SAHITYA AKADEMI AND DOWNFALL OF INDIAN LANGUAGES
(IN SPECIAL CONTEXT OF MAITHILI LANGUAGE)
Post by Gajendra Thakur.
SAHITYA AKADEMI- FESTIVAL OF SHAME 2014
SAHITYA AKADEMI AND DOWNFALL OF INDIAN LANGUAGES
(IN SPECIAL CONTEXT OF MAITHILI LANGUAGE)
PART-I
When Maithili was recognised by Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters- of India) way back in 1965, Late Ramanath Jha stated that his Maithili language is saved now (Maithilik Vartman Samasya, Ramanath Jha). He was wrong on this on two counts. What he referred to, was applicable, if it was applicable at all, only to Maithili -geographically located in Indian part. Maithili is spoken, natively, in India and Nepal both. After treaty of sugauli (ratified in 1816), which was in the aftermath of Anlo-Nepalese war of 1814-16, the hilly regions were incorporated in British India, including Nepalese speaking Darjeeling Area. Similarly in 1816 and 1860, the Britishers ceded some Terai region to Nepal. As a result Maithili Speaking Area, which were earlier ruled by Malla Kings (when Maithili was official language of the region), was ceded to Nepal. Even today some Maithili scholars (!!) refer to golden period of Maithili in the period of “Nepali” Malla Kings (Ramanath Jha, Introduction to Maithili Sahityak Itihas by Dr. Durganath Jha “Shreesh”). Ramanath Jha himself admits that during his visit to “Vir Library” of Nepal (Kathmandu) he came to know about the Nepal legacy (his monograph on kirtaniya natak, which he wrongly presents as Kirtaniya Nach) in respect of Maithili. So he cannot be blamed for his lack of knowledge in thisrespect. He was wrong on the second count also, and this second count was an artificial creation. He began a tradition of elitism and conservatism in SahityaAkademi, as a first convener of Maithili language; the tradition which got stronger and stronger in the last 49 years of Existence of Maithili in Sahitya Akademi. So he ensured that the liberal writers,like Sh. Harimohan Jha, attacking casteism and conservatism did not the award, though the year 1967 go unrewarded and the Ist award in 1966 go to a non-literary book in Maithili (academic book of Philosophy!!!). He himself was casteist conservative confused, the inter-caste marriage in Panji was well known to him, and it was apparent that the great navya-nyaya philosopher Gangesh Upadhyaya married to a “Charmkarini” and was born five years after the death of his father. But he informed it to Sh. Dineshchandra Bhattacharya in a distorted way. Sh. Dineshchandra Bhattacharya writes in “History of Navya-Nyaya in Mithila”- “The family which was inferior in social status is now extinct in Mithila…Gangesha’s family is completely ignored and we are not expected to know even his father’s name.” and he writes that all these information was given to him by Prof. R. Jha. So howcan this casteist conservative confused allow the award to be given to Sh. Harimohan Jha. So the Sahitya Akademi saved Maithili Language by recognizing it, as asserted by Prof. R.Jha, was wrong on these two counts.
(continued in Part II)
SAHITYA AKADEMI- FESTIVAL OF SHAME 2014
SAHITYA AKADEMI AND DOWNFALL OF INDIAN LANGUAGES
(IN SPECIAL CONTEXT OF MAITHILI LANGUAGE)
PART II
Now come to Nepal, the Prajna Sansthan and other organizations often recognize India Maithili writers, but SahityaAkademi of India does not recognize Nepalese Maithili writers, be it Seminar or poet meet, be it anthology of poem or prose published by the Akademi. Regarding treatment of Nepalese Maithili writers by Sahitya Akademi Sh. Ram Bharos Kapari “Bhramar” laments that there is demand in Nepal that they should also not award Indian Maithili writers/ publish them in their anthologies as reciprocity demands this.
