha De which I propose to  cover in a separate post.

 Devdutt said that what we call myth is "somebody's truth". You exist only when you are heard and others acknowledge your existence. Today, nobody is listening. The TV channel debates are a clear example. According to him "being hungry" is what indicates whether you are alive. We are hungry for food, attention, meaning in life- "Whose life do I nourish? Are people hungry for me? Human beings want to voluntarily offer themselves as the food (Bhog) for other's hunger. Here consent is necessary. They don't want to be eaten up by a  predator against their will. 

We then had a conversation with celebrated novelist Ms Nayantara Sahgal whose latest novel " The fate of butterflies" was recently released. The questions were posed by the author, Mr Vivek Shanbhag.

  (Though part of the Nehru family, Vijayalakshmi Pandit being her mother, Sahgal developed a reputation for maintaining her independent critical sense. Her independent tone, and that of her mother's, led to both falling out with her cousin Indira Gandhi during the most autocratic phases of the latter's time in office in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. On 6 October 2015, Sahgal returned her Sahitya Akademi Award as a protest to what she called "increasing intolerance and  for supporting right to dissent in the country", following the murders of rationalists Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar and M. M. Kalburgi, and the Dadri mob lynching incident)  

Question:  You can generally be described as a political novelist. How do you or from where do you get the courage to write such novels ?

Answer: writing novels of such nature was not by design. Given my family background, I was exposed to political situations whole through my life. Incidents that involve unmaking of modern India provoke me to write. It is not about courage. When one knows from inside that this is the "right thing to do", you do it. Period.  

Question: What triggered writing of your latest novel " The fate of butterflies" ?  

Answer:  It is on account of similar concerns that triggered my last book- The destruction, the unmaking of India and tearing apart of our basic ethos. 

Question:  In your latest novel, violence can be clearly perceived in the images- dead body and the butterfly being kicked by a child.  

Answer: One regularly sees on TV, mob lynchings, five eminent writers being shot dead and other forms of violence. It is not as if violence was not there earlier. Incidents were very much there but violence is now being celebrated! Non Hindus are being called foreigners. 

Question: What kind of politics do you envisage in the coming days? 

Answer: It is not about coming days. The change and tenor in the political discourse has already happened. It is identity politics related to religion. It is to be remembered that basically ours is a migrant culture that has been affected by multiple influences. we must continue to do what we do and not be silenced.  

Question: At the time of returning your Sahitya academy award, you had quoted the reason "attack on institutions" for doing so. Have you perceived any change in this regard? 

Answer: If anything, it has become worse. I was a thorn to the administration even during the emergency days and it is the same situation now. Today, writers are being threatened, persecuted or killed and the sahitya academy is silent.

Question: Recently you were dis-invited ( invited and then the invitation taken back) to a program in Maharashtra...Your comment?

Answer:  Although this happened, there was amazing support from the Marathi writers. Some went to the venue wearing my masks. The speech I had planned to deliver was read out in small towns.

Question: Of late, there is a lot of talk about war...

Answer:  It is not about a coming war. War is already upon us. The division of people on identities itself amount to war. The discussions about military and war on TV news channels is new, awkward and out of sync with a democracy.