ORIGINAL ARTICLE http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2005/01-15Feb05-Print-Edition/011502200561.htm

ANGRY REJOINDER TO THE ARTICLE: http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2005/16-31Mar05-Print-Edition/163103200559.htm

Don’t forget to read the editor’s response at the end of the angry letter.

you guys should also write a post on mahasweta devi. she campaigned for the tribal people and her short stories, translated and introduced by gayatri chakravorty spivak are heartstopping. draupadi/dopdi is particularly famous. I was introduced to Ismat Chughtai through a story called Chauthi ka Jaura, in this book called the Inner Courtyard, which was an anthology of Indian authoresses. It was in the BA literature syllabus. Fabulous book. Get a hold of it if you can – it is linked on most university search engines.

I thought we were talking about writers here – howsoever ‘under’ or ‘overrated’ they may be. My opinion matters little when it comes to gastronomic approach to literature. However, “every one who is trying to write or does write” does not necessarily qualify as a writer. It takes a lot, lot more to be a writer.

There is many a pen-pusher whose writing is merely ink-flow. People like me who are unable to distinguish between an ‘is’ and an ‘are’ also nurture visions of finding acceptance as writers and push vastly exaggerated entries on their purely imaginary creative achievements on the Wikipedias of the world in the desperate hope of hitting the bull’s eye some lazy morning when the world would be too hopelessly tired to resist. What is one to do with such blinding narcissism?

Manto and Ismat Chughtai are both writers regardless of what I think of their writing – and I think Ismat especially is pretty mediocre. I would have to however put my critical faculties under severe strain and embarrassing compromise to accept Ajeet Caur as a writer of any consequence. I am in complete disagreement with Professor Amardeep’s assessment of Ajeet Caur. Problem with primary blogging is also a bit narcissism related. It encourages secondary blogging only as opinions and discourages possibilities of debates.

I also suggest that we open up a genuinely critical debate about some of these grossly overrated writers rather than getting overwhelmed by the spurious cultural-studies potentials that some of the desi respondents here “sitting so far away from home” – mostly and presumably the inhabitants of north-south US campuses – are.