Shimla: Literature festival creates a buzz, a boost for local writers

Shimla, June 19

International Literature Festival can mark the beginning of good times for the local literary world. Apart from giving local writers an opportunity to interact and share the stage with several eminent writers from across the country and abroad, the mega event can trigger regular literary activities at the local level. “It has certainly created a big buzz. Hopefully, this will lead to more interactions, discussions and conversions about literature in future,” said Professor Meenakshi F Paul, a noted poet and translator.

For writer and filmmaker Dev Kanya Thakur, the event offered an opportunity to meet and interact with eminent writers like Mridula Garg and Geetanjali Shree. “We managed to spend some time with Geetanjali Shree, it was a wonderful experience and exposure for us,” she said.

For SR Harnot, a noted writer, the best part of the festival was offering a platform to the writers writing in various dialects in the state. “The local dialects are dying. By giving those writing in these dialects a platform, the Sahitya Akademi has done a commendable job,” said Harnot.

Despite being all praise for the event, Harnot is disappointed that many deserving local writers were not invited as participants to the event. “Many eminent writers in Shimla and around have been ignored. They should have been called,” he said. “Besides, there was no mention of Nirmal Verma, a great writer with roots in the state, during the festival. There have been a few more notable omissions,” said Harnot. Another writer felt that such a big event was not publicized enough. “Not many outside Shimla knew that such a big event was being conducted in the capital,” he said.

For Devender Gupta, a critic and editor of Hindi magazine Sethu, the hosting of an event of such a magnitude should be followed up with regular literary activities at the local level. “Earlier, the Department of Language, Art and Culture would organise visits and interaction of local writers with their counterparts in other parts of the country. It was a huge learning experience for everyone concerned. These trips have been stopped long time back and it’s the right time to resume them,” said Gupta.

Dev Kanya Thakur feels that having hosted the international literary festival, the state government should push for including Himachali in the officially recognized languages. “It will give a big boost to the writers of the state,” she said.