Ashis Nandy needs no introduction. One of those able few who
have the guts and the spine to go threadbare against the establishment (yep,
you may call him – antiestablishmentarian if you want), and provide alternate
perspectives on cosmopolitanism and traditionalism.
N S Madhavan again is one writer who defies the diktats of the
demagogue and seeks to be daring and outspoken in his views – to ‘leave the
beaten track behind’ and carve a niche for himself by moving away from
tradionalist representations in media and society.
When these two litterateurs indulge themselves in a rendezvous, it indeed is one rendezvous of sorts, and well, the
literati are on cloud nine.
Yes, it was indeed a memorable day at the ‘Let’s Talk’ event
today, which saw two great luminaries walk the talk on “Another Cosmopolitanism”.
the MC paved the way for the talk by justifying the title for the day: "Why should one speak on cosmopolitanism, of hospitality, of
quiet systems: more so in the current context, where we see events of violence
and enemity, of hostility instead of hospitality, of conflict instead of
coexistence".
Ashis Nandy observed that, each community has a preconceived
notion that they are the best and hence they have a kinda blinkers that make
them pass negative comments about the other community. They should also know
that the other community also thinks on the same line about them. At the same
time, people are accustomed to living with differences, and hence the spice of
life.
N S Madhavan lamented the fact that there was a great influx
of migrant labourers into Kochi in recent years from Bengal, Bihar and Assam. The
people of Kochi had condemned them to ;death by ignorance’, which is a
deplorable fact. Hence, these migrants go to the boat jetty, hop onto a boat,
go to the park, and return without
talking to the locals. This is mainly because we have shut them out, although
we cannot do without them. This is an example of ‘silent apartheid’ he
observed.
Both spoke at length about the history of Kochi, about the
secular fabric of the nation, and how the secular fabric is being threatened by
present political developments, which, according to them, are a serious scar on
India’s plurality.
To be contd…
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