Writing is a sacred act
“Is nothing
sacred?” Salman Rushdie raised this question in one of his essays with that
title. He started off saying that he “grew up kissing books and bread.” Food and
knowledge are arguably the most sacred things: one nourishes your body and the
other your soul.
I would add
writing to that list. I began writing in my youth in order to get people’s
attention. I was an inveterate attention seeker. As I grew up, I realised the
futility of public attention. In fact, Shillong, the place where I took my
toddler steps as a writer, gave me so much unsavoury attention that I began to
hate both the attention and the place. But the urge to write never left me.
Blogging
became my passion eventually and I used the medium seriously to express my
views on various topics ranging from literature to politics and psychology to
religion. I have rather strong views on whatever affects the welfare of the
species. Many of my views refuse to fall in line with conventions and social
niceties. While I exercise rigorous constraint from expressing my views in
personal encounters, I throw caution to the winds when I sit down to write.
Writing is too sacred for me to be surrendered to diplomacy and blarney.
There were
many bloggers until a couple of years ago who laid their cards on the table
without hesitation. That species seems to have become almost extinct. Some of
them just quit blogging altogether and the others capitulated to the charms of
populism. I still go on. There are a few others too like me who strive to go
on.
I am often
told, especially by my students and relatives, that my writing has become too “difficult”
to read. The truth is that I wish to have some serious readers who dare to
think differently or at least raise questions where they should be raised. I
wish there were more such bloggers as well as readers.
PS. Written for
xZx
"I still go on. There are a few others too like me who strive to go on." May you continue in your path which indeed is the right one!
ReplyDeleteThe fact is couple of years ago, I felt that your writing was not giving fair chance to a new Government and that perhaps you were afflicted by misplaced paranoia. Time has proved you right
It is now clear that you had a foresight that many of us missed. Wishing more power to your pen!
I'm obliged for your chivalry in articulating this view. Very few are left with such integrity today.
DeleteI can so relate to your writing because even I am a dare devil while writing and I too throw caution to the wind. Although these are difficult times for bloggers and for all those who speak their minds but its few people like yourself that can show the light of common sense and rationality to those who are blinded by bigotry and blind faith.
ReplyDeleteI gather this boldness from Kerala where i now reside. Other places would have finished me off long ago.
DeleteYour writing isn't too difficult to read. In fact, I find solace. Yes, there are some facts too plain and harsh but then, one is here to express and not white wash words. The interesting part is that your posts are the only ones which I never read in a hurry, I like to read them later with enough time at hand :)
ReplyDeleteSo nice of you to say this.
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