The Thackrey Spirit Guides CSA

The Thackrey bug bites the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi. They had no other reason to reject my poems other than that I was an outsider. “You are not one of us” the CSA’s message came across loud and clear through our email correspondence. The “banish outsiders” spirit is alive and kicking in the oh-so-creative environs of the CSA! Let's not forget that petty parochialism can give birth to more virulent forms of intolerance that will have the power to subvert all cultural and creative activities. Read on…

My Email correspondence with Professor Manju Jaidka (in chronological order)

On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 6:13 PM, Randeep Wadehra <randeep_wadehra@yahoo.co.in> wrote:

Dear Ms Jaidka

Just now I have received a prospectus from Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi inviting entries for Annual Art Exhibition. It specifically that the artists residing in CHANDIGARH, PANCHKULA and MOHALI are eligible for entering this award giving exhibition. Ditto for the student participants.

In fact, no other akademi in the tri-city region has ever excluded artists/writers residing outside Chandigarh. Only CSA appears to have given the tri-city concept a go by. This when, on more than one occasion, CSA's office holders have confessed that they do not get enough quality entries from writers residing in Chandigarh.

Do give it a thought and consider my request that the CSA treat writers in Mohali and Panchkula at par with those residing in Chandigarh.

Best regards

Randeep Wadehra

--- On Wed, 16/6/10, sahitya akademi <sahitakad2008@gmail.com> wrote:

From: sahitya akademi <sahitakad2008@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: Eligibility. KIND ATTENTION Ms MANJU JAIDKA

To: "Randeep Wadehra" <randeep_wadehra@yahoo.co.in>

Date: Wednesday, 16 June, 2010, 5:53 AM

Dear Mr Wadhera

Thank you for your suggestion. I agree with you entirely . In fact I had put fgorward this point of view in our very first General Body MEeting but I was out-voted as almost all the other members favored only Chd-based writers. Their rationale is that Pb and Haryana do not take Chd writers into consideration so we must focus on our them.
I have to go along with the majority despite my individual beliefs.

Regards

Manju Jaidka

--- On Wed, 16/6/10, "Randeep Wadehra" <randeep_wadehra@yahoo.co.in> wrote:

From: "Randeep Wadehra" randeep_wadehra@yahoo.co.in
 Subject: Re: Eligibility. KIND ATTENTION Ms MANJU JAIDKA
To: sahitya akademi <sahitakad2008@gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, 16 June, 2010, 10:59 AM

Dear Ms Jaidka

If the majority does something wrong there should be a means to correct it. As the person at the helm the onus is entirely upon you. The problem is that someone will have to stand up. The concept of tricity cannot be overruled just because a few members join hands to protect their turf. The Akademi is there to promote genuine creativity and not individual prejudices.

You being a non-bureaucrat and an academic need to be more forthright on such issues

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 My dear Wadehra At a time when "Art without Frontiers" and "Literature sans Boundaries" are being favoured, it is sad that the intelligentsia are acting petty and trying to protect their territory. If Punjab or Haryana is doing so, it is because they have a vast command area, unlike Chandigarh which is an island landlocked by three states. Looks as if those who control the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi are afraid of competition. Their instinct of self-preservation and eagerness to rule an island rather than face the heat is understandable, but not appreciated. KTR Rajagopalan K T [ktremail@gmail.com]

Rajagopalan K T | July 30, 2010