SONGSOPTOK: Do you think literature
is really essential in our life? If so why? In your opinion, what is the true
relationship between life and literature? What is your own experience? And how
does this relationship relate to the general history of mankind?
NANDITA: Yes, I do consider
literature to be an essential part of life because it is a medium which helps
up connect with individuals, with the society and the world. Literature helps us
emote our feelings and convey it to others in an accessible manner. Literature has helped me learn and
understand the larger truths and ideologies of life and living, help overcome
my shortcomings share my opinions with others. It has enriched my critical
thinking and has made me intellectually productive to capture my imaginations
and provoke thoughts in a reader. Helped me heal some of my stress by
transporting me to a surreal world of solace and solitude away from the humdrum
of routine life. Since time immemorial literature has helped to record the true
history of human race and humanity, its struggles, love, hatred, its ideas, its
ideologies, its virtues, its vices, its beauty, its ugliness so for history
literature is veritable and essential.
SONGSOPTOK: We would like to know
the beginning of the story, i.e. how your upbringing contributed to your own
writing. Who were your favorite literary figures during the early period of
your life? How they have paved your early routes in literature?
NANDITA: I got my primary education from Mount Carmel
School, which had a decent
library and our English teacher sister Digna laid the stepping stone for me to
the literature world by suggesting books to read. At the age of 8 - 9 I moved
on from fairy-tale books to more serious, substantial genre of books by authors
like Charles Dickins, Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Vladimir Nabokov, Leo Tolstoy,
Fydore Dostoyevsky etc. Participating in
plays and recitation added to my interest in literature and its nuances.
Besides English, books in Hindi and Bengali helped enrich my literary taste. Tagore’s
poetries and stories touch my core and his songs render me spellbound, to an
extent his works, motivated me to write and express my feelings in a simple
way. I started writing in collage. I used to write in a diary and keep it a
secret as I was not very confident about it, later my parents came to know and
encouraged me. Unfortunately, this diary got misplaced while shifting to a new
residence (my father having a transferrable job shifting was a regular feature
in every 5-6 years). This disheartened me and I stopped writing for many years,
got busy with my teaching profession and looking after the family. Sometime
back one fine morning I decided to write again as words and thoughts started
bubbling inside and needed an outlet.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that literature also bridges the
human world with the Mother Nature? As well as with the present time of our
surroundings?
NANDITA: Yes, definitely
literature is a cognitive and aesthetic bridge between human and mother nature.
Although this has been a topic of argument for long. Science since the time of
Darwin has established a striking similarity and dependence between the two and
how the disruption of the balance can be dangerous. There are many poets and
writers whose writings are so profound and some so evocative that the readers
are bound to see the nature in a new perspective. They have brought into notice
the devastation, the changes over the time brought to the nature and the
consequences of these alarming changes.
SONGSOPTOK: What are the main events
that you think are the major issues that have influenced present day
literature?
NANDITA: I think
that literature has always been influenced by the events and changes around.
For ex- in India the of literary course
was changed and shaped by a synthesis of indigenous and foreign influences since
ancient times. In early India, most of the arts had Vedic influences. After the
birth of contemporary Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism arts flourished
under the patronage of kings and emperors. The coming of Islam spawned a whole
new era of Indian architecture and art and literature . Finally the British
brought their own Gothic and Roman influences. At present literature and poetry
is very much influenced by socio-economic disparity, politics, current affair, the
social upheavals and the natural calamities. "Art for art's sake" is
the usual English rendition of a French slogan, "l 'art pour l 'art', It
opened the way for artistic freedom of expression in the Impressionist movement
and modern art and literature. I believe artists should have the freedom to
express themselves to their satisfaction, should be allowed to choose their
subject and style. I feel patronized by the demands of the publishers or the reader
persons creativity can suffer.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think in this age of information and
technology the dimensions of literature has largely been extended beyond our
preconceived ideas about literature in general? Now in this changing scenario
we would like to know from your own life experiences as a poet, writer and a
creative soul; how do you respond to this present time
NANDITA: Yes,
definitely information and technology has helped literature extend its
dimension. Being a science graduate I know how technology has helped enrich my
knowledge and interest in literature , which otherwise would have been
restricted to the syllabus and the libraries with little choices . You have
been able to send this questionnaire and I'm responding only because of
technology. It is a boon helping portray and share work on
different platforms and reach readers all over the globe which otherwise would
not have been possible. It has helped me earn recognition and admiration and
get my poems and stories published nationally and internationally. I'm indebted
to information and technology. I believe it has helped literature to grow at a
faster pace and writing- reading has found a broader space and a larger
audience. Present day literature has become more exhortative and evocative as
the day to day global incidents and affairs can be addressed and expressed
instantly so the emotional connect is more profound and prudent. The 'Online
communities’ feel closer, there is a sense of belonging, happy to have finally
found people who share common interests easily. It has enabled people from the
same walks of life exchange ideas, views, reviews and critical analysis of each
other’s work. It also helped people work together as co-authors, co-editors
etc. Space and spectacle of literature has got a total makeover. But I feel not all is good, as with this
change the previous essence of literature is somewhat fading. Those beautiful
little endeavors of sharing and exchanging books, going to libraries, buying
books with friends, long impatient wait for book fairs are now passé. Online
purchases have become more convenient and time saving options but have lost the
innocent excitement. Plagiarism, cyber bullying, derogatory comments causing
mental trauma are also negative aspects.
