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Mumbai: Poet- lyricist Javed Akhtar has expressed concern over the steady encroachment of a writer’s space by forces inimical to freedom of expression. “If you try to say or write something which is in the larger interest of the nation, you are promptly dubbed a ‘rashtra-drohi’ (traitor),” Akhtar said.
He was speaking as chief guest at the 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which began its proceedings in Nashik on Friday.
“In the past, the nawabs, jahagirdars and zamindars used to patronise poets and writers—but only if the latter talked of love, stars and flowers. Poets who wrote about tears and sweat were not wanted. The present-day political nawabs and zamindars are no better. They don’t want a writer to portray the truth—the social reality which envelops us,” said Akhtar who has often been the target of right-wing radicals for upholding Nehruvian values.
Akhtar exhorted writers and artists to keep away from political parties as, he said, power muffles dissent. “Every political party has its thought process and discipline. They will ask you not to swerve an inch from the party’s stated policies,” he argued.
Stating that both writers and citizens were fast losing their freedom because of the whims of those in power, Akhtar urged the political establishment to not stifle voices of dissent.
Recalling the role of the Progressive Writers’ Association (PWA) in pre-Independent India, Akhtar said the left-centred body had, at its inaugural conclave held in Lucknow in 1933, resolved to write about the angst and aspirations of farmers and labourers, and thus give a push to the freedom struggle.
He said it was time to draw strength from the PWA movement which, he pointed out, had inspired Annabhau Sathe, the iconic Marathi litterateur and one of the earliest voices of the Dalit identity.
Stating that a writer should record his creative experiences in a simple language which touches the chord of the masses, Akhtar said Marathi saint-poets such as Jnaneshwar and Tukaram wrote in an unadorned style. “So did Hindi saint-poet Tulsidas who wrote the Ram Charit Manas in Awadhi, which was the language of the millions in the Hindi belt,” he added. Akhtar said the Marathi plays of P L Deshpande, Vijay Tendulkar and Achyut Vaze offered him a set of new interpretations of life and times.
Praising Muktabai and Bahinaiee, the saint poets of medieval Maharashtra, Akhtar said that the duo wrote 800 years ago without fear or favour. In contrast, the Bronte sisters of England had to adopt a male pseudonym 150 years ago, lest the male-dominated literary establishment of Britain was upset. “And upset it was,” he said.
He was speaking as chief guest at the 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which began its proceedings in Nashik on Friday.
“In the past, the nawabs, jahagirdars and zamindars used to patronise poets and writers—but only if the latter talked of love, stars and flowers. Poets who wrote about tears and sweat were not wanted. The present-day political nawabs and zamindars are no better. They don’t want a writer to portray the truth—the social reality which envelops us,” said Akhtar who has often been the target of right-wing radicals for upholding Nehruvian values.
Akhtar exhorted writers and artists to keep away from political parties as, he said, power muffles dissent. “Every political party has its thought process and discipline. They will ask you not to swerve an inch from the party’s stated policies,” he argued.
Stating that both writers and citizens were fast losing their freedom because of the whims of those in power, Akhtar urged the political establishment to not stifle voices of dissent.
Recalling the role of the Progressive Writers’ Association (PWA) in pre-Independent India, Akhtar said the left-centred body had, at its inaugural conclave held in Lucknow in 1933, resolved to write about the angst and aspirations of farmers and labourers, and thus give a push to the freedom struggle.
He said it was time to draw strength from the PWA movement which, he pointed out, had inspired Annabhau Sathe, the iconic Marathi litterateur and one of the earliest voices of the Dalit identity.
Stating that a writer should record his creative experiences in a simple language which touches the chord of the masses, Akhtar said Marathi saint-poets such as Jnaneshwar and Tukaram wrote in an unadorned style. “So did Hindi saint-poet Tulsidas who wrote the Ram Charit Manas in Awadhi, which was the language of the millions in the Hindi belt,” he added. Akhtar said the Marathi plays of P L Deshpande, Vijay Tendulkar and Achyut Vaze offered him a set of new interpretations of life and times.
Praising Muktabai and Bahinaiee, the saint poets of medieval Maharashtra, Akhtar said that the duo wrote 800 years ago without fear or favour. In contrast, the Bronte sisters of England had to adopt a male pseudonym 150 years ago, lest the male-dominated literary establishment of Britain was upset. “And upset it was,” he said.
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