Prof. Indra Nath Choudhuri, an eminent academician, writer and cultural administrator delivered the second Sujit Mukherjee Memorial Lecture (2015) on the "The Idea of an Indian Literature" at the Auditorium, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad. Centre for Comparative Literature organized this event for the second time; the first one was delivered by the renowned comparatist, translator and a creative writer, Nabaneeta Dev Sen on "Translations and Multilingualism" in 2014.
Sujit Mukherjee was a prolific writer, translator and comparatists. His contribution in the field of Translation Studies and in the historiography of Indian Literature is beyond excellence. Besides his academic success, he was also a good cricketer and his elegant writings on cricket were highly acclaimed. Ramachandra Guha would describe them as "the finest books ever written on cricket by an Indian". To honour his contribution and to keep alive his legacy, Centre for Comparative Literature took this initiative of organizing this memorial lecture every year by a noted academician.
The speaker, Prof. Indra Nath Choudhuri is a well-known litterateur, has engaged in academics, administration and cultural diplomacy. He has taught at many universities in the country and abroad. Prof. Choudhuri was Secretary, Sahitya Akademi and Director, The Nehru Centre, London. He was Member Secretary and Academic Director of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. Prof. Choudhuri has written books on Comparative Literature, Poetics and Aesthetics in Hindi, English and Bengali. He assumed the first chair of Tagore Studies at the Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. Prof. Choudhuri is currently the President of Comparative Literature Association of India (CLAI).
Prof. Tutun Mukherjee, the Head of the Centre for Comparative Literature welcomed and introduced the Chair Prof. Panchanan Mohanty, Dean, School of Humanities and the Chief Guest Prof. Haribabu, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad. She also expressed her deep respect for Sujit Mukherjee and pointed out how Sujit Mukherjee thought of practicing Comparative Literature in India with an indigenous methodology different from Western mode of reading Comparative Literature. Prof. Sachidananda Mohanty, a distinguished professor of English introduced the life and contribution of late Sujit Mukherjee both as an academician and as the Chief Publisher of Orient Longman. Dr. J. Bheemaiah introduced the speaker, Prof. Indra Nath Choudhuri. After then Prof. Hari Babu gave his remarks and the lecture followed. After the lecture by Prof. Indra Nath Choudhuri, Prof. Panchanan Mohanty gave his presidential remarks and initiated the discussion.
Prof. Indra Nath Choudhuri delivered this year's lecture on "The Idea of an Indian Literature". Prof. Choudhuri in his erudite lecture conceptualized and historicized the category called "Indian Literature". He emphasized that Indian literature should be seen in its pluralistic context or in the context of diversity because India is a multilingual country. Indian literature is then inclusive rather than logo-centric or exclusive. Unlike Western binary of unity and diversity India has cultural legacy of diversity leading to unity. Indian literature has the rich potential because of its local, regional and pan-Indian identities. He highlighted the crucial regionality-universality; kshetra-deshi, marga-deshi issues in Indian Literature. He also talked about the strong presence of orality in Indian Literature. He said that "The glory of 'mainstream' literature rests not by marginalizing oral literature but by accepting oral/folk/loka as complementary." He asserts how classical writers like Patanjali and Bharathamuni recognized the role of orality. He also spoke on role of Bhakti Movement in Indian literature. For him Indian modernism is not separated from past and future but continuity of residual and emerging era unlike Western idea of Modernism. Prof. Choudhuri raised the crucial question: "Is Indian Literature singular or pluralistic or mutually inclusive?" He concluded his captivating speech pointing out that Indian literature is the literature of the holistic literary activities of Indian people.
The lecture was followed by scholarly responses from audiences. The crucial point of disjuncture in the inclusive idea of Indian Literature was raised. The debate surrounding the validity of the category called Indian Literature in a multilingual nation was also discussed. Dr. Sowmya Dechamma from Centre for Comparative Literature conveyed the formal vote of thanks which was followed by tea and snacks.
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