Book Brahma fest opens with conversation between languages

On the opening day of the Book Brahma Literature Festival, a panel discussion titled "Linguistic Hegemony: Indian Languages and the Federal Imagination" took place. The panel included M.S. Ashadevi, an academic, writer, and translator, who argued that Akka Mahadevi, a historical figure, is among the most modern writers in history. Ashadevi stated that translating Akka's works is challenging because of her advanced thoughts and ideology, not due to her historical context.

O.L. Nagabhushana Swamy, another panelist, pointed out that translating Kannada works into English is particularly difficult. He explained that English, as a powerful language, can create a sense of inferiority among non-speakers, unlike in India where English is present in various states but lacks institutional support. Swamy expressed that English is not considered a hegemonic language in the field of literature.

Keshava Guha, another panelist, noted that English is no longer a colonial language but a means of securing jobs and connecting with other countries. He emphasized that English, like Hindi, is hegemonic in certain areas but is an orphan language in India, with each state having its own literary culture and institutions.

N.S. Madhavan discussed how migration has led to a blend of languages. He explained that people in his state learn Hindi to communicate with domestic helps and drivers, while children of workers learn English for better access to education. Madhavan highlighted the importance of learning English for understanding encyclopedias and scientific research, while also maintaining the essence of regional and foreign languages like Russian, German, and Portuguese.

The festival director, Satish Chapparike, described the three-day event as a celebration of readers and the richness of Indian language literature, particularly from South India. He emphasized that India's diversity is not an obstacle to unity. The festival featured a solo session by actor and director Ramesh Aravind and a special screening of Vagachi Pani directed by Natesh Hegde, along with several panel discussions.