While reams are exhausted in writings over the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir, our poets, litterateurs and playwrights are conspicuous by their silence, which they should break without further delay. These well-endowed individuals could have proven a greater catalyst in highlighting, at least, what was happening on ground. What repeated mercy appeals don’t do, may be a piercing couplet does.
But, sadly, our poets appear as dysfunctional as our government institutions. It seems that the lure of money and media glare stimulates our poets more than the civilian deaths. Literature in rest of the world is known for consoling and guiding people when they are caught up in a quagmire of chaos. In fact, it was literature, theatre and other literary activities that would provide a solace to Europeans and Americans when the wars were ravaging their world. It is a well known fact that most of the quality literature in Europe was produced in the times of war. The civilization that we envy now has actually risen from the rubble largely due to those passionate and soul-stirring works of literature which were produced by the poets and writers of that age. But Kashmir provides an ironical contrast when it comes to literature and literary activities.
Here, the literature and other activities related to fine arts have been aloof from masses. In Kashmir where the state looms large over every public institution, the literary activism is seen as a gate pass to hobnob with the powers that be. Poets in Kashmir are being hired to sing paeans for politicians and political groups but they never volunteer to say a word in response what befalls the common people.
Full report here Rising Kashmir
No comments:
Post a Comment