Modern Hindi literature
Shortly after I was appointed a Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1991 a friend of mine, a Hindi writer named Neelkant, came to my residence and requested me to be the Chief Guest at a function in Hindustani Academy ( next to Prayag Sangeet Samiti ) in which a book on some aspects of Hindi literature which he had written would be released.
Ordinarily, after becoming a Judge, I would not attend social functions, as my seniors in the Indian judiciary had advised me that a Judge must live a reclusive life. But then there can be exceptions. Neelkant was such a dear friend ( the last I heard of him was that he was living in Jhunsi, on the other side of the Ganges ) that I could not refuse.
There was a big crowd at the Hindustani Academy hall that day ( it was probably some day in early 1992 ).. Many speakers spoke, and then I was asked to speak.
I have been outspoken throughout my life, and this occasion was to be no exception. I said that though I had a high opinion of medeival Hindi writers like Kabir, Sur, Tulsi, Rahim, Raskhan, Mira, etc, modern Hindi literature was mostly sub standard, ( I remember I used the words ' daridra' and 'ghatiya' ) and had no place in world literature.
The really great modern lndian literature, I said, was in Urdu in poetry and Bangla in prose. I especially praised Urdu poets e.g. Mir, Ghalib, Faiz, Firaq, etc. Even amongst the modern Hindi writers the best acclaimed were those with an Urdu background e.g. Premchand, Kishan Chand, Rajinder Singh Bedi, etc
When I was saying all this, hooting against me started. One Hindi writer stood up and in a loud voice asked " Aap yahan kyon aaye ? Aise anpadh admi ko kisne Judge bana diya ? " ( " Why have you come here ? Who has made such an illiterate man as a Judge ? " ).
I replied that I had come because I had been invited by the writer of the book which was being released. I also said that if some people did not agree with me they could coolly and politely say that I was mistaken, and they could point out the good things in modern Hindi literature. I said that I had an open mind, it may be I may be having a wrong impression of modern Hindi literature, and if convinced,I could change my opinion about it. But is this the way educated people should express their disagreement with me. ?
But this only further infuriated the motley crowd of Hindi writers and self proclaimed 'literati', and the uproar against me increased.
When I could not take these insults any more I walked out of the hall saying " You are all a bunch of goondas ".
Next day the newspapers, both Hindi and English, were full of this incident, and the result was that this gave the book such publicity that all copies of Neelkant's book were immediately sold out, and many more editions were in great demand.
Neelkant later came to my house and apologized for the misbehaviour of people in the crowd that day, but I told him not to worry. He should write another book on some aspects of Hindi literature, and again call me as Chief guest in the function for its release. I would again call modern Hindi literature 'daridra' and 'ghatiya', which would result in another uproar, and the resultant publicity would again ensure a good sale of the book !
Shortly after I was appointed a Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1991 a friend of mine, a Hindi writer named Neelkant, came to my residence and requested me to be the Chief Guest at a function in Hindustani Academy ( next to Prayag Sangeet Samiti ) in which a book on some aspects of Hindi literature which he had written would be released.
Ordinarily, after becoming a Judge, I would not attend social functions, as my seniors in the Indian judiciary had advised me that a Judge must live a reclusive life. But then there can be exceptions. Neelkant was such a dear friend ( the last I heard of him was that he was living in Jhunsi, on the other side of the Ganges ) that I could not refuse.
There was a big crowd at the Hindustani Academy hall that day ( it was probably some day in early 1992 ).. Many speakers spoke, and then I was asked to speak.
I have been outspoken throughout my life, and this occasion was to be no exception. I said that though I had a high opinion of medeival Hindi writers like Kabir, Sur, Tulsi, Rahim, Raskhan, Mira, etc, modern Hindi literature was mostly sub standard, ( I remember I used the words ' daridra' and 'ghatiya' ) and had no place in world literature.
The really great modern lndian literature, I said, was in Urdu in poetry and Bangla in prose. I especially praised Urdu poets e.g. Mir, Ghalib, Faiz, Firaq, etc. Even amongst the modern Hindi writers the best acclaimed were those with an Urdu background e.g. Premchand, Kishan Chand, Rajinder Singh Bedi, etc
When I was saying all this, hooting against me started. One Hindi writer stood up and in a loud voice asked " Aap yahan kyon aaye ? Aise anpadh admi ko kisne Judge bana diya ? " ( " Why have you come here ? Who has made such an illiterate man as a Judge ? " ).
I replied that I had come because I had been invited by the writer of the book which was being released. I also said that if some people did not agree with me they could coolly and politely say that I was mistaken, and they could point out the good things in modern Hindi literature. I said that I had an open mind, it may be I may be having a wrong impression of modern Hindi literature, and if convinced,I could change my opinion about it. But is this the way educated people should express their disagreement with me. ?
But this only further infuriated the motley crowd of Hindi writers and self proclaimed 'literati', and the uproar against me increased.
When I could not take these insults any more I walked out of the hall saying " You are all a bunch of goondas ".
Next day the newspapers, both Hindi and English, were full of this incident, and the result was that this gave the book such publicity that all copies of Neelkant's book were immediately sold out, and many more editions were in great demand.
Neelkant later came to my house and apologized for the misbehaviour of people in the crowd that day, but I told him not to worry. He should write another book on some aspects of Hindi literature, and again call me as Chief guest in the function for its release. I would again call modern Hindi literature 'daridra' and 'ghatiya', which would result in another uproar, and the resultant publicity would again ensure a good sale of the book !
