‘A true writer should give lessons of life through his literature’

Boria Majumdar delivering the keynote address at Vidarbha Lit Festival on Sunday at Chitnavis Centre while Dr Lokendra Singh, Sanjeev Kumar and Prashant Godbole look on. (Pic by Satish Raut)

Staff Reporter :

Two-day Vidarbha Literature Festival concludes

“A real writer or author of a book should be an effective story-teller. He should give lessons of life through his literature. As a sports journalist, I have tried to tell the stories of life lessons of different sportsmen in the country and for that I had to peep in to the backstage,” said Boria Majumdar while delivering a key note address on the concluding day of Vidarbha Literature Festival (VLF) at Chitnavis Centre on Sunday. Boria Majumdar narrated five real life stories of the sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar who infused a ray of hope in little disabled child; Murlikant Petkar brought India its First ever Olympic Gold Medal in the Summer Paralympics held at Heidelberg, Germany; Dutee Chand, an Indian professional sprinter and current national champion in the women’s 100 metres event; Devendra Jhajharia, the first Indian Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics; Manoj Sarkar a badminton player and again Sachin Tendulkar who had played despite the injury. Majumdar mentioned, “I have tried to portray the enormous pains and struggles of the sportsmen in India who had excelled in their lives and achieved successes despite all odds. In sports everything is possible and the real life stories of these sportsmen make us to feel Indian.”

Divisional Commissioner, Sanjeev Kumar was the chief guest and he discussed the book ‘Seven habits of Highly Effective People which had inspired him to get success in IAS. Noted neurosurgeon, Dr Lokendra Singh chaired the session and spoke about importance of literature in one’s life. Sachin Jahagrdar co-chaired the session spoke on the event. The book ‘Dreams of a Billion: India and the Olympic Games’ penned by Boria Majumdar was released on this occasion. Medha Dixit anchored the proceeding. Prashant Godbole co-chair proposed a vote of thanks.

Sharmishtha Gooptu in discussion with Dr Swapna Khanzode.

There is no parameter for effective writing: Sharmishtha Gooptu “There is nothing like perfection in literature world. Literature depends on the temperament of a writer, his perception, his understanding and his own personality traits. Therefore, there is no parameter about effective writing,” said Sharmishtha Gooptu. She was discussing with Dr Swapna Khanzode during the workshop on ‘Non Fiction Research for Fiction Writing’ at one of the sessions of Vidarbha Literature Festival (VLF) in Mimosa Hall, Chitnavis Centre on Sunday. Gooptu was talking about her books, ‘Menoka Has Hanged Herself’ and ‘Bengali Cinema An Other Nation’. She said, “I had conducted research to prepare background of these books. Whether you are conducting an academic research or a research for writing non fiction books, you have to read more, read diversity, keep taking notes and analyse what you have read.” Gooptu adviced the budding writers to keep reading continuously because reading makes the platform of story what they want to present before readers. A writer while reading books or while conducting research should never break the theme or central story of what he want to present before the readers, she added.

Dr Madhusudan Penna interacting Dr Hemant Lodha during open disscuion.

Sanskrit is the language of spirituality: Dr Madhusudan Penna ‘Sanskrit is the most scientific language for interpreting, explaining and presenting spirituality in its original form,” said Dr Madhusudan Penna while discussing with Dr Hemant Lodha during the open discussion session at VLF on Sunday at Chitnavis Centre. Expressing concern over the present situation when Indians are considering Sanskrit as a foreign language and English as their mother tongue. Dr Penna said, “Sanskrit is a language of divine. Sanskrit is still maintaining its existence since last 10,000 years. It will also keep on existing in future too.” Stating that spirituality has nothing to do with language or religion, he said, “Experience (anubhav) and expression of these experiences (abhivyakti) are the two parameters for development of any civilisation. Words are tools to express experience. Expression of How? is the science and expression of why? is philosophy or metaphysics. Spirituality which is a journey of innerdeep is based on both anubhav and abhivyakti. Sanskrit is the only language in the world which has clearly explained science and philosophy. This is why Sanskrit is a language of spirituality.” Chanakya Neeti, a book penned by Hemant Lodha was released on this occasion.

Boria Majumdar interecting with audience while Dr Ashutosh Paturkar look on.

Sports require more accountability: Boria Majumdar “Do not blame cricket for dominating other sports in the country. Cricket is well commercialised and marketed which is need of the hour,” said Boria Majumdar, a renowned sports journalist and a distinguished author during the second day of Vidarbha Literary Festival (VLF) at Chitnavis Centre on Sunday. Majumdar who wrote many remarkable books like ‘Olympics - The India Story’, ‘Playing It My Way’, ‘Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians: The On and Off the Field Story of Cricket in India and Beyond’ and ‘Dreams of a Billion’ kept the audience spellbound with facts and his own experiences in Indian sports during the event. “As a sports lover, we follow Olympics for 15 days but after that we forget the event for four years. But, to get a medal in Olympics every athlete contributes their every second for the event which is going to be held after four years,” said Majumdar. “Sports in India require more accountability than money. We have to create a structure that will work for development of sports like cricket,” he added. “Instead of appointing foreign coaches and supporting staff for Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must make the tournament more Indian,” Majumdar added. Giving the example of Australia’s Big Bash League, Majumdar said, “The tournament have their own commentators but in India we believe more in foreign commentators than Indian experts.” “The Board have now change its mentality towards Indian veteran players and they must get more priority than foreign counterparts,” Majumdar stated. Majumdar also shared his experiences with Sachin Tendulkar, Pele and Pullela Gopichand. Dr Ashutosh Paturkar was the moderator of the session.

Manu S Pillai talking about his book with Ripudaman Singh Uberoi.

Alauddin Khilji invaded India for gold and not for territory: Manu Pillai Manu S Pillai, the award winning author for books ‘The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore’ and ‘Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji’ graced the second-day of VLF at Chitnavis Centre on Sunday. One of the youngest authors -cum-historian of the country, Manu talked about his book titled ‘400 Years of Deccan History: From Khilji to Shivaji’ that attracted huge gathering. “Alauddin Khilji invaded India for gold and not for territory. It is a misconception that Mughals came to India to rule our country but the fact is something different,” said Manu during the event. He talked about Shivaji Maharaj and some unknown facts about Maratha Emperor and their kingdom. He described about the relations of Vijaywada dynasty and Mughals. Manu also talked about many other historical events about Maratha and Mughal dynasties. Manu also interacted with audience during the session. Ripudaman Singh Uberoi was the moderator of the session.

Vaibhav Purandare interecting with audience during the session while moderator Dr Vivek Nanoti also look on.

Sawarkar was a true patriot: Vaibhav Purandare On the concluding day of Vidarbha Literary Festival (VLF), the audience got a chance to listen to Vaibhav Purandare, the author of legendary books ‘Sachin Tendulkar’, ‘Bal Thackeray and the rise of Shiv Sena’ and ‘Savarkar: The True Story of the Father of the Hindutva’ at Chitnavis Centre on Sunday. While talking about his book on Sawarkar, Purandare properly justified the stand of Sawarkar that made him infamous in rest of India. “Mercy petition by Sawarkar to British Government was his own decision and we should not take it as a compromise with them,” said Purandare. Before making this statement before the VLF audience, Purandare explained the extremity of torture he faced at Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar. He also explained the level of patriotism of Veer Sawarkar during his speech. “In one mercy petition, Sawarkar urged British Government to release all other prisoners and keep him in the jail for torture. It is the best example of Sawarkar’s patriotism,” said Purandare during the event. Purandare also replied the questions raised by audience during the event. Dr Vivek Nanoti was the moderator of the session.