The narrow mindedness of the Maithili advisory board of the Indian Sahitya Akademi has its origin in the organizations that is recognized by Sahitya Akademi, the basis of which is extra-literary credentials. These are pseudo organizations running on paper, political organizations or casteist organizations pocket-run by a few. The complete list is:
MAITHILI ORGANISATIONs RECOGNIZED (!!!) by SAHITYA AKADEMI
01. The Secretary
All India Maithili Sahitya Samiti
Tirbhukti
1/1B, Sir P.C. Banerjee Road
Allahabad-211 002
02. The General Secretary
Akhil Bharatiya Maithili Sahitya Parishad
C/o Dr. Ganapati Mishra
Lalbag
Darbhanga-846 004
03. The Secretary
Chetna Samity
Vidyapati Bhawan
Vidyapati Marg
Patna-800 001
04. The Secretary
Mithila Sanskritik Parishad
6 B, Kailash Saha Lane
Kolkata-700 007
05. The Secretary
Vidyapati Seva Sansthan
Mithila Bhavan Parishar
Darbhanga-846 004
06. The Secretary
Centre for the Study of Indian Traditions
Tantrabati Geeta Bhavan
Ranti House, Ranti
Madhubani-847 211
What is literary credential of Centre for the Study of Indian Traditions? Chetna Samiti and Vidyapati Seva Sansthan are casteist political outfits, vehemently displaying casteist attire of a great ancient poet, whose caste is still uncertain (VIDYAPATI), but who was certainly not Brahmin. All India Maithili Sahitya Samiti became non-existent even during the lifetime of Late Jaykant Mishra, same is case with Akhil Bhartiya Maithili Sahitya Parishad. Mithila Sanskritik Parishad has done a crime through an investiture ceremony of the the great Vidyapati, they tried to convert Vidyapati and “Maithili” language as Brahmin. When these non-existent organizations exercise voting power granted by Sahitya Akademi and chose a convener, it is not a coincidence that for the successive eight times only conservative people among the Maithil Brahmin caste, are chosen. The complete list is:
1. Ramanath Jha
2. Jaykant Mishra
3. Surendra Jha Suman
4. Sureshwar Jha
5. Ramdeo Jha
6. Chandranath Mishra Amar
7. Vidyanath Jha Vidit
8. Veena Thakur.
The result is now for everybody to see. The complete list of Sahitya Akademi awards (till 2013) is:
Total booty distribution- 45 times
Maithil Brahmins- 37 times
Kayasthas- 6 times
Rajpoots- 2 times
Others- 0 times !!!
1966- yaśōdhara jhā (mithilā vaibhava, darśana) maithila brāhmaṇa
1968- yātrī (patrahīna nagna gācha, padya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1969- upēndranātha jhā “vyāsa” (dū patra, upanyāsa) maithila brāhmaṇa
1970- kāśīkānta miśra “madhupa” (rādhā viraha, mahākāvya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1971- surēndra jhā “sumana” (payasvinī, padya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1973- brajakiśōra varmā “maṇipadma” (naikā banijārā, upanyāsa) karṇa kāyastha
1975- girīndra mōhana miśra (kichu dēkhala kichu sunala, saṁsmaraṇa) maithila brāhmaṇa
1976- vaidyanātha mallika “vidhu” (sītāyana, mahākāvya) karṇa kāyastha
1977- rājēśvara jhā (avahaṭṭha: udbhava ō vikāsa, samālōcanā) maithila brāhmaṇa
1978- upēndra ṭhākura “mōhana” (bāji uṭhala muralī, padya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1979- tantranātha jhā (kṛṣṇa carita, mahākāvya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1980- sudhā̃śu śēkhara caudharī (ī batahā saṁsāra, upanyāsa) maithila brāhmaṇa
1981- mārkaṇḍēya pravāsī (agastyāyinī, mahākāvya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1982- lilī rē (marīcikā, upanyāsa) maithila brāhmaṇa
1983- candranātha miśra “amara” (maithilī patrakāritāka itihāsa) maithila brāhmaṇa
1984- ārasī prasāda sĩha (sūryamukhī, padya) gaēra brāhmaṇa- rājapūta
1985- harimōhana jhā (jīvana yātrā, ātmakathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
1986- subhadra jhā (nātika patraka uttara, nibandha) maithila brāhmaṇa
1987- umānātha jhā (atīta, kathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
1988- māyānanda miśra (mantraputra, upanyāsa) maithila brāhmaṇa
1989- kāñcīnātha jhā “kiraṇa” (parāśara, mahākāvya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1990- prabhāsa kumāra caudharī (prabhāsaka kathā, kathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
