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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Is it the Best Blogger (writer) contest? No, it is the most popular blogger contest. What is the difference? (About Sulekha)

I suppose we should make a distinction between the most popular blogger (which is what a populist sulekha contest would end up being) vs the best poet or a writer on the forum. The best writer or poet would invariably be the one who can be considered publishable, and compose articles or poems or short stories that will stand the test of time. The best writer will possess the hallmark virtues of his or her craft: painstaking research, correct grammar, inspired thoughts and ideas, creative diction and honest voice. The most popular blogger can simply be a person who convinces enough people to cast vote, can bribe them into it, or use flattery or some other appeal to garner votes, and need not know how to even write one paragraph of material than can pass as artistic.

Let us just call the contest "the most popular blogger of sulekha". I know we live in a democracy, but greatness in science and arts can be never measured by mere popularity index. Else we would have discarded the theory of evolution, Newton's laws, theory of relativity, James Joyce, Salman Rushdie, Keats, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Gurudutt's movies, Jaane bhi do Yaaro, Masoom, Satyajit Ray, Ravi Shankar, S. Chandrashekar, Premchand and Ghalib. (A Zauq was more popular than Ghalib.) Of course, they who swear by popularity index will disagree, though there was a time, not too long ago, when even democracy was an unpopular ideal.


I am adding more material copied from what I posted in the comments section.

The idea that everyone is awesome and equal is an old Marxist ideal. If I were to subscribe to it, there will be no difference between the man who drinks everything his wife earns and sleeps all day long, and a man who works extra shift at night to ensure his kids get the best education. Both men serve a purpose, and both are human beings. Yet there is both a subjective and objective differentiation. There is a clear demarkation between a painting by me and by Van Gogh. Everyone is not a Lata Mangeskar.

As long as we are singing in our own bathrooms, any song, be it out of tune, will work. If we get on the stage to sing, it becomes our responsibility to ensure that what we are singing qualifies as a song. We cannot give everyone the first prize, usually because everyone doesn't deserve the first prize. Similarly, we must not award a singer the first prize because his or her dress is the prettiest, or he or she is the most popular kid in the block.

What anyone writes is his problem. If I am expected to read something, served to me as "the best writing from an Indian blog site with maximum subscribers", and if I see it is a farce, a populist piece with no creativity in it, it becomes my problem.

The standard of excellence must be identified before calling something as brilliant: the idea is simple, yet most people don't value the difference between good, popular and great. In few rare cases, good is popular as well as great. Most of the time, they are three different things.

We have let the celebration of ordinary overwhelm our appreciation of extraordinary. There has not been a non-English writer of value in India for over a decade now. Even the English greats are either foreign educated or live outside the country (and hence were picked and showcased ny foreigner before we started to appreciate them). Do we know why?

AND MORE

I have always had problem with the concept - "Power in hand of people where it really belongs" - for this requires a big responsibility and sensibility on part of voters. Indian democracy (and American too) indicates that 1) people typically chose the "least bad" rather than "most good" from "politically correct, sometimes inept" candidates 2) most of the people never vote, and more than half of those who do, vote against the eventual winner (usually, not always). But you know this already.

Perhaps a look at blogging sites beyond sulekha will enable us to see what difference quality makes to the written word. I agree that sulekha always attracts a pool of exceptionally good writers. So there could be Kishore Kumars and Rafis (and even if you think they cannot be compared, remember that they both always competed for Filmfare and National Awards) , but my point is about distinguishing between Kishore Kumar, Bhimsen Joshi, Bathroom Singer and braying donkeys. I suppose some of us don't think blogging community offfers that range, but it is a human tendency. Our own selves and writings offer this range too, and I value an occasional piece you or I write which rises beyond our typical hogwash. I produce a lot of hogwosh, and so does everyone else, but unless we call "keechad: keechad" (mud as mud), we will not value the lotus that blooms there.

There might be a handful good movies made as opposed to hundred run of the mill. We do revisit those handful and remember them and are influenced by them. I hope to challenge people to remember that there is always that handful that must get a louder response and applause that the other hundred.

Yet maybe that handful doesn't need a loud applause. There are writers who write because they must. They strive, for they believe that becoming better is their duty. They write quite well, but it is mainly for their own satisfaction. They will perhaps only shake their heads and leave the room when the crowd becomes too loud.

