ELSA MEET
4 August 2018
on
Literature and Philosophy with Special Reference to Marxism/Communism
In keeping with the 200th Birth Anniversary year of Karl Marx, members of ELSA
deliberated on
“Literature and Philosophy with Special Reference to Marxism/Communism.” The discussion was initiated by Prof. Nibir Ghosh with an explanatory note on
Rise and fall of Communism. He provided the much needed historical background
of emergence of the philosophy of Marxism and its influence in literature. The
baton was swiftly carried on by Dr. Shipra Kulshreshta when she elaborated the
principle of Marxism. She highlighted the fact that history is made of class
struggle. Mr. Shravan Kumar raised some important questions over the current
relevance of Marxism. He narrated his experiences at Champaran and referred to
George Orwell's seminal book 'Animal Farm'. Mr. Saurabh Agarwal read excerpts
from Maxim Gorky's 'Mother', a novel that had inspired Lenin and numerous
Western writers and which is based on actual events that took place in 1906. Dr. Srikant Kulshreshta read two of his poems based on the theme of Communism.
Dr. D K. Singh dwelt on terms like Glasnost and Perestroika that led to the
collapse of USSR. Mr Nihal Singh Jain talked about ground realities in relation to Communism in
various nations. Dr. Rajan Lal and Dr. Pratima Singh expressed their views on
nuances of Class Struggle. The consensus was on the fact that Marxism and
Communism, though ideal in spirit, could not transform human society simply
because, for the practitioners of the ideology, the predicament of the human
being (the proletariat) always remained inconsequential on account of the
belief that “All men are equal but some are more equal.”
ELSA Meet
24 June 2018
on
on
My Favourite Closing Lines
The
meeting of ELSA at Hotel Goverdhan on “My Favorite Closing Lines” brought forth for discussion an amazing variety of
choices from our distinguished members, that included the concluding texts of
Browning's “Rabi Ben Ezra”, Eli Shefak’s “Forty Rules of Love”, Tagore’s
“Gitanjali”, Premchand’s ‘Godan’, Henry Miller's 'Black Spring’, Nissim
Ezekiel’s “The Night of the Scorpion”, Tennyson’s “Ulysses”, Shelley's “The
West Wind”, Keats’s “Ode on a Grecian Urn” etc. After the luminous presentations, a Quiz contest, prepared by Mr. Saurabh
Agarwal and conducted by Prof. Ghosh, was held. Mr. Sabharwal stole the show
answering the maximum number of questions followed by Dr. Rajan Lal, Dr.
Shrikant Kulsrestha, Dr. Santosh Singh, Mr. Shravan Kumar and others. In terms of quality discussion highlighting numerous literary perspectives, the
three-hour long meeting was an event to cherish. Thanks to one and all for making it so memorable.
Quiz Questions
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig
to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
"After all, tomorrow is another day."
"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the
past."
"Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr.
Patel, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger"
"The old man was dreaming about the lions."
"He loved Big Brother."
"It's funny. Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start
missing everybody."
"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a
far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."
"But that is the beginning of a new story - the story of the gradual
renewal of a man, the story of his gradual regeneration, of his passing from
one world into another, of his initiation into a new unknown life. That might
be the subject of a new story, but our present story is ended."
“As you from crimes would pardoned be,/ Let your indulgences set me free.”
“The old man was dreaming about lions.”
“Till human voices wake us and we drown.”
ELSA Meet
27 May 2018
on
on
My Favourite First Lines
The ELSA meet on "First Lines" took off grandly with a quiz that saw
among the winners Dr. Chanda Singh, Dr. Shailendra Singh, Dr. Shipra Kulsrestha,
Dr. Shrikant Kulsrestha, Mr. Saurabh Agarwal and Jessica. In addition to the
winners, very insightful presentations highlighting the significance of First
Lines from the viewpoint of theme and aesthetics were made by Mr. Sabharwal,
Dr. Santosh Singh and Mr. Nihal Singh Jain (who also read his short story).
Besides conducting the quiz, Prof. Ghosh moderated the discussion and thanked
the members for their quality presence. The Quiz lines are given below:
First Lines
1. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
2. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
3. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
4. She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as if by an error of
fate, into a family of clerks.
5. Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own
way.
6. I am an invisible man.
7. Mother died today. May be yesterday. The cable says funeral tomorrow.
8. He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff and he had gone 84 days now
without taking a fish.
9. It was love at first sight.
10. Of all the things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I’ve
come to learn, is women.
ELSA Meet
27 April 2018
on
Celebrating Shakespeare
Greetings from the city of the monument of love to the lovers of the Bard from all over the globe!
