Film-writer, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar joined poetry lovers for a discussion on the diminishing value of indigenous languages, at an event at Oxford Bookstore on Monday.
Ali Javed, Associate Professor, Department of Urdu at Delhi University, was also part of the discussion, organised by Hindustani Awaaz.
The renowned lyricist recited poems from his anthology In Other Words , published earlier this year. The discussion on Monday revolved around the diminishing value of indigenous languages in today’s scenario and the role of the youth in it.
In the backdrop of the murder of renowned scholar M.M. Kalburgi in Karnataka and the ban on the screening of Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai , Prof Javed asked Akhtar: “You have seen the time in the 1960s-70s, when artists used to protest against social issues by writing poetry and slogans. But today’s generation does not respond to anything with anger or sadness. Most infamous slogans have been given to us by the older generation. Why does the younger generation not raise its voice?”
The audience too had questions for the lyricist.
A woman from Kashmir asked him: “Why does the younger generation not know which words owe their origin to Urdu, or even the correct pronunciation of certain syllables?”
Other questions dealt with his technique in poetry writing and ways to deal with writer’s block, while some sought his advice on how a young writer should make his/her way ahead.
Akhtar talked about the lack of necessary literary privileges to this generation, while emphasising that they are a better generation than the one that lived before.
“Languages work according to economic utility. Socio-economic culture and languages do not fall in watertight compartments. In our generation, the middle-class was connected to literature, but now literature is not a priority for parents when they decide on their child’s education because it is not lucrative enough. The fact that the middle-class could not uphold the aesthetics of the language does not make this generation liable for critique. But nonetheless, the world was never as good as it is today.”
He asked the girls in the room if their mothers and grandmothers were as empowered in their time as they are today. “This generation is more liberal, and they have less gender and caste bias,” he added.
Akhtar also talked about his plans to publish a book on his grandfather Muztar Khairabadi. The project has been on the go since the last 10 years. In fact, Akhtar only recently discovered that the anonymously sung ghazal “ Na kisi ki aankh ka noor hoon, na kisi ke dil ka qarar hoon ” was actually Muztar’s creation.
He mesmerised the crowds with several of his poems, including Aansu , Ye khel kya hai? and Waqt .
To all the young writers, Akhtar said: “For anybody to be a good writer, the intake should be huge. Read classics and modern classics, but also read light-hearted bestsellers that you find at railways station stalls. Classics will teach you depth in content, but you will learn writing style and techniques to hold attention of the reader from bestsellers of the day. If what you write doesn’t please you, discard it and write another piece. Keep doing it till you are satisfied.”
(The writer is an intern with The Hindu )
Read classics and modern classics, but also read light-hearted bestsellers that you find at railways station stalls
