Tag Archives: Bolwar Mahamad Kunhi

History being replaced by mythology: Naseeruddin Shah

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

Actor Naseeruddin Shah releasing the book Halla Bol: Safdar Hashmi Savu Mattu Baduku.   | Photo Credit: Handout E Mail

Actors and authors call for solidarity with activist and intellectuals

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah called for people to fight for their right to democratic dissent, which, he said, is increasingly being interpreted as sedition at a time when history is being replaced by mythology. He was speaking at the virtual release of Halla Bol: Safdar Hashmi Savu Mattu Baduku, a Kannada translation of Sudhanva Deshpande’s book on the playwright and director Safdar Hashmi. The book has been translated to Kannada by M.G. Venkatesh.

Safdar Hashmi was fatally injured in an attack on the theatre group when Halla Bol, a street play on exploitation and rights of factory workers, was being performed near Delhi in January 1989.

At the book launch, Mr. Shah said that the life, achievements and murder of Safdar Hashmi was a testimony as to why fascist powers and forces were so terrified about the lives of activists and intellectuals, who are being hounded in the country today. “It is high time we stand in solidarity with jailed activists and intellectuals like Varavara Rao and Anand Teltumbde,” he said.

“When I read the English and Hindi versions of Halla Bol, I was informed, amused, raged, disturbed and moved. He [Safdar Hashmi] took plays to factories, schools and streets, and informed people about their exploitation and rights. It is from his life I realised that even an actor’s life can be of use and impactful,” he added.

M.G. Venkatesh, translator of the book, said that the thoughts and writings of Safdar Hashmi are more relevant now than at the time he was killed. “The current regime is diluting labour laws, not only in a dangerous way but also in a way that insults labourers,” he added.

Author Sudhanva Deshpande spoke about the assassination of editor-activist Gauri Lankesh. “The killing of Hashmi stirred the need for the defence of freedom of art and expression,” he said.

Actor Achyuth Kumar said that the times had not changed much. “Hashmi was killed when the Congress was in power, and Gauri Lankesh was killed by the fundamental right wing. This is the way ruling dispensations suppress the voices of people. They just kill them,” he said.

Writer Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi said that we are fighting two types of viruses now. “It is said that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be available in the future. But who will and how can a vaccine be invented for those who suppress dissent, spread hatred and eulogise killings and violence?”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / October 31st, 2020

Kunhi wants to write a novel on Prophet’s young wife

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , ,

KARNATAKA :

Bolwar Mahamad Kunhi during a session in the 2nd day of the Times Litfest held at Jayamahal Palace in Bengaluru on Sunday (TOI Photo)
Bolwar Mahamad Kunhi during a session in the 2nd day of the Times Litfest held at Jayamahal Palace in Bengaluru on Sunday (TOI Photo)

Bengaluru :

Award winning Kannada novelist Bolwar Mahamad Kunhi wants to write a novel on Prophet Muhammad’s young wife Aisha, who was among eleven wives of the prophet who married him at the age of eight.

Kuhni, who recently won Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for his novel Swathantrada Ota, was in conversation with critic M S Ashadevi at a session on ‘the return of the novel to Kannada literature’ at  Times Literature Festival on Sunday. The discussion was moderated by writer Vikram Hatwar.

He said writing about Sita was easier than Aisha since the character of Sita and sacrifice she made was known to people whereas. “It is difficult to write about someone like Aisha and it is going to be demystifying myths about her,” said Kunhi. “It takes some more time before writing the novel. I am yet to get authentic data about her, and I am still researching,” he added.

Commenting on the politics over Ayodhya, the novelist said an issue was made out of Ram temple for a particular reason and Ayodhya was never been a pilgrimage centre unlike Kashi. “I find it odd when people go on pilgrimage to Ayodhya and Ram idol has been relegated to a corner there,” he said.

The issue of Ram temple came up in the discussion in the context that Kunhi has used Ramayana and the character of Ram as parallel to the main characters in his 1,100-page mega novel Swanthanthrada Ota.

Swathanthrada Ota was originally was a short story about two children coming to India from Pakistan during the Partition and Kunhi elaborated into a novel as he wanted to tell the saga of Partition that is relevant for many more years to come.

On the recent tendency of Kannada short story writers migrating to the novel genre, Asha Devi said the development has an historic significance and the tendency was being seen even in all other Indian languages. “It is not an accidental phenomenon. There is a historic significance to it. The writers have affinity to short story genre and gravitating towards novel. And it signifies the longing for returning to the roots and also quest for the remedy of social decadence,” she said.

Asha Devi observed that the short story genre is giving way to novel at a time when the writers are returning to find Mahatma Gandhi as their subject. She gave the instance of the novel Gandhi Banda by H Nagavni, while Kunhi’s Swathanthrada Ota revolves round Gandhi in the backdrop of the Partition.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bangalore News / by B V Shiva Shankar / TNN / February 12th, 2017