1991- rāmadēva jhā (pasijhaita pāthara, ēkānkī) maithila brāhmaṇa
1992- bhīmanātha jhā (vividhā, nibandha) maithila brāhmaṇa
1993- gōvinda jhā (sāmāka pautī, kathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
1994- gangēśa guñjana (ucitavaktā, kathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
1995- jayamanta miśra (kavitā kusumāñjali, padya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1996- rājamōhana jhā (āi kālhi parasū, kathā sangraha) maithila brāhmaṇa
1997- kīrti nārāyaṇa miśra (dhvasta hōita śāntistūpa, padya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1998- jīvakānta (takai achi ciṛai, padya) maithila brāhmaṇa
1999- sākētānanda (gaṇanāyaka, kathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
2000- ramānanda rēṇu (katēka rāsa bāta, padya)karṇa kāyastha
2001- babuājī jhā “ajñāta” (pratijñā pāṇḍava, mahākāvya) maithila brāhmaṇa
2002- sōmadēva (sahasramukhī cauka para, padya) kāyastha
2003- nīrajā rēṇu (ṛtambharā, kathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
2004- candrabhānu sĩha (śakuntalā, mahākāvya) gaēra brāhmaṇa- rājapūta
2005- vivēkānanda ṭhākura (cānana ghana gachiyā, padya) maithila brāhmaṇa
2006- vibhūti ānanda (kāṭha, kathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
2007- pradīpa bihārī (sarōkāra, kathā)karṇa kāyastha
2008- matrēśvara jhā (katēka ḍāri para, ātmakathā) maithila brāhmaṇa
2009- sva.manamōhana jhā (gangāputra, kathāsangraha) maithila brāhmaṇa
2010-śrīmati uṣākiraṇa khāna (bhāmatī, upanyāsa) maithila brāhmaṇa
2011- śrī udayacandra jhā "vinōda" (apakṣa, kavitā sangraha) maithila brāhmaṇa
2012- śrīmati śēphālikā varmā- (kista kista jīvana, ātmakathā) karṇa kāyastha
2013- sri sureshwar jha- (sangharsh aa sehanta, memoir) maithila brāhmaṇa.
The result is not on the basis ofquality of the books but solely upon the caste based other considerations and the disease has its root in the faulty seedling that the Sahitya Akademi of India found through the faulty organisations.
(To be continued in part III)
SAHITYA AKADEMI- FESTIVAL OF SHAME 2014
SAHITYA AKADEMI AND DOWNFALL OF INDIAN LANGUAGES
(IN SPECIAL CONTEXT OF MAITHILI LANGUAGE)
PART III
What were the objectives of setting of this Akademi.
Sahitya Akademi was established (National Academy of Letters to be called Sahitya Akademi) by Government of India resolution No F-6-4/51G2(A) dated December 1952 “to set high literary standards, to foster and co-ordinate literary activities in all the Indian languages and to promote through them all the cultural unity of the country; to promote good taste and healthy reading habits, to keep alive the intimate dialogue among the various linguistic and literary zones and groups through seminars, lectures, symposia, discussions, readings and performances, to increase the pace of mutual translations through workshops and individual assignments and to develop a serious literary culture through the publications of journals, monographs, individual creative works of every genre, anthologies, encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, who's who of writers and histories of literature.”
The Akademi boasts of publishing “one book every thirty hours” and holding "at least thirty seminars every year” at regional, national and international levels, “ along with the workshops and literary gatherings-about 200 in number per year”.
The Akademi recognises “ Besides the twenty two languages enumerated in the Constitution of India”, English and Rajasthani as languages.
24 language Advisory Boards have been constituted by Sahitya Akademi “to render advice for implementing literary programmes in these 24 languages”.
THE COMPLETE LIST IS:
ASSAMESE
01. The General Secretary
Asam Sahitya Sabha
Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan
Jorhat 785 001 (Assam)
BENGALI
01. The Secretary
Rabindra Bharati Society
5, Dwarakanath Tagore Lane
Kolkata-700 007
02. The Secretary
Bangiya Sahitya Parishad
243/1, Acharya Parafullachandra Road
Kolkata-700 006
BODO
01. The General Secretary
Bodo Sahitya Sabha
R.N. Brahma Hall
Kokrajhar
BAC (Assam)
Pin-783 370
DOGRI
01. The General Secretary
Dogri Sanstha (Regd.)