(Since there have been a lot of comments, adding some more views I expressed in my responses)

I suppose if many of the sulekha bloggers who claim that there are no good or bad blogs are asked to pick a cricket team for India, they will have half a billion acceptable players, and maybe they will include a few players who don't know how to play, just to encourage them, and ensure no one feels left out. Such mentality is responsible for underperformance of an entire nation, and it is outrageous that equality of opportunity is confused with equality of reward by so many educated people. I hope my dissent against the people who wish to reduce everything and everyone to the lowest common denomitaor will be heard by more and more commentators. A healthy competition only produces better players and challenges us to give our best performances.

I respect the Sulekha Management for creating a forum, a network, rather than just a plotform (like blogger is), for writing. The ideal is "sulekha" and that ideal needs to be realized by they who write or comment on writings. The standard of writing in sulekha is as bad as in a classroom, and yet it also throws up very good pieces every now and then. It may not win a popularity contest, and it might be a reward in itself, yet if we see it, we should applaud it. Similarly grammar, word choices, and criticism are integral part of the belief system of good writers. Writers who care for "sulekha"!

The dream of becoming rich or famous is a curious one: for it requires more effort and sacrifices than a common man can afford. Yet people still dream and want the rewards, without worrying about the means.

My motivation or undercurrent of current piece was to stress the importance of scholarship (which requires hard work, enormous talent and solitude) in writing. No noble prize winning writer ever had the time or energy to sit and network with people. Yet we value their work for their writing, and if we wish to become better writers, we ought to value good writing, aspire for it, celebrate it and honor it. Similarly, we have to recognize that there are good and bad writers, and we have to continuously examine our own writing. It is patient and painstaking struggle. Are we up for it?

9 comments:

Vivek Sharma said...

From sulekha.com (of course)

verboseviju posted 4 hrs ago

Hello Vivek Sharma,

A Palapable Hit! A very palpable hit!

I decided not to participate as my fvaourite writers, who write quality stuff hardly stand any chance.... Reading your blog brought back an aphorism to mind...." Mass is Ass!"
Regards



The Mighty Pen posted 3 hrs ago



Good one, Vivek.

Laud your analysis of the contest.

Cheers,

Divya

(The Mighty Pen)

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geekunnel posted 4 hrs ago

Hi Vivek

Yes!! I fully agree with you!!!

regards

geekunnel

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Vivek Sharma posted 2 hrs ago

Thanks for noticing my post Divya, Verboseviju and Geekunnel.

The standard of excellence must be identified before calling something as brilliant: the idea is simple, yet most people don't value the difference between good, popular and great. In few rare cases, good is popular as well as great. Most of the time, they are three different things.

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Vivek Sharma said...

More from sulekha.com


purefriendship posted 38 mins ago

My dear Vivek sharma,
Great thinking and enhancing blog's importance than the bloggers seen from your blog...
The latest phase of cyber world has paved in a different kind of approach to writing.
ASK anyone these days to write in English, let it be at any levels and we will find it an uphill task despite having learnt the language for many years.
Sad to say, “cut and paste” is becoming the norm in academic work, and blogs these days and this can even be found in many blogs written at the higher level.
People are now become very lazy to shore up their thoughts in to actions and resorts to Ctrl+c & P . That's a fashon of present day cyber world...
Why not devolp some new concepts and express it in a spontanious way of approach to meaning ful dialogue or discussions on any subjects worthy.
Whiling away our time should be useful to self and others, The need is to identify the concepts of social , personal and community based needs & socio awareness with personality developments is a must to blog and discuss. There by we can share, learn a meaningful moments of messages.
We should realise that what is indispensable in writing is for both the thinking and writing processes to be interlaced to produce something meaningful.
Thinking is an activity of the mind that generates and develops ideas, and therefore it should precede writing.
Let us build up the confidence within us before blogging and the results are fantastic.

Subbu

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ShobanaSundar posted 2 hrs ago

I agree that there will be a lot of heartburn but surely things are being taken out of proportion. It is simple enough to say you like someone's writing and vote for it. The reasons for the liking could be varied. The contest is not for the best literary piece. Blogging encompasses a lot of things and sometimes even frivolous stuff is put across in such an enjoyable manner.

