“Indian writers express modernity through the prism of tradition, myth, folklore, legend and metaphors,” said Oriya writer Pratibha Ray. “In the Indian context, modernity and tradition coexist. They are not antithetical to each other.”
Speaking at the Poorna-Uroob Award ceremony in Kozhikode on Monday, the Jnanpith laureate stressed on the need to take care of the fabric of one’s culture, return to the roots of human existence, and find solace for the predicament of modernity through eternal values.
She said the ‘traditional’ should not be confused with ‘conservative’ or ‘orthodox’ in the cultural domain, as there was no creativity without tradition. “Tradition is an essential prerequisite for the creative act of the present and the future,” she said.
Languages, literature
India has several languages. Having too many languages is not a weakness but a strength that needs to be explored. “It makes Indian literature beautiful and vibrant like a starry night,” said Ms. Ray said. While languages may build walls between people residing in different regions, literature has the power to demolish the walls and knit India into an indivisible soul if literary works in various languages are translated into each other, according to the writer.
Ms. Ray gave away the Poorna-Uroob Award to debutant Jose Pazhukkaran for his novel Buddhan Chirikkunnilla ( Buddha does not laugh ).
Writer C. Radhakrishnan released an anthology of Ms. Ray’s stories while writer M.M. Basheer released the award winning novel. The novels that were short-listed for the award were released by writer Khadeeja Mumtaz.
Writer and academician Anil Chelembra delivered the Uroob commemoration lecture. The occasion also marked the 52nd anniversary of Poorna Publications.
Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University Vice Chancellor Anil Vallathol, who presided over the event, said Uroob was a writer who celebrated humanity and highlighted the inherent goodness in every one.