The ELSA meet on Shakespeare organised at Hotel Goverdhan, Agra on April 27 to
commemorate the death anniversary (23 April) of the author brought to the fore
unprecedented enthusiasm and passionate expression from members in highlighting
the multi-dimensional genius of Immortal Bard of Avon who transcended time, clime
and space with his sonnets and plays. Members quoted from memory innumerable
lines from his works justifying his undying popularity. Laudatory presentations
from Mr. Saurabh Agarwal, Dr. Santosh Singh, Dr. Rajan Lal, Dr. Srikant
Kulsrestha, Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, Mr. Brij Khandelwal, Dr. Shipra Kulsrestha,
Ms. Anjali Singh, Dr. D.K. Singh, Dr. Ranjana Mehrotra and others, moderated by
Prof. Ghosh, made it an unforgettable experience for one and all. The following statement from Dr. Samuel Johnson’s brilliantly insightful essay
“Preface to Shakespeare” amply reveals the reasons for William Shakespeare’s
enduring eternal popularity that will never diminish with time, change of clime
or space: “Shakespeare is above all writers, at least above all modern writers, the poet
of nature; the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirror of manners
and of life. His characters are not modified by the customs of particular
places, unpractised by the rest of the world; by the peculiarities of studies
or professions, which can operate but upon small numbers; or by the accidents
of transient fashions or temporary opinions: they are the genuine progeny of
common humanity, such as the world will always supply, and observation will
always find. His persons act and speak by the influence of those general
passions and principles by which all minds are agitated, and the whole system
of life is continued in motion. In the writings of other poets a character is
too often an individual; in those of Shakespeare it is commonly a species.”
ELSA
MEET
25 March 2018
on
“Poetry makes nothing Happen”
The meeting-cum-discussion organized by ELSA on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at Goverdhan
hotel, Agra on W.H. Auden’s provocative statement - “Poetry makes nothing
happen” from his 1939 poem, “In Memory of W. B. Yeats," provided a
wonderful platform for members to share their views on the role and function of
poets and poetry. Members were unanimous in affirming that poetry has always
been and will always be endowed with the transformative power to change the
shape of civilizations. Works of Bankim Chandra, Rabindranath Tagore, William
Wordsworth, P.B. Shelley, Thomas Gray, Rumi, Faiz, Dushyant Kumar and many
others were cited to show how poetry made everything happen. After a pulsating session on the said theme, each member shared her/his own
poetic compositions to celebrate World Poetry Day as well as the completion of
two remarkable years of ELSA. The poems presented by members illustrated that
basically every human being is a poet at heart and is capable rendering the
spontaneous overflow of their powerful feelings into beautiful creative
expression. In keeping with the wishes of Tuncay Gary, the poet and writer from
Berlin, Germany, his two poems “Smoke” and “Holderin” were read to the great
applause of poets present who could see how poetry served as a vehicle to
connect Agra with Berlin. I thank Mr. Nihal Singh Jain, Dr. Ranjana Mehrotra, Dr. Sanjay Mishra, Mr. S.K.
Sabharwal, Dr. Rajan Lal, Mr. Saurabh Agarwal, Dr. Shipra Kulshrestha, Dr.
Santosh Singh, Dr. Shrikant Kulshrestha, Dr. Shiv kant Mishra, Mr. Anil Kumar
Sharma, Mr. Rajeev Khandelwal, Dr. Anil Sharma, Ms. Vineeta Sharma, Ms. Shabina
Fatima and other members who contributed to the grand success of the meeting
moderated by Prof. Nibir K. Ghosh.
ELSA MEET
24 December 2017
on
Portrayal of Women Characters in Literature over the Ages
The
ELSA meet on Sunday, December 24, 2017 from 3 pm to 6.30 pm at Goverdhan Hotel,
Dilli gate, Agra on the theme: “Portrayal of Women Characters in Literature
over the Ages” illuminated an amazing diversity of women characters from
various genres in literature. Cutting across boundaries of time and space,
nations and cultures, members highlighted in their presentations how relegated
to margins, women have striven against heavy odds to assert their identity and
presence in largely patriarchal societies. Dr. Shipra Kulsrestha spoke on
Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Dr. Shiv Kant on Florence
in Charles Dickens's Dombey and Son, Dr. Sanjay Mishra on Reading Lolita in
Tehran by Azar Nafisi, Dr. Shrikant on Anita Desai's Cry, the Peacock, Mr. Brij
Khandelwal on Lady Macbeth, Mr. Saurabh Agarwal on perpetual portrayal of women
as stereotypes, Dr. Yuvraj Singh and Dr. Santosh Singh on women characters in
Indian mythology, and Prof. Nibir K. Ghosh on 'The Solitary Reaper' by William
Wordsworth and 'Lajwanti' by Rajinder Singh Bedi. Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma shared
his poem 'Naari' to conclude a wonderfully stimulating session wherein time
literally stood still. By virtue of the superb quality of each and every
individual presentation and erudite ensuing discussions in all its events, ELSA
continues to justify the once popular TV adage: 'Neighbour's envy and owner's
pride.' Wishing all our members and members-to-be all the very best of
everything in 2018 & beyond- Nibir K. Ghosh.
