Mandela presents award to Mahasweta Devi
Sekhar Ramakrishnan
[from the Hindu. sekhar]
Mandela presents Jnanpith award to Bengali writer
NEW DELHI, March 28. The South African President, Dr. Nelson
Mandela, today presented the 32nd Jnanpith award for 1996, the
highest honour in literature in India, to noted Bengali
writer-activist, Ms. Mahasveta Devi, at an impressive ceremony,
declaring, ``Hindustan rashtra aur South Africa ki dosti amar rahe''
Dr. Mandela, who spoke of the abiding ties between his country and
India, said, `` a part of India is in South Africa. If today my
country rejoices in its liberation and takes pride in its
Constitution, it is because of what India has given us''. India, he
said, had helped South Africa think the hitherto unthinkable.
Speaking with gratitude of the profound and everlasting influence
that Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru had on the freedom struggle of
South Africa, on himself, and on the bonds between the two nations
which had both known and vanquished colonisation and oppression, Dr.
Mandela said it was an honour to be presenting India's most
prestigious literary award to a writer whose work reflected concern
for oppressed people in the country which gave Gandhiji to the world.
Dr. Mandela said, ``I had to be here, for this communion of ideas,
and to meet Ms. Mahasveta Devi, who has been chosen the best among
writers in all Indian languages for the year''. India's harmony with
its diversity was exemplary, he said, and hoped that his presence
here would help reinforce the ties between the two countries.
Ms. Mahasveta Devi, who was chosen for the award by the Bharatiya
Jnanpith for her outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Indian
literature during the period 1976-95, began her literary career with
the publication of `Jhansir Rani' in 1956. Since then, she has
authored 45 novels, a play, several short stories, 11 books for
children, and edited three books.
All her works, most of which have been translated into Hindi, and
other Indian languages, reflect her concern for those battered by an
intolerant, exploitative society, and her admiration for those who
raise their voice in protest. Dr. Karan Singh, chairman of the
selection board for the award, and Mr. Ashok Kumar Jain, president of
Bharatiya Jnanpith, have said in the citation that these recurring
features of her work have been sustained by her compelling interest
in the history of the downtrodden.
Ms. Devi, whose other honours and awards include the Sahitya Akademi
Award, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay medal, Bhuvanmohini Medal and
Jagattarini Medal of Calcutta University, apart from the Amrita
Puraskar and the Padmashri, has ``woven history, myth, and current
political realities, and explored troubling motifs in modern Indian
life through figures and narratives of the tribal people of India''.
Ms. Devi's total identification with the suffering tribals extends
beyond writing. For over three decades, she has provided active
support to efforts on uplift of the poor and needy, travelled
extensively in the tribal regions, worked among the tribes of Kheria,
Bhumji, Oraon, Mahali, Santhal, and helped scheduled communities like
Salis, Dom Bauri, Charmakar, Ruhidas, Rajoar, Karmakars to set up
people's action groups, obtain education, training in craft and
health care.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Devi, who said the Jnanpith award
conferred on her was the recognition of the marginalised people of
the country who constantly struggle for a better existence, quoted
poet Govinda Chadra Roy: ``the cities are well lit, dazzling is their
garland of light, but darkness pervades the country, Darkness is out
day and night''. As this century comes to an end, it was time to tear
apart the curtain of darkness, see the reality that lay beyond it,
and in the process, see our own true faces, Ms. Devi said.
Sharing some of her thoughts on receiving the award, she said ``I am
overwhelmed. It also fills me with humility. I, often wonder whether
I deserve all this love and affection from so many people. For, how
long can I continue to accept praise when I more than anyone else,
know that I should have done so much more, not merely as a writer,
but as part of a society where so much needs to be changed''.
Receiving the award from Dr. Mandela, she said was an overwhelming,
unique expereince, as he has remained, over the years, before and
after long incarceration in prison, a symbol of the oppressed people's
struggle against exploitation, repression and their fight for human
rights and dignity , not only in his country, but all over the world.