Karan Nagar
Jammu
02. The Secretary
Kavi Dattu Sahitya Sansthan
Vill. & P.O. Bhadoo
Tehsil: Bilawar
Dist: Kathua, J & K
03. The General Secretary
Dogri Sahitya Sabha
Vill. & P.O. : Marh
Tehsil & Dist: Jammu
04. The General Secretary
Duggar Manch
124, Dogra Hall
Jammu-180 001
GUJARATI
01. The Secretary
Gujrati Sahitya Parishad
Govardhan Bhavan
Ashram Road
Behind Times of India Bldg.
Ahmedabad-380 009
02. The Secretary
Gujarat Sahitya Academy
Town Hall Complex, Sector-17
Gandhinagar-382 017
03. The Secretary
Gujarat Vidya Sabha
Premabhai Hall
Bhadra
Ahmedabad-380 001
04. The Secretary
Gujarat Sahitya Sabha
Room No. 2
H.K. Arts College
Ahmedabad-380 009
05. The Secretary
Narmad Sahitya Sabha
C/o Sahitya Sangam
Bava Sidi, Opp. Pancholi Wadi
Gopipura
Surat-395 001
06. The Secretary
Premanand Sahitya Sabha
Premanand Sahitya Bhavan
Dandia Bazar
Vadodara-390 001
07. The Secretary
Forbes Gujarati Sabha
403, Chetna, Off. J.P. Road
Near Seven Bunglow Apartments
Andheri (West)
Mumbai-400 058
HINDI
01. The Secretary
Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad
36-A, Shakespeare Sarani
Kolkata-700 017
02. The Secretary
Bihar Rashtra Bhasha Parishad
Shivpujan Sahai Path
(Saidpur Vistar)
Patna-800 004
03. The Secretary
Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan
Rajarshi Purushottamdas Tandon
Hindi Bhavan
6, Mahatama Gandhi Marg
Lucknow-226 001 (U.P.)
04. The Secretary
Madhya Pradesh Rashtrabhasha Prachar
Samiti
Hindi Bhavan
Shamla Hills
Bhopal – 462 002
(M.P.)
05. The Secretary
Rashtrabhasha Hindi Prachar Samiti
Sree Dungargarh
Rajasthan 331 803
06. The Secretary
Maharashtra Rashtrabhasha Sabha
387, Narayan Peth
Rashtrabhasha Bhavan
Pune-411 030
07. The Secretary
Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha
Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha Marg
T. Nagar
Chennai-600 017
KANNADA
01. The Director
Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra
M.G.M. College Campus
Udupi-576 102
0 2. The Secretary
Shimoga Karnataka Sangha
B.H. Road
Shimoga-577 201
03. The Secretary
Puttur Karnataka Sangha
Vivekananda College Campus
Puttur-574 202
D.K. District
(Karnataka)
04. The Secretary
Kannada Sahitya Parishat
Pampamahakavi Road
Chammarajpet
Bangalore-560 018
05. The Secretary
Karnataka Vidyavardak Sangh
Chammaraj Mandir
Dharwad-580 001
KASHMIRI
01. The Secretary
Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art
Culture & Languages
Canal Road
Jammu
Or
The Secretary
Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art
Culture & Languages
Lal Mandi
Srinagar
02. The Gneral Secretary
Adbee Markaz Kamraj
P.O. Box 793
GPO Srinagar-191 001
(Kashmir)
03. The Secretary
Kashmiri Bhasha evam
Sanskriti Pratishthan (Samprati)
904, Subhash Nagar
Jammu 180 005
KONKANI
01. The Secretary
Kerala Konkani Academy
`Gokul’
Azhakiyakavu West Lane
Cochin-682 006
02. The General Secretary
Konkani Bhasha Mandal
Konkani Bhavan
Shankara Bhandari Marg
Vidyanagar
Margao-403 601 (Goa)
03. The Secretary
Konkani Bhasha Prachar Sabha
6/1716, Palace Road
Mattancheri
Cochin-682 002
04. The Secretary
Konkani Bhasha Mandal (R) Karnataka
Navaratna Palace
K.S. Rao Road
Mangalore-575 001
05. The Secretary
Konkani Bhasha Mandal
13/Ritz, Convent View CHS
Gatla Village Road
Chembur
Mumbai-400 071
MAITHILI
01. The Secretary
All India Maithili Sahitya Samiti
Tirbhukti
1/1B, Sir P.C. Banerjee Road
Allahabad-211 002
02. The General Secretary
Akhil Bharatiya Maithili Sahitya Parishad
