Indian Literature and Cinema

On the concluding day of the two-day national seminar on Indian Literature or Tower of Babel: Cross Translation among Indian Languages being organized by the National Book Trust, India in association with the Department of Modern Indian languages and Literary Studies, University of Delhi, the panelists in four sessions discussed about various facets of translation in Indian context viz. Translating Gender, Translating Caste, Is Translation a Third Language? And Culture Specific Transfer: Waterloo of a Translator. All the speakers were of the view that translation is a medium through which literature in several languages across the country and the world is exchanged. There is a need to consider translation as an effective tool for exchanging ideas, literature and culture. In our country translation has become a third language as there is dearth of skilled translators and editors.


The participants in the seminar were Ms Urvashi Butalia, Zubaan Books, Dr Tejaswini Niranjana, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Dr Vanita, Associate Professor, Department of Punjabi, Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Shri Damodar Mauzo, Konkani writer, Goa, Prof. Maya Pandit, Department of English Language Teaching, EFL University, Hyderabad, Prof. N D Mirajkar, Marathi writer, Pune, Prof. Pradip Acharya, Translator, Ms Rakhshanda Jalil, Translator, Prof. Sumanyu Satpathy, Department of English, University of Delhi, Prof. Ranjit Kumar Dev Goswami, Department of English, Gauhati University, Dr Sayantan Dasgupta, Department of Comparative Literature, Jadhavpur University and Shri S Krishnamurthy, Translator, Kolkata.

Dr Jabbar Patel, eminent theatre and film director discussed about the literary backdrop of his film making with young film critic, Shri Santosh Pathare at the Theme Pavilion. He said that he was very happy to see the select books on cinema, posters, camera etc being exhibited at the pavilion. He also invited NBT to participate in the upcoming Pune Festival to encourage young people towards reading habit. While discussing about representing literary works in the form of a film or drama, he said that adaptations are trans-creations and not transformations. And sometimes it is difficult for a film-maker to present the complete theme of literary adaptations due to technical or other reasons. He also spoke of the creativity of the director who can even turn a small short-story into a beautiful film.

To commemorate 91st birthday of famous poet Shri Sahir Ludhianvi, a film on the life and work of the poet was screened (Courtesy: Rajya Sabha) in a programme Sahir Ludhianvi Ki Yaad Mein (In Memory of Sahir Ludhianvi) at the Theme Pavilion. The programme was organized by International Melody Foundation and Star Publications Pvt. Ltd. 

The much-talked about book in Hindi, Bajanama, authored by Shri A N Sharma was released today at the Theme Pavilion. The book gives an insight into early Indian gramophones records used in bygone era for listening music. During the function, Shri Ashok Vajpai, Shri Sudhir Chandra, Shri Leeladhar Mandloi, Director General, Akashwani, Shri H K Dua, Member of Parliament and Journalist, Shri Rajan and Sajan Mishra, renowned vocalists and Shri M A Sikandar, Director, NBT were also present on the occasion.
A seminar on Literature and Cinema was organized by NBT in association with Akashwani, Prasar Bharti at the Theme Pavilion. Shri Vishnu Khare, noted author said that Cinema does not depend on literature. If there is money, stories, camera and dialogues the films will be produced. Shri Vinod Bhardwaj and Shri Himanshu Joshi were also present on the occasion.
Later, in the evening a movie in Hindi, Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda, directed by Shri Shyam Benegal was screened. The movie is based on the novel by Shri Dharamavir Bharati. A workshop titled ‘Matha Pacchi’ was organized by Eklavya, an organization from Bhopal at the Children’s Pavilion in which about hundred students from various school of Delhi participated. In a discussion titled ‘Can E-books Replace Books’ students of Delhi Public School, Saket participated.

Children were of the view that E-books may be resourceful but they are not nearer to printed books in any case. In the programme ‘Meet the Celebrities’ organized by Navaratan Foundation, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champ, Diwakar Sharma mesmerized the children with his performance. Diwakar is the student of Delhi Public School, R K Puram. Arjun Vajpai, who is the youngest Indian to climb Mount Everest at an age of 16 years, also interacted with people and expressed his desire to travel North and South Pole.


Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development released his selection of poems titled My World Within. During the function he rendered his poems. Shri Ashok Chakardhar rendered the Hindi translation of the poems.

A seminar on ‘Psychology of Exam preparation, a Unique Experience’ by Unique Publishers was organized at Hall No. 6 in which around two hundred students participated. Shri Mukul Pathak, a spoke on different aspects of psychological aspects of exam preparation during his enlightening talk on psychological preparation for civil services examination.

A lecture on ‘Books Reading and their Influence on My Life’ by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam will be organized at 12.30pm at Conference Hall, main Hall No. 8 by NBT. Ms. Vibha Puri Das, Secretary Ministry of Human Resource Development, Dept. of Higher Education will also be present on the occasion.

In the series of cultural programmes being organized at Lal Chowk, Shri Pankaj Jaswani, singer and Shri Sarfaraz Chistee, enthralled the audience with Ghazals and Sufiana Qawwali.

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  1. Ashok Sen