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INTERVIEW
WITH DR. SANTOSH KUMAR:
AUTHOR,
LITERARY CRITIC AND EDITOR IN CHIEF OF TAJ MAHAL REVIEW, AND CYBERWIT.NET'S
COUNTLESS LITERARY ANTHOLOGIES.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Dr.
Kumar, when I look at the number of literary journals and
anthologies that you have edited, I am astounded by your
capacity and drive. It is obvious that you have a very strong
love of literature, and a relentless passion to promote
contemporary authors. How did all of this begin? Do you still
actively recruit interesting writers to contribute to Taj
Mahal Review and other anthologies, or do they find their
way to you themselves nowadays? And do you notice changing
trends and genres in the submissions that you receive today, as
opposed to those in previous years?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: I’m
deeply obliged for your kind words. Most of the authors have
been contributing to Cyberwit’s journals and anthologies for
quite a long time. Their sustained interest heralded the
emergence of our Art & Poetry Journal Harvests of New
Millennium. A change seems to be discernible in the increasingly
large number of submissions received by us. Haiku seems to
represent the new age of authors. This genre is admirably suited
to the frenzied pace of modern civilization.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Literary
journals and anthologies were quite popular in the 1970s, 1980s
and 1990s, but there seems to be fewer that survive and flourish
today. One might think that – with our fast-paced, instant
gratification world of today – such publications would find a
much larger public than they presently do. Although not a
literary magazine, Reader's Digest has been in circulation since
1922, has a global circulation of 17 million, and boasts
editions in twenty-one languages. That would suggest that the
need for much information, in one place, in digestible servings
is self-evident. Is this also a possible new area of renaissance in literature? Can you comment upon the importance of
literary journals and anthologies as a publication form from
today's perspective, as opposed to previously? Can literary
journals and anthologies today survive as mere print magazines,
or is it wise to have a web edition in addition? If so, how
would/do such web journals and anthologies pay for themselves
– through subscriptions, advertising?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: Literary
journals and anthologies in print editions will definitely
survive in this postmodern era of chats, videoconferencing, e
books, CD, digital depositories due to these reasons:
(1)Electronic publishing reaches only a minority of people in
developing countries like India due to illiteracy (Nearly 50% of
Indians are illiterate), and lack of technology.
(2)
Printed books are a
hundred times better than web editions due to portability,
usability and aesthetics. Binding, artistic cover, and
typography turn the printed books into art objects. (3) The
quality, merit and scholarship is decreasing in e publishing.
Anything without any merit can be published by electronic
publishers. (4) The printed books can be read in bed, in the
train, bathroom, restaurant. Will I drag out my computer in all
these places?
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
You
have a distinctive style of literary criticism this is highly
«academic» in the way that you cite historical and literary
references and present astounding comparative analysis. That
kind of literary criticism takes perhaps a lifetime of reading,
studying and dedication to world literature in order to master
it as a form. I imagine that it also requires quite a bit of
work locating specific references and quotes. Could you comment
on: 1) the importance and function of literary criticism today,
as opposed to the previous century; and 2) the pertinence of
academic critical literary essays as opposed to less-academic
ones? Do you sometimes vary your style of criticism in regards
to genre, the individual work, and the tailored and specific
needs of various authors and publications receiving the reviews
that you write, or is your style your «trademark»?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: The
main function of literary criticism is to be a “disinterested
endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and
thought in the world” (Matthew Arnold). Derrida’s (b. 1930)
Deconstruction theory emphasizes “a dismantling of the
structure of text itself”. In the modern age, Derrida’s new
theory inspired the critics to re-interpret the classical poets
and also Shakespeare. No doubt, a critic changes his style in
regards to genre. I try to conceive the essential nature of the
book I’m reviewing. For example, the breath and spirit of all
books by yourself - Adam Donaldson Powell - can be understood
only if we study Platonism and transcendentalism. Without this,
the criticism of Powell’s poetry will be incomplete.
