Green Literature Festival

 Dear reader

Literature, as you know, has donned many roles--pleasure is its first and foremost principle. The earliest forms of our literature are the Vedas and the Creation Myths, which we recognise today as archival of the collective imaginative memory of our ancestors.So the journey from Oral to Written literature. The Indian multilingual and multicultural fabric makes the journey more than fascinating. It covers the rough and difficult-to-map social, political, cultural, psychological and personal terrains. And so, its role has changed from entertaining people to the archive, from the archival to the directorial, from the directorial to that of the conscience keeper; and of course, this list of what literature does is endless.  

    So, I was happily excited when I registered for the Green Literature Festival organised at the Century Club, Cubbon Park, Bengaluru. First, it would be my face-to-face session with the legendary Ullas Karanth. It must have been in the late '80s or early '90s when I first heard my older brother talk admiringly of Ullas Karanth's work. I understood the significance of the work and that it was an adventure. At that time, I was in a whirlwind romance with literature, psychology and the innumerable adventures life offered! So, when I knew Ullas Karanth would give the keynote address,  I just had to be there! 

    The fact that the GLF was at Century Club, Cubbon Park, added another facet of interest. It is my favourite part too.  It is a park I have visited at various stages of my life with people who loved me the most and some of them continue to pamper me with their attention. So it was no less than walking down the memory lane. When I reached the venue, I realised I was more nostalgic than I had ever thought I would be. Why? The name said it all His Highness Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Hall designed by M Vishveshwariah, the then Diwan of Mysore Kingdom!! Some exuberance and luxurious place it is 😎 worth the view!! 

         Additionally, the brochure said there is a book exhibition and various workshops for children of different ages. The workshops for the children were to teach them the art of making toys and drawing, to tell a story with cartoons. That is when I realised times have changed !! I mean, these were the things children did on their own; it had no purpose except that it was fun, away from any monitoring (or guidance). Our imagination was our sole guide. What we ended with was a very crude toy/s. Fast forwarding to the workshop, it was fun and more focused. The children are far, far more mature and understand creativity well. I was more than happy to watch their involvement in creative activities. 

      Coming to the literary festival--like with everything Indian, what's life without a sumptuous feast😁 At the century club, it was a feast for the mind. Listening to a panel discussion on Mega Mammal Miopia: Looking past the Big Stars of Conversation was an eye-opener of a different sort. I am aware of anthropocentric criticism in literature. But rarely have I thought about the dominance of large mammals in literature 😕. And my mind was racing. I have to accept that there is a partiality to choosing big animals as the ‘hero’. For example, I could think of Moby Dick, Old Man and the Sea, the White Tiger, the Jungle Book, Animal Farm and Harry Potter for its fantasy world of magical beings and many more. (These are few that I am aware of) The Panel consisted of Mahesh Rangarajan (Environmental Historian and Author) and Sejal Mehta (Author). The discussion was moderated by Karik Shanker, writer and ecologist.  

    Of course, there are exceptions to this partiality, especially if one thinks of films. For example: Ratatouille, the Ice Age series (though of course, large mammals are the ones who save every creature--they are the heroes), and the recent Kannada film Charlie 777 are some films I think of. Dear reader, let me know your list of films or books that are an exception to the partiality for large mammals!! 

 And here is, straight from Ullas Karanth

Here is a sneak-peak into the place--and the pictures speak more than I could ever say!!