Of snobbery and miffed Rajputs

The most heartening aspect of the just-concluded Jaipur Literature festival was, perhaps, the surging crowds there. And it included not just the well-heeled literati from Delhi and even far off Mumbai but also ordinary folks from the Pink City and beyond. The JLF has now become an intrinsic part of Jaipur's cultural fabric, perhaps the city's most awaited annual event. The crowds testified to that and so did the massive police bandobast. And what's an event without its share of controversy? If last year it was Salman Rushdie this year's man of the festival was our very own Bangali Ashish Nandy. When I saw him rush past I had no clue he was just returning from a police station! It was only later that my local friend from Jaipur informed me that he was all over the news for his 'anti-dalit' comment.
The next day, entering the festival gates, I saw this quickly crafted paper placard that activists were pushing at the eager TV cameras 'KaunhaiNundisochitnigandi'. What many people did not report was that Nandy had overnight become a darling of the 'general caste' Rajputs in Jaipur. “He has only said what we have been saying for a long time….The Meenas are the new rulers of Jaipur now,” said Tej Singh, a local Rajput. Nandy's claim to fame was actually an innocuous statement which tried to say that the SC-ST people were as corrupt as the upper castes but they did not cover their tracks as well. Soon we had Mayawati hitching her wagon to the festival! The JLF has become a star.
In the two days that I was there, 26 and 27 January, I found myself virtually running from one event to another, not all of it entirely literary. But it was truly enriching, not just the depth of the discussions but also the wide sweep. Two people caught my fancy. Shoma Chaudhury (no relation of mine) who spoke on land acquisition and Richard someone, an internationally acclaimed 'star' who spoke on what money can't buy (even your soul, he said). The session on Bollywood film scripting moderated by Munni Kabir was also very engaging, particularly for ordinary film goers. Ironically it was conducted in English. William Dalrymple I found a trifle too loud and expansive for an author. One couldn't be at four places at the same time. So, obviously I missed a lot, but not the jab at Suhel Seth made by John Elliot describing him as a TV performer. The audience sniggered.
Talking of Seth, one couldn't miss a certain snobbery and elitism in several of the participants as well as the programming. The 'paid' participants strutted about Diggi Palace, the venue, as though they owned it. There was a perceptible disdain for the desi folks who had overrun the festival. Many firangs showed little respect for the No Smoking rule within the festival premises. So, to be equal, I also lighted up in front of a tall bald gora. A fellow Bong prompted, 'Pulish oke dhorbena…toke dhorbe' (the cops won't catch him…they'll catch you). Luckily no one caught me. There were Indians too who were smoking, but they were puffing clandestinely. It was at one such hideout that I borrowed a light from an elderly gentleman. He turned out to be a Hindi poet. Together we lamented the poor share of Hindi programming at the festival. “It's less than ten percent…” he said. “I'll mention this to Sanjay Roy,” I bragged of my familiarity with the festival organiser.
At the authors' lounge I met an old neglected man. He was grateful someone was talking to him. The humble man too turned out to be a poet, alas a Hindi poet! He was grateful that I put my arms around him and had a photo clicked. Ram Swarup Mundra pulled out a copy of his just released book of poems 'dhwani' and gifted me a copy. Shamelessly, I did not even ask him for the price.Neither did I give him a copy of my own novel 'The Sergeant's Son'. The high point of my visit was when Pavan Varma, who I gifted a copy of my book, insisted on paying for it. 'Writers should insist on people buying their books,' he chided. I wish someone told that to my neighbours who have stopped recognizing me because they haven't got their free copies.
Meanwhile, I am told that the future of the JLF (sounds like JKLF!) is under threat. 'The Meenas will not let it happen…dekhlena!' says Tej Singh. Can't trust a Rajput saying that, though. The latter, erstwhile rulers of Rajasthan, are miffed with the Meenas, for they have cornered virtually all top police and other sarkari departments in the state and beyond. The way they hijacked the festival has bad portents for literature and the culture of free speech. Last time it was the hardline mullahs. Interestingly, this time round Muslims went about distributing free copies of the Quran just outside the festival gates. How times change! Move over, Rushdie…It's time for Nandy!

Ashim Choudhury is a Delhi-based writer. His novel, 'The Sergeant's Son' (Rupa) was recently reviewed in The Daily Star.