ELSA MEET
26 November 2017
on
Women Empowerment: Illusion and Reality
Members of ELSA in Agra actively participated in the meeting-cum-discussion held
today at Goverdhan hotel, Dilli gate, Agra. After an insightful introduction by
Dr. Chanda Singh, all members joined in the discussion that explored numerous
aspects of the theme. The discussion centred around not only the illusion and
reality of women empowerment in the largely patriarchal setup but also
reflected the eagerness of all present to come out with ways and means to
contend with factors like obsolete mindsets and archaic traditions to create an
environment where men and women can coexist in a spirit of mutual respect and
admiration. The distinguished speakers who contributed to the huge success of
the event are: Dr. Ranjana Mehrotra, Mr. Brij Khandelwal, Mr. Nihal Singh Jain,
Dr. R.S. Tiwari, Dr. S. P. Singh, Dr. Sanjay Mishra, Mr. Anil Sharma, Dr. Rajan
Lal, Dr. Santosh Singh, Dr. Srikant Kulsrestha, Dr. Shipra Kulsrestha, Mrs.
Jain, Mr. Saurabh Agarwal, Ms. Uzma Khan, Ms. Khushayeen Adil and Prof. Nibir
K. Ghosh. Mr. Nihal Singh Jain also read his story "A satellite over my
home." The vibrant interaction kept all fruitfully engaged for over three hours and
made the session worth the memory. A Big Thank You to one and all.
ELSA MEET
29 October 2017
on
Travel Writings and Literature
Members of ELSA in Agra actively participated in the meeting-cum-discussion
held today at Goverdhan hotel, Dilli gate, Agra. Mr. Brij Khandelwal initiated
the discussion by dwelling upon the contribution of Thomas Coriat to the genre
of travel writing. Mr. Nihal Singh Jain took forward the discussion by
mentioning John Gunther's Inside Africa to correlate with his own experiences
in Liberia. Mr. Sabharwal pointed out the wide variety of travel literature
that is in existence now. Dr. Srikant Kulsrestha talked about Khushwant Singh’s
writings. Mr. Saurabh Agarwal dealt with authors like R.L. Stevenson and V.S.
Naipaul and their voyages. Dr. Shipra Kulsrestha said how Naipaul offered
various perspectives to travel literature. Dr. Ranjana Mehrotra shed light on
the theme by drawing upon her own travel experiences and her readings from
literature. Dr. Chanda Singh stated that in the modern era travel writings
constituted an independent genre with wide readership. Responding to Dr. Rajan
Lal’s interesting queries, Prof. Ghosh spoke on the diversity of travel
writings beginning with Homer’s Odyssey down to contemporary works and
specified that renderings become significant when facts and imagination combine
with different disciplines to offer fresh insights to the place one visits with
a sense of purpose. Mr. Shyamal and Ms. Sharbani also added their interesting
inputs to the discussion. Interestingly, everyone present promised to share
their own travel writeups with the distinguished members. The theme kept all fruitfully engaged for three hours and made the session
worth the memory. A Big Thank You to one and all.
23rd September 2017
on
Satire, Wit and Humour
As expected, the ELSA Meet at Goverdhan hotel, Dilli gate, Agra, on the
theme “Satire, Wit and Humour” turned out to be a truly rocking session with
Dr. Ranjana Mehrotra initiating the discussion with an intoxicating statement
comparing the three elements to Whiskey, Champagne and Beer respectively. Dr.
Sanjay Mishra joined in by sharing his experience of attending a gathering of
academics pretending to be in love with literary theory. Saurabh Agarwal talked
at length on the enduring popularity of George Orwell's Animal Farm. Dr. Chanda
Singh spoke on the difference that humour and wit can make to our lives. Mr.
Braj Khandelwal highlighted the contribution of cartoonists in the 1970s and
80s. Dr. D.K. Singh, Dr. Shivkant Mishra and Dr. Divya Gupta contributed to the
discussion with interesting inputs. Nibir K. Ghosh moderated the event and
cited instances from the writings of Khushwant Singh and George Mikes that
evoke ideas of wit and spontaneous humour. Thanks to all who could make it to the event despite the inclement weather.