C/o Dr. Ganapati Mishra
Lalbag
Darbhanga-846 004
03. The Secretary
Chetna Samity
Vidyapati Bhawan
Vidyapati Marg
Patna-800 001
04. The Secretary
Mithila Sanskritik Parishad
6 B, Kailash Saha Lane
Kolkata-700 007
05. The Secretary
Vidyapati Seva Sansthan
Mithila Bhavan Parishar
Darbhanga-846 004
06. The Secretary
Centre for the Study of Indian Traditions
Tantrabati Geeta Bhavan
Ranti House, Ranti
Madhubani-847 211
MALAYALAM
01. The General Secretary
Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishath
Hospital Road
Kochi-682 011
02. The Secretary
Kerala Sahitya Akademi
Post Box No. 501
Town Hall Road
Trichur-680 020
03. The Secretary
Thunchan Smaraka Trust
Thunchan Parambu
Tirur-676 101
Malappuram Dist
04. The General Secretary
C.V. Raman Pillai Foundation
Kottakkal
Sasthamangalam
Thiruvananthapuram-695 010
MANIPURI
01. The General Secretary
Manipuri Sahitya Parishad
Paona Bazar
Imphal-795 001
(Manipur)
02. The General Secretary
Naharol Sahitya Premee Samiti
Keisampat Modhabhavan
Imphal-795 001
03. The General Secretary
Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Assam
P.O. Silchar-788 001
Dist: Cachar (Assam)
04. The Secretary
Manipur State Kala Akademi
Khuman Lampak
Imphal-795 001
(Manipur)
05. The General Secretary
The Cultural Forum
Rupmahal Tank Complex
Bir Tikendrajit Road
P.O. Imphal-795 001
(Manipur)
06. The Secretary
Writers’ Forum, Imphal
Rupmahal Tank Complex
Bir Tikendrajit Road
Imphal-795 001
07. The Secretary
Manipuri Literary Society
C/o Manipur Hindi Parishad
Assembly Road
Imphal-795 001
MARATHI
01. The Secretary
Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad
Tilak Road
Pune-411 030
02. The General Secretary
Vidharbha Sahitya Sangh
Jhansi Rani Chowk
Sitaburdi
Nagpur-400 012
03. The Secretary
Maharashtra Sahitya Sabha
698, Mahatama Gandhi Road
Indore-452 007
04. The Chief Secretary
Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh
Sahitya Sangh Mandir
Dr. Bhalerao Marg
Mumbai-400 004
05. The Secretary
Mumbai Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya
172, Mumbai Marathi Grantha
Sangrahalaya Marg
Dadar (West)
Mumbai-400 014
06. The Secretary
Marathwada Sahitya Parishad
Sanmitra Colony
Aurangabad-431 001
NEPALI
01. The General Secretary
Nepali Sahitya Adhyayan Samiti
10, Mayil, Shahid D.B. Giri Path
Kalimpong-734 301
Darjeeling (West Bengal)
02. The General Secretary
Nepali Sahitya Sammelan
15, Sonam Wangdi Road
Darjeeling (West Bengal)
03. The Secretary
Nepali Sahitya Parishad
Post Box No. 119
G.P.O.
Shillong-793 001
(Meghalaya)
04. The General Secretary
Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Assam
Maliglaon Nepali Mandir
Gaushala
Guwahati-781 011
05. The Secretary
Gorkha Jana Pustakalaya
Kurseong-734 203
Dist Darjeeling
(West Bengal)
06. The Secretary
Nepali Sahitya Parishad
Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhavan
Jeevan Theeng Marg
Vikas Kshetra
Gangtok-737 101 (Sikkim)
07. The President
Nepali Sammelan, Delhi
B-13, DDA Flats
Behind D-6 Lane
Vasant Vihar
New Delhi-110 057
ORIYA
01. The Secretary
Phakir Mohan Sahitya Parishad
Shantikanan
Mallikashpur-P.O.
Matiganj
Balasore (Orissa)
Pin-756 003
02. The Secretary
Prajatantra Prachar Samity
Prajatantra Bhavan
Cuttack-753 002
03. The General Secretary
Sarala Sahitya Sansad
Sarala Bhavan
Biju Patnaik Chhak
Tulsipur
Cuttack-753 008
04. The Secretary
Lekhaka Sammukhya
9, Station Square
Bhubaneswar-751001
05. The Secretary
Orissa Writers’
Co-Operative Society Ltd.
