Produce quality literature, Christian writers told

Produce quality literature, Christian writers told

Sakaal Times

Sunday, May 13, 2012 AT 09:00 PM (IST)

Tags: 23rd Marathi Khristi Sahitya Sammelan,   Marathi Christian littérateurs

AHMEDNAGAR: Speakers at the 23rd  Marathi Khristi  Sahitya Sammelan concluded here on Saturday  urged Marathi Christian littérateurs not to dwell in the past glory of pioneer writers and lexicographers of the pre-British and British era, but produce quality literature befitting their  tradition.

The speakers said that Christian missionaries like 17th century Marathi epic 'Kristpuran' writer Fr Thomas Stephens, and the first Marathi novelist Baba Padamanjee had played  great role in enriching Marathi language and that tradition was further continued by Pandita Ramabai, and  Rev Narayan Vaman Tilak. This glorious tradition was not carried forwardduring the past few decades, the speakers lamented.

The three-day seminar was inaugurated by Sakal Media Group's Chief Editor Uttam Kamble on Thursday. Editor of  170-year-old Marathi monthly 'Dnyanodaya' Ashok Angre presided over the literary meet. 

The programmes at the literary meet held at Mahavir Sanskritik Bhavan included a Granth Dindi, talks, and a music concert based on songs by Krishna R Sangle written 100 years ago.

The speakers included former Sahitya Sammelan presidents Fr Michael G, Devdatta Husale, Anupama Ujgare and Subhash Patil, 'Suvarta' monthly editor Fr Francis Correa, Anupama Dongre-Joshi,  Camil Parkhe and Dayanand  Thombre.

When V(VI)P came calling

When V(VI)P came calling

CAMIL PARKHE

Sakal Times

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/20120430/5689334243019542562.htm

Monday, April 30, 2012 AT 04:46 PM (IST)

Tags: Spice,   unplugged,   VIP Lounge, Sakal Times, Pune, Lohegaon, Camil Parkhe

  "Come on, help yourself with another biscuit. You are a young man, you need to eat well,” the prime minister said to me as he passed on a plate of biscuits to me. I took a biscuit as that seemed to be the only way to break the air of awkwardness that was prevailing in the VIP Lounge of the Lohegaon airport. I, along with just three-four journalists from Pune, was with the prime minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh, and all of us were killing time, as the New Delhi-bound Indian Airlines plane supposed to carry him, was yet to arrive at the airport.

This incident took place a couple of months after Singh had taken over the office of Prime Minister in the Janata Dal-led government. He was invited to address a campaign meeting for a by-election in the neighbouring Karnataka. The Raja of Mandi, who was then described as an epitome of value-based politics, had declared that he would not use a special plane to address a poll meeting of the party, but would travel in an ordinary plane. That is how the PM minus his usual government retinue was waiting at the VIP Lounge. About half an hour before that, some of us had received a call informing that the PM was making a halt at the Pune airport en route to Delhi and would meet the members of the press. Hurriedly, I had hitchhiked on a two-wheeler of another journalist to reach the airport. And here we were chatting with him and sipping the tea placed before us.

To be frank, given such a short notice, we journalists were hardly prepared for a half an hour-long question and answer session with the PM on any national or other issues. The Janata Dal’s Maharashtra unit president, Mrinal Gore, was there too and I could see that she was in the same boat. The firebrand socialist leader or the  ‘Paniwali Bai’ too didn’t have much to talk to the PM as some strange twists had only recently brought them politically together.

After 10 to 15 minutes, the conversation invariably whirled around the weather, giving a clear signal that we had run out of topics to discuss. And now, the PM was asking me to have another biscuit. To the relief of all, a government official announced that it was time for the prime minister to board the plane and we took the VVIP’s leave.

 The incident only reaffirmed the dictum that journalists should always be equipped with information to interview important people. And that even Prime Ministers should be equipped to strike interesting conversations with people, just in case such an eventuality occurs.

reporters@sakaaltimes.com