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yash chhabra posted 2 hrs ago

Excellent write.I agree to your views but not fully..Be it a popular or best blogger, it makes little difference..Publishing can not be a critaria..you can find many books lying in dust in libraries. People can also manupulate to get them published.

I feel one who writes,whatever he/she writes..poetry,stories,fiction or other blogs,he/she knows it how good his/her write is.If my soul say I am writing good, then I should not worry people like my post or not , but I should ensure that they should not dislike them. Then all these things like best blogger,ranking ,reatured posts are of no value to me. This is my personal view.

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sophizz posted 2 hrs ago

wow...you have said that well....i vote this blog...
really well said
i do agree 100 % with you here!

cheers
sophia

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Rama Rao Garimella posted 2 hrs ago

My dear Vivek Sharma,
Permit me to differ with you. The word "most popular" itself is open to criticism. I am going to give a few concrete examples. I hope the bloggers mentioned do not take any offence.
1. WAR AND CAPITALISM By memorymanmee is a well researched, well presented and an excellent blog. It shows that the blogger has an in depth knowledge of economic theories and he presented his point of view in a lucid argument. Of course no two economists agree on any point and the debate it generated was very healthy. The comments posted on the blog also showed that those who commented are equally well equipped with knowledge of economics . If I were to rate that blog I would have given it 5 stars. But I could not comment on that as economics is one of many subjects in which my knowledge is bordering on zero. But it had only 231 views and 65 comments.
2. Nargis Natarajan a popular blogger wroteTHE GROUND BENEATH MY FEET about her discomfiture on breaking a heel of her stiletto in Dubai-(if she doesn't mind my calling it) - is at best an account of trivial incident. It had 448 views and119 comments.
3. A RUINED HONEYMOON by me which narrated my troubles when the reservation of a guest house in my name was put to nought by a famous political person was also at best an account of a not too significant event. It had a whooping 1841 views and 31 comments.
Just because it had so many views I am not going to blow my trumpet that I am the most popular blogger of the three. If I do I would subject myself to ridicule.
So what does your barometre indicate? How do u judge a popular blogger?
I think that choosing a popular blogger is as futile an exercise as choosing the best blogger of the year. At best it will ruffle many feathers and hurt many egos.
Reputed magazines like TIME and INDIA TODAYselect a person who influenced the events of the world in a particular year and publish his photograph on the cover of the first issue of the year They also give a detailed write upfor their selection Is Sulekha team up to it?.
A blog must have some purpose or convey a message or put across a point to generate a healthy debate. Blogging for its own sake I think is not much useful except it helps the blogger to sharpen his/her writing skills.
Further the networking that goes on has its own troubles. Bloggers form into some groups for various reasons and even when the blog is full of mistakes, wrong notions and even oxymorons get many comments praisng the blog and blogger sky high.
I also noticed that Sulekha features many blogs just because they are in verse without checking the quality of the verses. A good portion of the poetry on Sulekha leaves much to be desired.
In conclusion I would like to submit that there is no suitable index to compare the blogs or bloggers; no recognised parametres to help the Sulekha team to decide on this all importnt question presently engaging the attention of many bloggers. Contests for short story writing or a blog on some specific subject are perhaps better options.
In my opinion all bloggers are intrinisically good and should not be put through a contest wherein a lot of subjectivity comes into play.
Ramarao
.

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sima sach posted 2 hrs ago

YES , I M FULLY AGREE WITH U................SEEMA

Vivek Sharma said...

sulekha.com continues

Vivek Sharma posted 1 min ago

Thanks subbu, ramarao, sophizz, yash, shobana!

Ramarao ji, the idea that everyone is awesome and equal is an old Marxist ideal. If I were to subscribe to it, there will be no difference between the man who drinks everything his wife earns and sleeps all day long, and a man who works extra shift at night to ensure his kids get the best education. Both men serve a purpose, and both are human beings. Yet there is both a subjective and objective differentiation. There is a clear demarkation between a painting by me and by Van Gogh. Everyone is not Lata Mangeskar.

As long as we are singing in our own bathrooms, any song, be it out of tune, will work. If we get on the stage to sing, it becomes our responsibility to ensure that what we are singing qualifies a song. We cannot give everyone first prize, usually because everyone doesn't deserve first prize. Similarly, we must not award a singer the first prize because his or her dress is prettiest, or he or she is most popular kid in the block.