Qtrs. No. 29/4, Type IV R, Unit –II
Near Old Bus Stand, Ashok Nagar
Bhubaneswar-751 009
06. The General Secretary
Utkal Sahitya Samaj
Sri Ramachandra Bhavan
Town Hall Road
Cuttack-753009
PUNJABI
01. The General Secretary
Panjabi Sahit Akademi
Panjabi Bhavan, Jagraon Road
Ludhiana-141 001
(Punjab)
02. The General Secretary
Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha
6, Ashok Nagar
Jalandhar-144 002
(Punjab)
03. The General Secretary
Punjabi Sahit Sabha
10, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area
New Delhi-110 002
04. The General Secretary
Panjabi Bhasha Akademi
Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall
G.T. Road
Jalandhar-144 001
(Punjab)
05. The Secretary
Punjabi Sahitya Akademi
Kala Bhavan
Rose Garden, Sector 16-B
Chandigarh
06. The Secretary
Punjabi Academy, Delhi
DDA Community Centre
Motia Khan
Paharganj
New Delhi-110 055
RAJASTHANI
01. The Secretary
Rammat Sansthan
180-B, Laxmi Nagar
Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
02. The Secretary
Rajasthan Sahitya Samiti
Bisau-331 027 (Rajasthan)
03. The Secretary
Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Shodh Pratishthan
Shri Ratan Bihari Ji Mandir
Bikaner-334 001
(Rajasthan)
04. The General Secretary
Yugadhara
1 Ga 34, Sector 5
Hiran Magari
Udaipur (Rajasthan)
05. The Secretary
Charan Sahitya Shodh Sansthan
Makarwali Road
Ajmer-305 001
(Rajasthan)
06. The Secretary
Rajasthani Bhasa Sahitya
Evam Sanskriti Akademi
Nagari Bhandar
Kot Gate
Bikaner-334 001 (Rajasthan)
07. The Founder
Rupayan Sansthan
Via: Pipar City
Borunda-342 604
Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
SANSKRIT
01. The Secretary
Sanskrit Sahitya Parishat
168/1, Raja Dinendra Street
Kolkata-700 004
02. The Secretary
Samskrita Sahitya Parishad
27, Chinnakadai Street
Tiruchirapally-620 002
03. The Director
Sanskrit Sushma
Anusandhan Sansthan
Varanasi Vishwavidhyalay
Varanasi (U.P.)
04. The Secretary
Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
Pune-411 004
SANTALI
01. The General Secretary
Adibasi Socio-Educational &
Cultural Association
At./PO: Rairangpur
District: Mayurbhanj
(Orissa)
02. General Secretary
All India Santali Writers’ Association
Hansda Bakhol, Model School Road
Jhargram-721 507
Dist.: Paschim Medinipur
03. General Secretary
Adibasi Socio-Educational & Cultural
Association
14/1, Kundu Lane
Bhowanipore
Kolkata-700 025
SINDHI
01 The President
Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli Ain Sahit Sabha
A-26, Saket Colony
Adarsh Nagar
Jaipur-302 004
02. The Director
Indian Institute of Sindhology
2-B/16, Opp. Rly. Station
P.B. No. 10
Adipur (Kuchchh)-370 205
TAMIL
01. The Secretary
Ilakkiya Chintanai
5 A, Chittaranjan Road
Teynampet
Chennai-600 018
02. The Secretary
Bharathi Tamil Sangham
93A, Rash Behari Avenue
Kolkata-700 026
03. The Secretary
Thiruvananthapuram Tamil Sangam
Tamil Sangam Road
Killippalam
Thiruvananthapuram-695 002
04. The Secretary
Tamil Ilakkiya Peravai Trust
180, Gandhiji Road
Erode-638001
(Tamil Nadu)
TELUGU
01. The Secretary
Andhra Pradesh Abhyudaya Rachayutala
Sangam
(Arasam)
S.R.T. 23, Mushirabad
Hyderabad-500 020
02. The Secretary
Viswa Sahiti
1-3-1-18A, Kavadiguda
Near Kalpana Theatre
Secunderabad-500 080
03. The Secretary
Andhra Saraswat Parishath
Tilak Road
Hyderabad-500 001
04. The Secretary
Yuva Bharati
Andhra Saraswat Parishath Building
Tilak Road
Hyderabad-500 001
05. The President
Siddhartha Kala Peetham
Siddhartha Nagar
Vijayawada-520 010
URDU
01. The Secretary
Urdu Academy, Delhi
C.P.O. Building
Near Ritz Cinema
Near Metro Station
Kashmiri Gate
Delhi-110 006
02. The Secretary
Maharashtra State Urdu Academy
D.D. Building, II Floor
Old Customs House
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road
Mumabi-400 023
03. The Secretary
Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hind)
‘Rashid Manzil’
H.I.G. 2, Bada Makan Layout
Mysore-570 007
04. The Secretary
Idara-e-Adabiyat-e-Urdu
Aiwan-e-Urdu
Panjagutta Road
Hyderabad-500 482
The Akademi gives prizes in 24 languages recognised by it for original and translated works. It gives “ special awards called Bhasha Samman to significant contribution to the languages not formally recognized by the Akademi as also for contribution to classical and medieval literature”; “It has also system of electing eminent writers as Fellows and Honorary Fellows and has also established fellowship in the names of Dr. Anand Coomaraswamy and Premchand”.
