From: rags@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Raghavan Jayaraman)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: An Interview on Modern Literature:- Final part
Date: 16 Oct 92 15:12:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Oct16.151225.10860
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.

At last I could find time to complete this series. I hope I can give my
comments on this as well as some related aspects within a 'mAmAngam'.
---------------
Padigal:-
	This trend is seen even in sketches for stories. Jayaraj's
sketches, the debauch shift in Manian's old style to new masala style-  all
these seem to be the qualities of this society.

Sujata:-
	Yes! Exhibitionism is their scale of measure. The reason could be
the western influence.  The west is surfeiting its readers with sex which
will definitely influence us -this is the uncertainity I talked about
before.  

Padigal:-
	When we compare Mu. Va.' s novels with current novels on adultery,
we notice a big change in content. How does the quality of  writing change
in 20 years?  Today no one bothers about Mu.Va.  You or Pushpa Thangathurai
attract most of them.  Such a change in mass appeal is an important matter
and cannot be attributed to individual's influence but a social phenomenon. 	

Sujata:-
	This is an interesting observation. Publish such observations in
your magazine without any judgements. Just observation is enough. Such
essays are lacking in Tamil. This would reveal more truth. There is no need
for analysis on the quality of writing. Such kinda observations are needed
today.

[some portions on Sujata's preference to writers and current magazines have
been deleted]

Padigal:-
	In your preface to 'Thanumai' collections, you claim that stories
with explicit message cannot be good. But in 'karai kanda Raman' and
'selvam' you use such messages.Is this an usual commercial deception? or
what is compelling you to write such stories?

Sujata:-
	I don't reject messages. But 'finger pointing' shouldn't be there.
A message should be implied as in 'Selvam'. 'Karai Kanda Raman' is an
example with good 'form', for a novice. As the message is  bit louder,
it is 'inferior' in literary sense. Still that was commended when
published.

Padigal:-
	In the preface to 'Thanumai' collections, you put forth a new
analysis, unfamiliar to tamil readers. You explain 'short story' to be
prose depicting a contradiction [or an antithetical prose]. You analyse 12
stories scientifically and theorise such contradictions. Based on this
hypothesis, how many of your stories can be catergorised as 'good'.

Sujata:-
	All my stories  deal subtly with such contradictions. Such 
hypothesis is a common one and applies to all stories including those of
Kurumbur Kuppusamy. What is important is whether such such contradictions
have been dealt with candidly without any propaganda.  In good stories
this will be subtle.

[Again I have deleted discussion on Sujata's preference for some
writings/writers] 

Padigal:-
	You classified literature as 'existentialist' and 'leftist'. Which
of the two are yours?

Sujata:-
	'Existentialist' literature. Some times they carry 'red' ideas. In
a poor country like India, 'one should essentially become a leftist
finally.  This is inevitable.' Spontaneously you have to evolve towards a
leftist line of thinking'- no other way out. So much penury - to an
unimaginable extent. Most of us don't care. I sometimes think that we would
be able solve our problems if  we change our politics like east European
countries.  It was crystal clear during emergency that 'we are too poor a
nation'. For such a country 'rightist' govt. would not be a suitable one.
It is a matter of time before leftist govt. takes over.   Though  many
are leftist literature, good one couldn't evolve in Russia. In America,
everthing is a sexually oriented. Good literature now-a-days come from
African, Latin American countries. Where there is struggle, there comes
good literature. But these leftists over emphasize the propaganda stuff
which could be a literature if propaganda is avoided. Just observe and
report.  'Nagaram' is a 'leftist story'. I had just written my observations.
But that affected people so much. But I am not a communist. When I observe
a phenomenon, I get such thoughts i.e., we are evolving towards our own
brand of communism.  This is certain as 'poverty' is such a deep rooted
problem in our society.

Padigal:-
	As a resident of such poor country and as writer, how do you react
in your stories?

Sujata:-
	I can  write spontaneously. 'nagaram' is one such about poverty. A
planned one will not be candid. I think my writing has a bearing of leftist
ideals. It should be the case as many of my communist friends say so.
Though I am not a communist, communism is in my stories. I have read Marx
and others. Everthing is a historical cycle- so says Marx. I believe in it.
Such thoughts came in 'Nirvana Nagaram'. Leftist ideas are with me since I
observe.  How can I escape them? But I don't plan a story with 'red'
ideas.


--------Subam---------

raghavan



		
	
Organization: Senior, Civil Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA