CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Delhi – It is becoming clearly visible that the indiscriminate development of science, technology and mechanisation is strengthening the grip of exploitation and oppression. It is not only controlling our material resources but also our reason. At such a time, only literature can awaken human sensitivity and reason, and there is a great need to recognise this, noted writer Pankaj Bisht said at Hindu College.
Bisht was speaking at the inauguration of the Hindi Sahitya Sabha and the Deepak Sinha Memorial Lecture Series on the subject “Literature in an Age of Thoughtlessness”. He said there is a need to think afresh, at the level of ideas, about our role – that is, the role of human beings. He said the dominance of materialism and automation in society at the global level today has raised questions about the importance and relevance of human beings themselves.
After the lecture, Bisht also answered questions from a large number of students during an interaction session. Responding to a question on the state of Hindi children’s literature, he said that in a developing country such as ours, children are not a concern for anyone, so who will care about children’s literature? He said good children’s literature creates creativity and curiosity among children, enabling them to become better human beings and citizens, but unfortunately, there is no discussion on this in our society. On a question about the difference between popular literature and serious literature, Bisht said the complaint is not about why any literature is popular; the question is whether it is properly fulfilling its social and cultural role.
Earlier, Pallav, teacher-in-charge of the Hindi Department, spoke about the late Acharya Deepak Sinha of the department. He said Sinha was known as a serious and thoughtful teacher. Pallav also introduced the office-bearers of the Hindi Sahitya Sabha. He said Vineet Khurana of MA final year had been elected president, Shefali Choubey of MA previous and Anurag of fourth year as vice-presidents, Ravitanya of third-year Hindi Honours as convener, Saloni Suryavanshi as general secretary, Sahil Bhardwaj as secretary, Azad Pratap as treasurer and Kuldeep as joint secretary. During the event, all office-bearers were called to the stage and introduced.
After the lecture, Bisht also released the new issue of Lahar, the wall magazine of the Hindi Department. He said all such platforms should be welcomed to enhance students’ creativity. All students, including senior members of the editorial board of Lahar – Sachin Bhati, Ayush Pandey and Shikha Pandey – took part in the release.
Anurag introduced the guest, and senior faculty members Prof. Rachna Singh and Prof. Bimalendu Tirthankar felicitated Bisht with a shawl and a plant. The programme was conducted by Saurabh Pal and Godavari. The lamp-lighting ceremony was performed by Dr Neelam Singh and Rupali Sinha. At the beginning of the event, a two-minute silence was observed to pay tribute to the students who died or were injured in Satya Niketan. At the end of the programme, Hindi Sahitya Sabha president Vineet Khurana proposed the vote of thanks.
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