What anyone writes is his problem. If I am expected to read something, served to me as the best writing from an Indian blog site, and if I see it is a farce, a populist piece with no creativity in it, it becomes my problem.

We have let the celebration of ordinary overwhelm our appreciation of extraordinary. There has not been a non-English writer of value in India for over a decade now. Even the English greats are either foreign educated or live outside the country (and hence were picked and showcased ny foreigner before we started to appreciate them). Do we know why?

Vivek Sharma said...

Some more from sulekha.com


Vivek Sharma posted 1 min ago

I am always amused and disturbed somewhat by justifications offered.

BigMojo: You made a very very interesting point, and my friend, as long as that distinction (that to be an artist would require more skill, more work) is clear, I agree with you. I have always had problem with the concept - "Power in hand of people where it really belongs" - for this requires a big responsibility and sensibility on part of voters. Indian democracy (and American too) indicates that 1) people typically chose the "least bad" rather than "most good" from "politically correct, sometimes inept" candidates 2) most of the people never vote, and more than half of those who do, vote against the eventual winner (usually, not always). But you know this already:).

Ramarao: Perhaps a look at blogging sites beyond sulekha will enable you to see what difference quality makes to the written word. I agree that sulekha always attracts a pool of exceptionally good writers. So there could be Kishore Kumars and Rafis (and they both always competed for Filmfare and National Awards) , but my point was about distinguishing between Kishore Kumar, Bhimsen Joshi, Bathroom Singer and braying donkeys. I suppose you don't think blogging community offfers that range, but it is a human tendency. Our own selves and writings offer this range too, and I value an occasional piece you or I write which rises beyond our typical hogwash. I produce a lot of hogwosh, and so does everyone else, but unless we call "keechad: keechad" (mud as mud), we will not value the lotus that blooms there.

RMahduri: There might be a handful good movies made as opposed to hundred run of the mill. We do revisit those handful and remember them and are influenced by them. I hope to challenge people to remember that there is always that handful that must get a louder response and applause that the other hundred.

Yet maybe that handful doesn't need a loud applause. There are writers who write because they must, they strive, for they believe that becoming better is their duty and they write well for their own satisfaction. They will perhaps only shake their heads and leave the room when crowd becomes too loud.

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rmadhuri posted 2 hrs ago

Hear hear :)) !!!! But this is how it works in India...You only have to look at the money silly pointless movies make :(( !!!

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BigMojo posted 2 hrs ago

right... and most of us here are qualified enough to discover the real 'gems'.. the artists.. creators.. thinkers...who are blogging... give me a break..:-))) blogging is about giving power in the hands of people where it truly belongs... not giving it to some select group who can then tell us that who is good and who is bad... this is democratic 'expressions'.. not some art club.. please don't compare bloggers with artists.. that is an insult to both..:-))

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Rama Rao Garimella posted 3 hrs ago

My dear Vivek Sharma,
I think u missed my point completely. Here we are not talking about bathroom singers but the cream of the blogers. Canu say whether Md Rafi was greater than Kishore Kumar? At a certain stage it becomes very difficult to decide. If u want to decide on anything u must lay down the parametres for judging. Anyway it is not my intention to start or continue an argument. I said my piece. U can take it or leave it.
Ramarao

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Vivek Sharma said...

more from sulekha.com


Rrakhee posted 39 mins ago



Vivek,



I see a point in your write up. Yeah!! It is a contest of popularity which may or may not select the best blogger. But, then what do you call the best in blogging? Everybody’s definition of “Best in Blogging” is different. To me, any write up that I can relate to is best at that point in time. I cannot choose a single blogger as the best as I like a handful of writers and there are new bloggers coming in, they add the freshness to the scene.



Coming back to the best blogger, Sulekha had to come up with some parameter to judge. So, the parameter is voting here which again culminates into popularity. I think, contests in blogging is the new fad that Sulekha has come up with to maintain the site hits. They have to do that to run a business. As long as it brings some fun, it is fine. It is a win-win for Sulekha and us members. Those who are looking at publishing their article they will concentrate on Blogprint. But as a layman, Sulekha give you a choice to read. If I want to read a good literature, I will read real books. I come to Sulekha to see people like you and me writing – which may or may not be a piece of art yet it has a personal touch. I think, everyone has a place here.



