Random Notes

We all know that that no agency,organization or establishment can create a genuine writer or artist.Then why don't we take a negative stand towards the camps,workshops discussions and the like conducted by the Sahitya Academy ,university departments or some socities or groups.There is every possibility for a healthy diffusion of ideas and fresh enquiries to take place in such places which may help writers,artists ,readers and viewers to continue their work with a new vigour.Nothing happens in the barrenness of mere repetitions.Our ideas and notions should be repeatedly challenged and we should be forced to redefine and reconstruct our inner world frquently. But usually what happens in the University seminars and other formal discussions?Our so called scholars present their papers with a vulgar self confidence and arrogance which they hope will cover their gross inability to produce even a sigle fresh idea or thought of their own.The net result of such seminars is a heap of dead words and lifeless arguments.

Shadow Play

No one has the right to instruct poets on matters of content or style. One writes poetry only because some incident or experience temts or compels him/her to choose the medium of poetry for expression.On the other hand when poetry becomes a slave to familiar , predictable stylisations it generates only boredom.If poets indulge in the exercise of writing poetry keeping in mind certain predtermined notions about the content fit for poetry and if they are led by considerations of eternal value and beauty it looses the enrgy, vigour and beauty of genuine writing and the result is a tiresome shadow play.

ANONYMOUS LETTER

Using all the swear words I know,I wrote an anonymous letter to Aravindan.All the sins he committed were listed in chronological order.Four days later,I got an anonymous letter,which said: “Dont worry,what you did is not that sinful.” (Trans:Fathima Mayan)

Random notes

What are the net results of the educational reforms being implemented in Kerala and elsewhere during the last 15 years? From my personal observations I would say that students in general have become extrovert and in a sense bold.They don’t have any inhibition in presenting their opinions and notions about almost anything under the sun.But on the other side there are some pitiable aspects.They are not at all ashamed to be satisfied with whatever little knowledge they have about a topic and to pretend as if their understanding is full and perfect.Their interests and attitudes have become quite peripheral and pretentious.The educational reforms ,it has become obvious, aim at creating a generation capable of floating freely without any serious concern about anything in a world controlled by the forces of free market.
The subversive changes taking place in the field of education have affected quite adversely all walks of social life in Kerala.The disbelief and tension swelling up in social psyche have made genuinely serious cultural activities and communication impossible. Except a very few NGOs no one is there to take up the burning issues in social life.NGOs have their own limitations.They are often controlled by unfair agencies whose real interests are always kept hidden.In Kerala which is considered a strong hold of left politics to be apolitical has become the ideal of a considerably large section of the people .

...therefore I am

So far I was not able to stick on to any single medium in literature.My concept of literature and my ideas regarding it’s function also change quite often.On some occasions I took the stand that social and political content of a work of art is more important than anything else.This feeling or thought does not remain for long to grow into a conviction.I change.I will begin to think that form is far more important.Form itself is the meaning and message of work of art.The novelty of form and rhythm that one is able to realize in a work of art should be the criterion to judge it since it is the soul of the aesthetic experience that the work conveys to a reader.But I won’t stick to this stand for a considerably long time.Content,plot and the unpredictable possibilities that unfold in a story are the real thing,I will begin to think.And I may go a step further and declare:
What is there in a work of art if history does'nt make a reader feel it’s presence in it.

...therefore I am

I am interested in politics,literature and many other areas where people make their intellectual ,ideological and emotional investments.But after decades of my association with literature and other discourses nowadays I feel that my inner self is more attached to folklore and local history .I am engrossed by a strange awakening when I come across a new information regarding a folk custom or one related to the history of a remote village.During those moments I experience a serene pleasure which is incomparable and undefinable.Often I feel that my creative activities will take a turn to the better if I attain the integrity to be totally truthful to this emotion and attachment.

Random notes

A few days back I went to Neeliyar Kottam,a village temple near the Kannur University Office at Mangattuparmbu.It was to speak a few words facing the camera for a Documentary film being directed by V.K.Anil Kumar,camera man being Ameerali Olavara.The Documentary is a historical and realistic visual narration and analysis of the story of Kadinur Veeran a folk God of North Malabar whose performance is the most enthralling among the Theyyam performances.The emotional content of Kadinur Veeran’s story also is really great.The Documentary is expected to be ready for a public show by the first week of October 2011.I hope that it will be a commendable work since I had the feeling that the approach of Anil Kumar and Ameer Ali was of utmost sincerity and involvement.