Similarly, in order to understand Ban’ya Natsuishi’s haiku
poetry, we should have knowledge of Japan’s classical poets.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
It
would appear from your Cyberwit.net bibliography that you began
publication of your own editions of poetry rather late in life,
starting with «Helicon» in 2006, followed by «New Utopia» in
2008, and most recently «No Nukes» in 2009. All three of these
important works have passionate sociopolitical messages. How do
you define your «literary figure» as an author of books, do
you have other previous literary (non-academic) publications to
your credit before these three poetic works, and how would you
react to the premise that authors have a socio-political
responsibility as world citizens?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar:
Even
before Helicon was released in 2006 followed by New Utopia
(2008) and No nukes (2009), some of my poems were published in
Indian Verse by Young Poets (Calcutta), Krishna Srinivas’s
Anthologies World Poetry 95 & 96, PROMISE (USA), (DWAN). In
fact, the internet created a great upheaval, the beginning
of a new life in the field of World literature. Now the
poets aspiring after publishing their poetry became eloquently
optimistic that a happier and brighter future was possible in
the arena of creative arts. To add, NO NUKES (2009) is based on
my earlier thinking nurtured in my heart during 90s. Nuclear
darkness will clear away, the world will be renovated and Utopia
will be brought about by some incarnated angel (Divine Daughter
in NO NUKES) with sacred powers of super psychism strong enough
to destroy about 20 thousand nuclear weapons. I have been
devoted to this thought for quite a very long time. The modern
poet should express poignantly the devastation by nuclear rain,
and the spiritual sterility and indifference of contemporary
society.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Some
people read for sheer relaxation and entertainment, while others
seek out deeper themes in literature that provoke reflection and
analysis. Obviously, a writer – like any artist or philosopher
– is constantly making decisions about what to express and
how. What kinds of literature do you prefer to write, and to
read, and to review – literature primarily designed to be
light and entertaining, literature that explores deep thematic
questions, or perhaps literature that provides both
reading entertainment and a call for analysis/reflection?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: The
author should be the prime mover, and provide impetus in
answering the contemporary problems in an artistic way. All
attempts should be made to avoid nihilism and pessimism. With
richness of passion, spontaneous emotion, subtle use of ancient
myths and traditions we should criticize proliferation of
nuclear weapons. This will undoubtedly be a tremendous thing if
several authors become united against nuclear war in order to
save the extinction of our earth. Witty and satiric writings
with this antinuclear vision will provide both entertainment and
a call for reflection. Literature - as you wisely - say should
deal with “deep thematic questions”. Poetry should no longer
be considered an art form of escape.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
If
you were asked to list your five all-time favorite authors,
active before this century, who would they be ... and why? Which
contemporary authors do you personally believe will be
remembered one century from now ... and why?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: This
is really a tough question to answer. T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound,
George Bernard Shaw, Walt Whitman, James Joyce- are perhaps the
greatest authors the world has known. The greatest contemporary
authors who will remain immortal one century from now in my
humble opinion are: Adam Donaldson Powell, Albert Russo, azSacra
zaRathustra, Moshé Liba, Jan Oskar Hansen, Floriana Hall, Ban’ya
Natsuishi, Sayumi Kamakura and Joseph S. Spence, Sr. The
distinctive quality of these authors is their brilliance and
versatile genius. All these writers avoid “gaudiness and inane
phraseology”.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
And
finally, Dr. Kumar, what is your own personal vision
for India as a nation as regards to publishing international
literature? Do you seen Indian publishing houses as potentially
taking the lead in this area, as the economies of the United
States and Europe change in size and prioritized business
sectors?
Dr.
Santosh Kumar: I
feel that the USA and Japan will take the lead in publishing
international literature. India might take a lead if our
infrastructure including streets, transportation is improved.
Besides, there are starvation deaths, half of the population is
illiterate. Mother Teresa is unequaled by anyone in her
tremendous efforts in India to improve the conditions of the
poor.
Adam
Donaldson Powell:
Thank
you very much Dr. Kumar.
--
Adam Donaldson Powell, 2010
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