ELSA Meet
27 August 2017
on
Literature as Resistance and Protest
All great Literature is a means to challenge the Status Quo!The ELSA Meet on "Literature as Resistance and Protest" provided the
opportunity to all present to project their views on a theme of perennial
interest. Emphasis was laid on various phases of human civilization from the
Greek to the present times when resistance and protest writings proved turning
points in creating new milestones of human freedom. Thanks to all members for making the event so special and vibrant with their
valuable contribution.
ELSA MEET
on
Promotion of Literature and Literary Festivals: Issues and Concerns
July 30, 2017
Many unique viewpoints conveyed by Mr. Brij Khandelwal, Dr. Shailendra Singh,
Dr. Chanda Singh, Dr. R.S. Tiwari, Mr. Nihal Singh Jain, Dr. Ranjana Mehrotra,
Dr. Rajan Lal, Mr. Saurabh Agarwal, Mr. Shravan Kumar, Dr. Ashish Kumar, Dr.
Shipra Kulshrestha, Dr. Rajan Lal,Dr. Santosh Singh, Dr. Shrikant Kulshrestha,
and other members contributed to the success of the meeting moderated by Prof.
Nibir K. Ghosh. While members were unanimous in relating Literature Festivals to expressions
like “Commercial Raasleelas and Circus with lot of entertainment value but
negligent literary output, some members did point out that like all Festivals
the literary Festivals too have their own importance in terms of promoting
glamour along with writers who assume importance in view of their power and
money-centred leanings. What is significant is the idea that those interested
in promoting literature should address young talents in schools and colleges
and inspire them to literary creativity. The need was felt for good libraries
and good book stores to inculcate the habit of reading.
The love of literature must be above purely commercial interests. At the end of
the meeting Dr. R.S. Tiwari read his poem on "Discrimination on Gender lines." Thanks to all who made it a memorable event with their proactive participation.
ELSA MEET
on
Indian Writing in English
Indian Writing in English
28 May 2017
As expected, the meet turned out to be a vibrant session with scholarly
presentations coming from members who shared their views on a wide gamut of
authors and their works covering a fairly wide span from 1864 to 1947.
Beginning with Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Rajmohun's Wife (the first Indian novel
in English published in 1864), the discussion centred round Mulk Raj Anand,
Raja Rao and R.K. Narayan with respect not only to the time and locale in which
they wrote but also to the scenario in contemporary times. Among the
distinguished speakers were: Mr. Nihal Singh Jain, Mr. S.K. Sabharwal, Mr.
Shravan Kumar, Dr. Rajan Lal, Dr. Santosh, Dr. Shipra Kulsreshta, Dr. Shrikant,
Mr. Saurabh Agarwal. Prof. Nibir K. Ghosh moderated the discussion. ELSA thanks
its members for adding yet another chapter to its tradition of promoting
involved debate in a spirit of easy mutuality of viewpoints.
ELSA MEET
31st March, 2017
Talk on
American Literature: Colonial, Nation and
Original
by
by
Jonah Raskin
ELSA MEET
26 Feb 2017
on
The Power of the Written Word
The ELSA MEET this afternoon on "The Power of the Written Word"
witnessed spirited deliberations from ELSA members who explored the topic from
numerous perspectives: historical, social, political, religious and the like. Much
emphasis was laid on the transformative potential of the Written Word in
reshaping individual as well as collective human endeavour. Thanks to all for
the quality presentations that made the Meet so invigorating.
ELSA MEET
11 December 2016
on
The Story that I Admire Most
The meet was an astounding success with participants reading and presenting the Stories that had impacted
them most. What proved interesting was the amazing diversity of stories chosen.
From personal stories like Polishing Firewood (Mr. Nihal Singh Jain) and Mother
Teresa: A Rendezvous with Bliss (Nibir K. Ghosh) to George Orwell's Dystopia,
1984 (Mr. Brij Khandelwal), Charles Dickens's Dombey and Son, Dr. Shiv Kant Mishra), Kate Chopin's “The Story of
an Hour” (Dr. D.K Singh), Toni Morrison's The
Bluest Eye (Lalitesh Tiwari), The
Autobiography of a Yogi (Mr. Saurabh Agarwal) the presentations were highly
motivating and inspirational. The presentations were followed by spirited discussion
led by Dr. Chanda Singh, Dr. Santosh, Mr. Shravan Kumar, Archana and others.