SONGSOPTOK: Now if we try to
understand tradition and modernism in literature, do you think poetry can play
a pivotal role relating the two? If so, how? What are your opinions about the
role of the poet in bridging the gap, if any, between tradition and modernism?
NANDITA: Modernism is a recent period of world literature and has its origins in the late
19th and early 20th centuries, and is characterized by a self-conscious break
with traditional ways of writing, in both poetry and prose. In broad terms, the
period was marked by sudden and unexpected breaks with traditional ways of
viewing and interacting with the world. Even poetry has gone through this
change .One of the big differences between traditional poetry and modern poetry
is the use of form and structure. Traditional poetry is generally considered to
adhere to specific forms, rhythms, and meters. Some examples of traditional
poetry are sonnets, ballads, odes, and elegies. Traditional poems often rhyme
(but not always) and they tend to have a specific and symmetrical structure Modern
poetry is much more experimental in form. Therefore, modern poetry looks and
reads quite differently from traditional poetry. Modernist and postmodernist
poets (specifically in the 20th and 21st centuries) questioned the strict adherence
of form and structure in poetic verse. So, there are some modern poems that are
more like prose than poetry. Poetry being inseparable part of literature has
itself undergone a change and helped people to understand and accept the
changes in literature. It has widened the outlook and thought process of the readers.
But there never was a split or gap
between the two periods to bridge. The word modern connotes a kind of
continuation of something traditional. A
modern poet/artist/singer/painter---none can ignore continuation of the
tradition. Most of the great Shakespearean plays have their source either on
Plutarch or Hollinshed’s Chronicles. It
does not mean repetition of the past rather tradition and the modern go
together; they coexist. It is absurd to severe the tradition from the modern.
Modernism means an awareness of the presence of the past in the present.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that
society is the key factor in shaping you up as a writer. What about your own
country? What is the influence of your country & your culture in your
writing? Do you believe that all writers are by and large the product of their
nationality? Is it an incentive or an
obstacle for becoming a truly international writer?
NANDITA: Society influences a poet to an extent. Upbringing,
childhood, social scenario do reflect or have reflected in writings of many
poets but a poet's imagination sees no boundaries, no nationality, no religion,
no caste, no creed . The ethos , the ethics and the values inculcated is almost
same in every nation and I keep in mind
all of these while writing. I don't think nationality has any say in writing. Earlier
the readers were localized and only few recognized poets were read internationally,
but now with the advancement of communication and technology poets can reach
national and international readers easily. It depends on the capability and not
nationality that a creator finds his/her niche in the world. I don't think
nationality helps or hinders. Nationality never comes in the way of a talented
person to flourish
SONGSOPTOK: Do you believe creative souls flourish more
in turmoil than in peace? Why? Are you a protagonist of "art for art's
sake"? Can you please present us with your point of view?
NANDITA: Yes there are many
examples of literary and creative soul's
being born out of the turmoil in their lives . Pain, agony ,love
,deception ,makes a person more perceptive and imaginative. He/she trying to
deal with the crisis and channelizing the attention or potential in a different
creative direction have flourished in literature. But this does not imply that
when at peace a person is less perceptive and imaginative. Most literary
personalities write out of passion
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think people in general actually
bother about literature in general? Do
you think this consumerist world is turning the average man away from serious
literature? And do you think poetry or literature can solve any problems in our
everyday life? Why should we adhere to it?
NANDITA: With the change of our wants and desires to
live up to the standards of the society, somewhere we have become so engaged
that time for serious literature is difficult. people generally adhere to fast
and convenient access to that much knowledge of literature that help survive or
excel in life. And in this situation information and technology comes handy,
thus literature influenced by consumerism. But at the end of the day it's
literature in different forms, be it television,
books, newspapers that helps a person
de stress and rejuvenate oneself. So, we
see without literature life is like a quiver without arrows. No entertainment-
no progress
SONGSOPTOK: Are you a feminist? Can literature play any
decisive role in feminism at all? What role can literature play to make our
lives better on a day to day basis?
NANDITA: I'm not a feminist,
I don't advocate reservation and gender
equality . I think women are at par with men in all spheres of life now but
definitely would like our society to pay attention to the plights of
unprivileged women. There are a few pockets where superstition and malpractices
continue, I think in these areas Literature can help. Street plays, theater,
interactive sessions, recitation, special educative serials on television help
spreading awareness. For the educated people newspapers, magazines, books are
integral part. Literature help people to understand the finer aspects of religion,
culture and the ideologies of life. It helps to reform the thought process of a
person and widens his/her horizon.
SONGSOPTOK: Now if we want to
look ahead, do you think that there is an oncoming crisis for literature in
general? Will it bring new dimensions in our life ahead? Or do you think that
the future of literature is not as bright as it should be?
NANDITA: With the advent of technology and the triumph
of immediacy , a consensus has grown in few literary and academic quarters that
literature is in intensive care or at death's door . The diagnosis though is
that the reason is not irrelevance to old literature in today's world but a
failure in nerve and imagination in the face of immediacy and market
temptations. The digitization and growth of e-book audience has resulted in the
change of scenario, from future of literature to the literature of the future . I think the value
has changed from ability to challenge to the ability of reinforcement. For
literature to remain healthy and thrive in today's environment it is very
essential to ensure that literature does not change its values or buckle under
the pressure of tailored needs of information , technical advancement and
immediacy. Literary world should not be
tempted by the present consumerism.
We sincerely
thank you for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita
Sen
(EDITOR)
Songsoptok
1 Comments
excellent interview.the presentation is superb.my regards to editor.
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