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sanghouston posted 1 hour ago

O.K. to some extent I agree with what you say. This could become a populist contest ... fine, but then why can't we try to change this in to a real contest ... by voting for those quality writers who may not be popular and deserve to get the attention. Surely you must have come acroos several posts and several bloggers who deserve that credit ... of being a good writer. Vote for them and everything changes!



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rmadhuri posted 1 hour ago

Vivek - shake their heads and leave the room when crowd becomes too loud - its rather a pity...but such is life!!! Good one!

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Anne-G posted 1 hour ago

The most popular blogger can simply be a person who convinces enough people to cast vote, can bribe them into it, or use flattery or some other appeal to garner votes, and need not know how to even write one paragraph of material than can pass as artistic.

That's true!

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Vivek Sharma said...

here is some more:


apurba20 posted 15 mins ago

Vivek,
You have put the cat among the pigeons when you mention that popular is not always the best. In fact, it seldom is, as pointed out excellently by you. No wonder there is a stream of dissent. It is but natural that the bloggers who have build their popularity over the months would seek to enhance their image, and what better than such contests that seek to pick the 'best' one.
I must also appreciate the fact that you have championed the cause of the non-marketeers amongst us, who still prefer to put their entire faith on the pen, rather than on spreading their word around.
That too from somebody who is immensely popular! Excellent, Vivek. Sometimes there is no better joy than singing with one's heart out, in the confines of the bathroom.
Apurba

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Vivek Sharma posted 46 mins ago

Thanks Anne-G, RMadhuri, Rrakhee, Womanslove and Sanghouston.

I hope my dissent against the people who wish to reduce everything and everyone to the lowest common denomitaor will be heard by more and more commentators. A healthy competition only produces better players and challenges us to give our best performances.

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womanslove posted 1 hour ago

It is such a mature write. So… passionate and yet clear sighted..thats all from me Vivek

Vivek Sharma said...

Some more from sulekha.com


Vivek Sharma posted 32 mins ago

I guess I respect Sulekha Management for creating a forum, a network, rather than just a plotform (like blogger is), for writing. The ideal is "sulekha" and that ideal needs to be realized by they who write or comment on writings. The standard of writing in sulekha is as bad as in a classroom, and yet it also throws up very good pieces every now and then.

The dream of becoming rich and famous is a curious one: for it requires more effort and sacrifices than a common man can afford. Yet people still dream and want the rewards, without worrying about the means.

My motivation or undercurrent of current piece was to stress the importance of scholarship (which requires hard work, enormous talent and solitude) in writing. No noble prize winning writer ever had the time or energy to sit and network with people. Yet we value their work for their writing, and if we wish to become better writers, we ought to value good writing, aspire for it, celebrate it and honor it. Similarly, we have to recognize that there are good and bad writers, and we have to continuously examine our own writing. It is patient, painstaking, endless struggle. Are we up for it?

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Ratan Datta posted 14 hrs ago

Mr.Vivek Sharma,

If it is not the most popular one,who all would judge and criteria of selection is not known and not within our control. From what is show cased and on the spot, it is quite evident that the so called " quality " is non existent.

Sulekha Management and some Sulekha Members thought "Reward Points" was the Cause of all evils in Sulekha. It was stopped. At least , I have not seen any change, may be I do not
have the competence .

So, I am not excited. I have my list of bloggers, and I read them. I often do not read some the blogs even after they remain show cased for one week, because I have my opinion about them. I am sure others too have their opinion about me and what I write.

I do not have faith on Team which selects blogs.Let them decide on the "Best Blog" and "Best Blogger". I am not concerned.

Best wishes.

Ratan Datta

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Vivek Sharma posted 19 hrs ago

Apurba I am a great bathroom singer myself:)

I suppose if many of the sulekha bloggers who claim that there are no good or bad blogs are asked to pick a cricket team for India, they will have half a billion acceptable players, and maybe they will include a few players who don't know how to play, just to encourage them, and ensure no one feels left out. Such mentality is responsible for underperformance of an entire nation, and it is outrageous that equality of opportunity is confused with equality of reward by so many educated people.