The inspirational song Hum ko man ki shakti de ma by octagenarian Mr. Satish
Chand Gupta came as a fitting finale to a memorable event. Thanks to one and
all for making it a rewarding evening.
Sunday, 27 November 2016
Hotel Goverdhan, Agra
ON
Literature and Journalism
“Journalism is not readable and literature is not read.”- Oscar Wilde
Provoked into a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings by the Oscar Wilde
statement, ELSA members and literature fans of Agra contributed in no mean
measure to the Eventful and intensive discussion on “Literature and
Journalism.” Each one of the participants shared his/her views on the theme and brought out
unique dimensions of both Literature and Journalism. While some pointed out the
thin line that demarcates the two disciplines, others were of the view that
Literature was not only more durable but also of universal value. The function of Journalism was also discussed at length and many expressed
their concern over the manner in which power and wealth are dominating the
media with the right to freedom of expression relegated to the margins. Rather
than report facts with objectivity, Journalism tends to create and mobilise
public opinion. Attention was also drawn to the fact that there have been good
journalists who also distinguished themselves as good writers and poets. The highpoint of the event was the talk delivered by Mr. Brij Khandelwal who shed light on various aspects of the topic by sharing his own
experiences as an acclaimed and committed journalist with an innate love for
Literature.
ELSA MEET 17 November 2016
Readings from Ocean of Cobras by Best-seller Author
Murad Ali Baig
followed by vibrant Interactive Session
In 1658 the magnificent Mughal Empire was on the brink of a precipice. Though it was at the peak of its opulence, the escalating rivalry between Shah Jahan’s eldest son Dara Shikoh and his third son Aurangzeb over the past two decades had split the family. Dara, the pampered prince, was a poet and philosopher who had to turn a soldier to combat his bitter but battle-hardened brother. The conflict between Dara’s love of all religions and Aurangzeb’s narrow Islamic beliefs was to make the battle much more than simply one for the throne. It became a series of battles for the very soul of India. The novel recounted by a eunuch intimate with all the princes, princesses and personages of the court, takes the reader through the magnificent royal palace into the harem, to royal hunts and to the kingdoms of rival and vassal rulers. Mubarak Ali, the narrator, fights in the armies of the rival princes and describes six exciting battles. His adventures take the reader from the limpid lakes of Kashmir to the deserts of Sind and the lush forests of every part of India. He tells a tale of high adventure, reckless courage, ruthless cunning, tender romance, treacherous betrayal and heart- Wrenching tragedy in a world of incredible luxury and decadence in what was once the richest empire of the world.
ELSA Seminar on Celebrity Writers:
Ernest Hemingway, Herman Hesse, Pablo Neruda, George Bernard Shaw, Franz
Kafka, Munshi Premchand and Mahasweta Devi
31 July 2016
An insight which the poet must learn through other people: “There is no insurmountable solitude. All paths lead to the same goal: to
convey to others what we are. And we must pass through solitude and difficulty,
isolation and silence in order to reach forth to the enchanted place where we
can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song - but in this dance or
in this song there are fulfilled the most ancient rites of our conscience in
the awareness of being human and of believing in a common destiny.” – Pablo
Neruda
The ELSA Seminar held at Goverdhan Hotel, Agra on 31 July 2016 with the
focus on celebrity writers like Ernest Hemingway, Herman Hesse, Pablo Neruda,
George Bernard Shaw, Franz Kafka, Munshi Premchand and Mahasweta Devi (All July born) brought
to the foreground the true import of the above lines penned by Neruda. It is
Literature only that can steer us through solitude, adversity, alienation,
oppression and conflict to the enchanted place where we learn to show grace
under pressure and contend with harsh realities in a spirit of defiance.
Deliberations on the above authors and their works by scholars and academics
like Dr. R.S. Tiwari, Dr. Sanjay Mishra, Dr. Sunita Rani Ghosh, Dr. Ranjana
Mehrotra, Dr. C.K. Tripathi, Dr. Shipra Kulsrestha, Dr. Rajan Lal, Dr. Shrikant
Kulsrestha and Professor Nibir K. Ghosh made the event a rewarding experience
for all. It is amazing how the boundaries of nations and languages disappear
when we feel the innate need to be truly human.
The commencement of the program with Shubhra Arora of St. Peter’s College (Class VI) reciting a poem by Ogden Nash gave a rousing start to the event. The presence of Mr. Sandeep Arora, Dr. D.K. Singh, Dr. Kanchan Jain, Gaurav Pathak, Ms. Rashmi Arora among many others contributed to the success of the event. Thanks to the initiative and the enthusiastic support of friends and lovers of literature, ELSA has taken a great leap forward in kindling new awareness in this city of stones.
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