“I read a book one day and my whole life was changed.” – The New Life; Orhan Pamuk
The fans, the lights, the mike, got abruptly switched off. The heat was stifling, steam oozed from the perspiring bodies of those that filled the seminar hall. Some, took whichever book they could lay their hands on and started fanning themselves. A few students were running around trying to bring back their prodigal brother: electricity. After a few minutes, in which the hall had started to buzz with that familiar murmur of impatient students, a shrill sound emanated from the mike: it was working. The poet got up from his seat once again, resumed his speech and began reciting a poem. His body jerked, possessed by the potent words he uttered; his hands punched and slashed the air; his voice rang like church bells on Easter bringing those souls who were about to fall into that abyss called sleep back into the world; his words bored into the minds, dug through the heart and brought forth meaning. The poet with the hat on his head was Sri. Vinayachandran, he had come to unveil the college magazine “Tecvoice-06”, and he concluded his speech by wishing us well in our endeavors. He left with his escort, leaving behind what he had unveiled: a book.
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"But who will not willingly agree that pure observation is more rare than is believed? We are apt to confuse our sensations, our opinion, our judgment, with what we experience, so that we do not remain long in the passive attitude of the observer, but soon go on to make reflections; and upon these no greater weight can be placed than may be more or less justified by the nature and quality of our individual intellects."-- Goethe
The articles in the magazine are a precipitate of the observations of events that have acted as catalysts and have caused us to react to what happens around us in a way that is non-violent, but nevertheless, forceful enough to make another think. There are men who choose the path of action remarking – and not without reason – that actions speak better than words. To them, let me point out that when one writes and publishes, he has acted. Have not those journalists, those freedom fighters, published writings against tyranny, despotism and suffered because they acted against the colonialist whims? Has not the world raised its voice more than once whenever the freedom of expression has been suppressed, and wasn’t justice conferred, only because that voice of dissent had caused the blind lady who metes and doles justice to arise from her oblivious stupor? We writers, even those who write albeit if only as a hobby, have to recognize our duty. To quote Kazantzakis: “The creator’s responsibility is a great one; he opens a road that may entice the future and force it to make up its mind.” Here, let me also point out that only when one publishes, privately within his/her circle of friends, or otherwise publicly, has one acted; until then he/she has only perhaps cribbed about things he/she has no power over: much ado about nothing. So, I would like to beseech to you fellow writers, please come forward; publish your thoughts; act!
"Short papers, in which are set down from time to time one’s thoughts, convictions, and wishes, in order to find entertainment in one’s past self after a lapse of time, are excellent auxiliary means for the development of oneself and of others, none of which should be neglected when one considers the brief period allotted to life and the many obstacles that stand in the way of every advance."
"In the arts and sciences, however, in addition to this close association among their votaries, a relation to the public is as favorable as it is necessary. Whatever of universal interest one thinks or accomplishes belongs to the world, and the world brings to maturity whatever it can utilize of the efforts of the individual. The desire for approval which the author feels is an impulse implanted by Nature to draw him toward something higher; he thinks he has attained the laurel wreath, but soon becomes aware that a more laborious training of every native talent is necessary in order to retain the public favor; though it may be attained for a short moment through fortune or accident also."
"Naturally the public has a great influence upon Art, since in return for its approval and its money it demands work that may give satisfaction and immediate enjoyment; and the artist will for the most part be glad to adapt himself to it, for he also is a part of the public, he has received his training during the same years, he feels the same needs, strives in the same direction, and thus moves along happily with the multitude which supports him and which is invigorated by him. In this matter we see whole nations and epochs delighted by their artists, just as the artist sees himself reflected in his nation and his epoch, without either having even the slightest suspicion that their path might not be right, that their taste might be at least one-sided, their art on the decline, and their progress in the wrong direction."
About the writer, Goethe writes the following:
“Little call as he may have to instruct others, he wishes nevertheless to open out his heart to such as he either knows or hopes to be of like mind with himself, but who are widely scattered in the world: he wishes to knit anew his connections with his oldest friends, to continue those recently formed, and to win other friends among the rising generation for the remaining course of his life. He wishes to spare the young those circuitous paths, on which he himself had lost his way.”
The work for the next magazine has already begun. The magazine shall be a portal for those who wish to get their views through to those around them and those who are isolated from them. Many have taken advantage of this portal, and I hope you shall too.
1 comment:
Good job Unni
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