Samskara in waiting

Personal Jottings

RK Rishikesh Sinha

Never in his wildest dream, Bijay Sinha anticipated that one day the genie from one of his literary work would haunt him bitterly.

Ever since Bijay Sinha’s literary work has been criticised by a section of people in Guwahati, my inquisitiveness to read the piece has increased manifold, thanks to the controversy.

However, something is failing me to digest the whole controversy and boycott.

First, is the time period. It took 6 years to generate the reaction, and that is from a public literary work! Definitely, the work was not scientific; it was a literary fictional piece as quoted by the author. Adding to it, the repercussion was not based on ‘interpretation’ that is the author has written ‘something’, and the section of people found out ‘something else’. It was a purely a fictional piece, yet it took 6 years of interpretation!

Second, is the short-sightedness of the ‘concerned people’. They have failed to gauge the effect on the Bishnupriya Manipuri literary activity. An attack on the writers and on their writings would definitely negate people to contribute to the Bishnupriya Manipuri literature and the media. If this incident is given precedent, days are not far, those who wish to contribute might come up with statement like “Don’t BUY, if the buyer doesn’t agree with the content of the book.” 

Henceforth, we will be losing the charm of innocence that exists in all our activity.

Third, the reaction was totally unexpected from the ‘Brahmins’ as they have been the most intelligent, mobile and powerful population since Vedic period. Knowledge and learning have been their hallmark. If some other section would have done it, it was understandable, but from them, it doesn’t go. We all have respect and reverence for them, and they have much resilience and spirit while dealing with social and political activities. But here, it seems something else.

Hope the incident gives another story plot for Bijay Sinha to dwell upon and create another award winning Samskara.