Ashok Vajpeyi Highlights Threats to Literature from Power and Politics

Poet-critic Ashok Vajpeyi, during the first Manohar Shyam Joshi memorial lecture, discussed the harmful interference of power, politics, religion, and market forces in literature. He emphasized the need for decentralization of power and criticized the current state of cultural institutions in India.

Poet-critic Ashok Vajpeyi addressed concerns about the interference of power, politics, religion, and market forces in literature at the first Manohar Shyam Joshi memorial lecture on Thursday evening at the India International Centre.

Vajpeyi criticized the current state of cultural institutions, highlighting the centralization of power and the lack of autonomy in organizations like the Sahitya Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi. He argued that these interferences restrict the foundational grounds of literature.

He also emphasized that literature, as an art form, derives its essence from life and that any interference in people's lives indirectly affects literature. The memorial lecture commemorated the 91st birth anniversary of writer and journalist Manohar Shyam Joshi, known for his work in popular soap operas and acclaimed novels.

(With inputs from agencies.)