A silence in Maharashtra

Revocation of Nayantara Sahgal’s invite to a literary meet is a sign of intellectual decline. The excuse that Sahgal has not written in a regional language is a facade. The real reason could be her active role in award wapasi and other issues.

nayantara sahgal, nayantara sahgal, nayantara sahgal speech, Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, Nayantara sahgal Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, mob violence, indian express, latest news — During Naseeruddin Shah’s criticism of the current state of affairs with regard to the freedom of speech, aside from one or two exceptions, the Kumars and Khans of Bollywood were either busy at their new-year bashes or were dancing and serving food at an industrial tycoon’s family function.

The irony cannot be lost in the fact that as Maharashtra was commemorating the birth anniversary of Balshastri Jambhekar (1812-1846 ), with whom began the rise of reason in the state, the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (All India Marathi Literary Meet) succumbed to lumpen elements and revoked its invitation to well-known writer Nayantara Sahgal.

The annual jamboree will be held in Yavatmal from January 11. Maharashtra has seen such literary meets since 1878, long before the advent of trendy “lit fests”. Since Independence, while the chief minister is chief guest almost every year, the keynote speaker is usually a writer of eminence from other languages. Umashankar Joshi, Girish Karnad, Mahasweta Devi, U R Ananthamurthy have been either keynote speakers or delivered the valedictory address. This year, Devendra Fadnavis is the chief guest and Sahgal was to be a key speaker. The difference came in the form of elements who opposed Sahgal’s presence, citing her “English only” literary work. These thugs threatened to disrupt the literary meet. Sadly, instead of standing firm, the organisers withdrew the invitation to Sahgal.