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rajee kushwaha posted 20 hrs ago

Hi there!
Whether to select the 'best' or the 'popular', why should there be a contest? What recognition wolud they get when 60% bloggers here are under fake identity? Contests and elections, dear, vitiate the atmosphere.
I am of the view that such practices will not popularise SULEKHA. let people engage in meaningful discussions and debates. Sulekha can start its own DAILY or WEEKLY debates on important subjects concerning the nation or the world.
Sulekha can start its 'DAILY or WEEKLY NEWS LETTER--WHERE IT CAN PUBLISH DAY'S / WEEKLY BEST BLOGS OR COMMENTS.
There many other ways to infuse more life into Sulekha.Regards.Rajee

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Vivek Sharma said...

more from sulekha


veenaapponavan posted 13 hrs ago

"There has not been a non-English writer of value in India for over a decade now. "

I'm not sure what you had in mind when you wrote this. If you feel there is no non-English writer who writes in English, that is a different thing. I do not have the background to comment on that.

But, at least in Tamil, I have read some very good writers of novels and short stories recently. That these writers' works have not been translated in to English does not reduce their value.

And it is difficult to translate all literature in to one common language and 'benchmark' them.

- vp

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Avinashjee posted 22 hrs ago

Vivek,
I entirely agree with you. Popular is now always - actually very rarely - synonymous with good. I also liked the sentence which lays bare the situation as it obtains currently in India - We have let the celebration of ordinary overwhelm our appreciation of extraordinary.

A very very good post. Thanks for writing this.
Avinash

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Vivek Sharma posted 1 day ago

:) Really Indu ji?

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Indu3 posted 2 days ago

Vivek,

To me there are no good writers and bad writers. Except a person who writes to hurt others and keep on insulting others, every one is good.

The writings we have our own preference of subjects and when we read our favorite subjects we enjoy them.

It is a nice thought provoking post.

Enjoyed the blog and comments too.

Indu

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Vivek Sharma said...

and more:


Vivek Sharma posted 7 mins ago

Much thanks Veenaapponavan: The September 2007 issue of Poetry magazine carried an essay about Tamil Poetry, written by R. Parthasarthy. I suppose you will like it as much as I did (and my comment to that effect is published in Dec issue).

I will look out for the history book. I have read Subramanium Bharati's poems in Hindi (a while ago) and I have read Kural (I know English translation is not going to carry the music of Tamil, but it gives me a flavor of the poems). I will save the names and see if I can find their work.

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veenaapponavan posted 1 hour ago

Sorry, it is 'Naveena Thamizh Ilakkiya Arimugam'. -vp

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veenaapponavan posted 1 hour ago

1. It is true that good writing gets burried under popular writing, whether in sulekha or in the print medium. It is sad but it is natural too. Not only in literature but In all the art forms.

2. Subramaniya Bharathi is denitely the starting point of several forms of modern tamil literature. However, the current importance of his work is more historical than literary. He is not a towering literary personality (of course, his overall personality is still something that provides inspiration to any tamil writer).

3. Some Tamil writers - Jeyamohan (novels, short stories, essays), S.Ramakrishnan (novels, short stories), Manushyaputhiran, Francis Kiruba, Uma Maheswari (poems). A good starting place would be a history of modern tamil literature by Jeyamohan (Naveena Thamizh Ilakkiya Varalaaru).

- vp

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charuavi posted 7 hrs ago

Dear Vivek Sharma,

I agree with you 100%. There are very few good blogs on Sulekha and I hardly read any because I have sampled a few and did not find them to my liking.

I would rather read http://classicreader.com.

However, Sulekha is still is a highly popular portal and a good platform for Indian bloggers.

Charuavi



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Vivek Sharma posted 11 hrs ago

veenaapponavan,

There are definitely writers and poets who have been putting their work out, every now and then, and I agree some of it is quite good. Yet if we consider any Indian language, the stature enjoyed by Subramanium in Tamil, Tagore or Sarat Chandra in Bengali, Dharamveer Bharati or Bachchan or Dinkar or Nirala in Hindi, Amrita Pritam in Panjabi, is not reached by any writer. I'll like to know of writers below age of sixty, who enjoy an a substantial audience. My argument is not about paucity of talent or quality of writing anyway, but it is about the lack of appreciation of good and great writing. When everyone writes and no one reads, we get a dilution in standards, and the writings that must be valued go unnoticed.

Since you mention that you have read some really good work in Tamil recently, please do mention a few names. I have enough Tamil friends, and maybe I can force someone to give me a flavor of the writing through partial, impromptu or complete translation.