Why poet Ashok Vajpeyi pulled out of Parallel Literature Festival
Arguably the country's biggest literary event, the Jaipur Literature Festival, is no stranger to controversy. The festival has had a history of fierce debates and confrontation of ideologies. However, in its 11th year, it is facing "resistance" from the Parallel Literature Festival - Samanantar Sahitya Utsav.
The three-day Samanantar Sahitya Utsav (now popularly referred to as PLF), organised in the Pink City from January 27 to 29, coincides with the dates of its better-known rival JLF – January 25-29. According to this report in The Asian Age, event convenor Krishna Dev Kalpit explained that the event is a protest against the "marketisation of literature" and "an alternative for Indian writers and poets who are ignored by the highly commercialised JLF".
However, on its first day, the Parallel Literature Festival itself has been hit by a major controversy after well-known Hindi poet and essayist, Ashok Vajpeyi, pulled out of the festival. The writer posted on Facebook that he is taking the decision because he did not want to be associated with an event convened by Krishna Dev Kalpit, who in the past has been alleged of making "indecent and highly objectionable" remarks against female writers.
He further went on to explain, "In light of such a person convening the event, for me to be part of the PLF would represent supporting the indecent and objectionable behaviour of this person, which my conscience would not allow."
Not the only voice
Ashok Vajpeyi's, however, is not an isolated voice of criticism. As Satyagrah explains, senior journalist and writer, Om Thanvi, too, had earlier criticised the appointment of Krishna Dev Kalpit as the convenor of the PLF. Taking to Facebook, he had called out Kalpit for his sexist behaviour and criticised him for terming the participating writers as “traders” and comparing the JLF to "a donkey fair”.
Thanvi even pointed out that both the chairman and general secretary of the PLF had previously played a part in organising the Jaipur Literary Festival, and as such, to call the festival by such names would mean mocking the PLF itself.
Literary minds? Convener of Parallel Literature Festivals says that participating writers of Jaipur Literature Festival are “traders”! Not only this, he says JLF is “Parallel to Donkeys Fair”. Ugly mind, undoubtedly. #JLF #PLF pic.twitter.com/X7ol9oHwPE
— Om Thanvi (@omthanvi) January 19, 2018
Following this, Thanvi was axed from the PLF lineup and his invitation to the event was revoked. However, the irony of the "progressive" decision was not lost on him.
Parallel Literature Festival Jaipur’s Chairman invites me to attend the event. His chief coordinator says NO, because I raised question against appointment of a corrupt and anti-feminist man as PLF’s convener. Funny progressives! Still talk about values, freedom and democracy!
— Om Thanvi (@omthanvi) January 19, 2018
Well, it seems the Samanantar Sahitya Utsav is literally running parallel to the JLT (in terms of controversies) and creating quite a ripple.