FESTIVAL OF LETTERS (SHAME)!!!!
In February every year, Sahitya Akademi “holds a week-long Festival of Letters; It begins with the ceremony to present the Akademi's Annual Awards for creative writing”.
In February every year there is need to examine whether Sahitya Akademi is fulfilling its objective, whether Sahitya Akademi is aware of the rich cultural and linguistic variety prevalent in India.
On scrutiny it is revealed that Sahitya Akademi believe in “forced standardisation of culture through a bulldozing of levels and attitudes” and it is not “conscious of the deep inner cultural, spiritual, historical and experiential links that unify India's diverse manifestations of literature”.
(TO BE CONTINUED IN PART IV)
SAHITYA AKADEMI- FESTIVAL OF SHAME 2014
SAHITYA AKADEMI AND DOWNFALL OF INDIAN LANGUAGES
(IN SPECIAL CONTEXT OF MAITHILI LANGUAGE)
PART IV
The Akademi boasts of publishing “one book every thirty hours” and holding "at least thirty seminars every year” at regional, national and international levels, “along with the workshops and literary gatherings-about 200 in number per year”.
If we see the data in respect of Maithili it comes out that every around 12 books should have been published in Maithili and the Maithili writers might have attended 30 seminars every year at regional, national and international levels and might have participated in 8 literary gatherings every year. The number of books published by the Akademi is pathetically low, and when see the assignments, through which these books get artificially prepared (be it translation, anthology or monograph), the the people getting these assignments are often related to the members of the advisory board (as the answer to RTI application by Sh. Vinit Utpal brings forth). The quality suffers, for which there is no readership.
How this Akademi failed?
And why this Akademi failed?
And what action should be taken against the Akademi for its intentional failure?
Firstly, Akademi is not the name of a man or woman. Akaemi or its member of advisory Board consists of persons, and if the group of persons is failing the Akademi, the language itself is to blame!
But language is not the name of a man or woman.
So, the people speaking that language are to be blamed for the failures of the Akademi.
Really!!
Even if it is partially true, the Sahitya Akademy cannot shirk from its responsibilities. How an advisory committee can be considered representative of Maithili speaking people (even that of India); when the Convener of that language is nominated by six organisations (recognised by the Sahitya Akademi for reasons best known to it), having no remote connection with literature. Sahitya Akademi sowed seeds of Acacia and expecting Mango fruit.
Having said that it is also true that the Akademi or any organisation can transform itself, but only when the conservative people representing these find pressure from the literary fraternity, change themselves or be replaced.
What is the solution?
The six organisations representing Maithili should be derecognised with immediate effect and a committee be set up to scrutinize the work done by Sahitya Akademi (in respect of Maithili) in the last 49-50 years. The literary fraternity has already taken initiative by establishing parallel Sahitya Akademi awards and literary meets. It should be taken further. All legal means be explored to take the Akademi to task. On all available forums, the fact be made clear that the literature being prepared by Sahitya Akademi through assignments, is not grammatically correct, that it is not upto mark and is of inferior quality. On all available forums, it should be made clear that the thin casteist looking (quantatively and qualitatively) pale Maithili literature, that is being shown by the Sahitya Akademi of India to the world has no readership or respect in its native speaking area of India and Nepal. And that Maithili has moved itself not because of Sahitya Akademi but in spite of it. — with Umesh Mandal and 99 others.