Mamta Kalia

‘Politics is not for all. As democracy
is not for the unlettered. The ‘groups’
or ‘masses’ here are apolitical. They want
comforts and nothing else. It’s a different
thing that they need something to talk–
why not politics. Of course they may
differ in their approach.
‘I personally hold for a little
dictatorship in administration. One can’t
be civil without being a little cruel. But
too much of it would be bad.’
‘See, nothing per se, is bad; its
application or use makes it good or bad’
‘What is the relevance of literature
in such a topsy-turvy situation of politics
and country?’ I mean, what one can
do in such a situation?’
‘Nothing’ an arrowy answer escaped
him, ‘except that one should continue
presenting before public both pros and
cons of the scenario. Be ridden with
disease and show symptoms, so that the
doctor can have his pulse on the disease?’
‘It means you don’t hold with
revolution on the strength of the pen?’
‘I don’t put literature on so high
a pedestal–Not every litterateur can be
a Marx.’
‘What then, mere pushing of pen serves–
accepting or rejecting is a matter of
personal conviction. To hold with a thing
is one thing, to assimilate it in life is
quite another. How many writers are there
today who live by what they write?’
‘Remember one more thing–every
revolution in the world bears testimony
to this fact that accumulated pain and
stifling of years go into the making of
a revolution; apt situation and
preparation go before revolution. When
all this happens, only then the pen
becomes effective.’
88 :: April-June 2010
‘A particular era is ascribed to Indian
history where poems were written to
inspire and incite people–be they valour
poems, or aesthetic poems.’
Surely that era would not have been
civilised and refined. Only uncivilised
and uncultured races could be inspired
or incited through poems. Poetry is not
meant for inspiration and excitement.
Lenin’s personality is not derived from
poetry. It revolutionized without poetry.
Shall we then say poetry or literature
does not impact society at large?
‘Why not? It does, to a great extent.
Poetry keeps human beings rooted in
humanity. But poetry is not to eradicate
evil. It has its place. But can’t reach
the top’. Which evil ‘Abhigyan
Shakuntalam’ tends to remove? Was
‘Kumar Sambhav’ written for social
reform?’
Deliberating on his thoughts for a
while he spoke thoughtfully–To give the
poet the status of a social reformer is
to do injustice to him. Poetry is not
a potion. It is something like shining
moonlight. Poetry cannot be composed
with deliberation and effort, as a good
turn is not done consciously–it is done
spontaneously–the mighty oak doesn’t
provide shade wittingly.
–What is good poetry in your opinion?
‘A simple touchstone of good poetry
is that it directly sinks deep into your
mind. Poetry not only requires simplicity,
it requires civility too. Apart from
aesthetic adoration my poetry has place
for nothing else. Of course my
interpretation of beauty will have to
be understood yet.’
‘Firaq Sa’b, why not tell it yourself?’
Firaq Sa’b has a typically original