Will the supposed Sanghi-hating author object if those who are Right-wing buy her booksIJ
Krishna Sobti, the octogenarian Hindi novelist, is known for her bold writings. At the age of 91, she is still active and it is good to see that she continues to write and take part in seminars and other activities. Many literature lovers call her the living legend of Hindi literature. She may be a living legend, but she also loves to be in controversies, sometimes through her actions and sometimes through her statements.
The latest one is her dictate to a young writer, blogger Kaynat Kazi. Kazi wrote a well-researched book on Sobti and was happy that she did her first book on one of the greatest Hindi writers. The title of the book, Krishna Sobti ka Sahitya aur Samaj, itself suggests what Kazi took into account while writing her book. Till the book was published, there was no controversy. However, it seems, Sobti was happy with this book.
Now the real story unfolds. Kazi planned the book launch at a café in Delhi. For the young lady, it was a dream come true. But she was clueless about what was going to happen. She sent an invitation for the launch of the book to Sobti. After receiving the invitaion, Sobti erupted like a volcano.
The book was to be launched by Sachchidanand Joshi, member secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts; Vijay Kranti, consultant Editor, Doordarshan. Sobti called up Kazi and yelled at her saying, how dare you get the book launched by Sanghis.
Sobti threatened the young author with dire consequences. It is said that Sobti told Kazi that if she would go ahead with the book launch with Joshi and Kranti, then she should be prepared to face a court case.
She also allegedly threatened with a court case if her name was used anywhere. Kazi was intimidated and the book launch was cancelled. Sobti is known for filing court cases. She slapped a court case in 1984 and asked for a damage of Rs1.5 lakh on Amrita Pritam when the latter came with her autobiography, Hardatt ka zindginama.
At that point of time, Sobti slapped a case of plagiarism on Pritam because she thought that the title of the autobiography was inspired by her acclaimed novel, Zindaginama. The case stretched over a quarter of century. The case lingered for over 25 years and was decided in favour of Pritam, the Jananpith award winner writer. After losing the case, Sobti tried to place a brave face by saying that the fight was for principle. But still, she thinks thatZindaginama was her ‘extensive intellectual property’.
It is an irony that Pritam died before the case was decided. But here also, the question arises as to how a writer can claim ‘extensive intellectual property’ rights on a word which is used very often and there are dozens of books written in Persian with this title.
One of the disciples of Guru Gobind Singh wrote his biography the name Zindaginama much before the publication of Sobti’s novel. It seems that Kazi feared to take on Sobti and cancelled the book launch programme.
Now we come to the point of Sobti’s objection on certain names and calling them Sanghis. If Joshi and Kranti are Sanghis, so does that mean that they don’t have the right to talk about big writers like SobtiIJ If Sobti hates the Sanghis so much then she should write on the cover of all her books that those who believe in the ideologies of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh should not buy and read it. But none of her books ever mentioned anything like this.
Sobti attended a seminar in Delhi around Bihar Assembly elections when the so-called ‘award wapsi’ movement was on its peak. The organisers of the seminar are now rubbing shoulders with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and making grounds for his meet with intellectuals across the country. It is implied that Sobti is also part of that move.
Now when you are aligning with a certain ideology or gang up with those who are against an ideology, then it’s all rightIJ At the same time, a young writer who invited some persons with certain ideology, you are enraged. Isn’t this a clear case of double standardsIJ
Coming to the untouchability part of this story. If you don’t share your ideas or you don’t argue with other ideologies then the loss is only yours. By doing this, you create your own world and move around that. This world, without any other ideology, is like a fool’s paradise. Our leftist friends very often live in this type of paradise. It is dangerous for any society where ideological untouchabilty persists. This scenario stops the development of argumentative citizens.