Writing Is Freedom Of Speech And Exercise Of Conscience

When you think of a writer what imagery comes to mind? Is it one of the raggedy looking fellow sitting unshaven at a cafe trying to gain inspiration from those around him but failing to write his first sentence? Is it one of the famous author sipping expensive coffee in some exotic location?
The imagery of a writer holds both a romance and a mysterious aspect for the average person. It is precisely this notion of authors that has allowed the movie moguls in Hollywood to continue to portray writers in such romantic roles. The ideal of a writer sells.
For us, the imagery of the author is the heart and soul of the community and by extension the nation state. Writers, with their powerful use of words, are the voices of those who for whatever reason cannot find their own voice.
But this imagery is challenged and betrayed in a nation state given over to cruel dictatorship rule. Often times it is the journalists who are rounded up and silenced if they do not tow the government sanctioned message. But writers are our connected to the inner thoughts and feelings that we leave unspoken.
It is precisely these sentiments that made the second day of the Jaipur Literature Festival the most thought provoking. The session was entitled ‘The Writer and the State’ and boasted a stellar cast.
Like every author, there are difficulties in criticizing any established government whether democratic or dictatorial. And for the writer it is all about the narrative. This can be blurred when a person is the child of those who experienced the actually event.
Indeed, Selma Dabbagh, daughter of a dispossessed Palestinian father, expressed it remarkably, “I have this mixed background in which my father was dispossessed in 1948 – the normal narrative and yet I have not lived through the occupation. People are very possessive about their narratives and for an outsider like me it is very difficult which one to choose.”(Vaiju Naravane, 2013)
All of the panelist had some great thoughts and are indeed great writers and thinker of our time. The writers are making their voices heard in a most powerful manner.
And we as humble writers live with the passion within us for the story to be told.
Let me know how you feel about the issue