A recent book reading session “Memory as muse” at the Capital’s Oxford Book Store saw the well known poet Keki Daruwalla and author Neelum Saran Gaur, in conversation with Rakshanda Jalil. Organised by Namita Gokhale the event started off by remembering Marcel Proust and his much famous seven-part novel, “The Remembrance of things past” –– well known for its theme of involuntary memory.
Taking the discussion forward Daruwalla fondly recalled of his days in Junagarh, which is mentioned in his latest book while Gaur, spoke about her days spent at the Allahabad University, the place where history meets memory. This finds mention in her new book “The Invisible Ink” as chappe chappe mein itihaas . The university according to her enjoys the dual presence of past and personal memory of the times well spent there. The personal memory according to her goes on to enrich history.
On Rakshanda asking about the latest debate on whether personal is political, Daruwalla pondered and said that though memory is personal, history is much wider and yet both are intermingling today.
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Humour found its way into the conversation when Gaur read from her book describing the experience of sitting under a neem tree or in the courtyard in hot summer afternoons. Daruwalla chose to focus on how varied instances in his life as a retired police officer found their way in his writing.
Delving on memory, Daruwalla recounted the tales of the Partition in Junagarh, which he described as “just like Kashmir”. Gaur referring to her description as mofussil author said the title given to her by sympathetic critics had now become an important part of her proud identity highlighting the struggles of writers from small places in establishing themselves.
On the question of memory being called the ageless muse, Daruwalla replied in a lighter vein that as you grow old, you don’t really have much of a future.
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The readings were followed by a question answer session which saw eager participation from the audience. They asked about dejected memories and how they affect writing sensibilities. The event concluded with Rakshanda remarking “Allah kare zor-e-kalam aur bhi jyaada” (may you keep writing more and well).