संगीता गुन्देचा कि पडिक्कमा

5th July, 2023: स्वामी विवेकानन्द लाइब्रेरी में संगीता गुन्देचा के साथ कविताओं पर चर्चा करते हुए एक शाम बिताई।
क्लब लिटराटी द्वारा आयोजित पुस्तक चर्चा का विषय संगीता गुन्देचा की नई प्रकाशित पुस्तक के बारे में था, जो न केवल एक कवि हैं, बल्कि एक कहानीकार, निबंधकार, अनुवादक और नाट्यशास्त्रज्ञ भी हैं। चर्चा की संचालन डॉ. रेखा श्रीवास्तव ने किया और शाम की कवयित्री संगीता गुंदेचा के साथ अंतरंग चर्चा के लिए ध्रुव शुक्ल, अरुणाभ  सौरभ और गीत चतुर्वेदी भी शामिल हुए।
जब संगीता गुन्देचा से पूछा गया कि उन्होंने ने अपनी किताब का नाम पडीक्कमा क्यों रखा है तो उन्होंने जवाब दिया कि पडीक्कमा प्राकृत भाषा का शब्द है। इस शब्द का मूल है पडिक्कमन, जिसका अर्थ है लौटना। पडिक्कमा कविता साल 2019 में दो रिश्तेदारों यानी बाबूजी (पिता सीएम गुन्देचा) और विमल दा (बड़े भाई रमाकांत गुन्देचा) की वापसी पर लिखी गई है। यह कविता परिवार के इन दो सदस्यों की मृत्यु के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है। किताब का नाम भी पडीक्कमा है क्योंकि कविता करना अपने मृतकों और परिक्रमा पर निकले पूर्वजों की परिक्रमा करने जैसा है।
संगीता गुन्देचा ने संस्कृत के चम्पूकाव्य, जिसमें पद्य और गद्य दोनों समाहित हैं, से प्रेरित होकर हिंदी साहित्य में पडीक्कमा कविता लिखकर ‘चम्पू कविता’ नामक एक नई शैली को जन्म दिया। यह उनके काव्य संग्रह का हिंदी साहित्य को एक महत्वपूर्ण योगदान है।
पैनल के सदस्यों ने पुस्तक पर अपने विचार भी साझा किये।

Book Discussion: By The Sea

The discussion for the book, By the Sea by Abudulrazaq Gurnah started with an introduction about the club by Dr. Seema Raizada. Dr. Raizada also talked about Literati Inkpad magazine which has the section of “Our Choice” which includes names of the books from different authors and “By the Sea” was one of them.  The evening then went ahead with the introduction about the author by Adeena Syed. The introduction about the author included his history, his career and of course his writings. Anshu Vaish led the discussion of the book and told the Club Literati members about the book. Mrs. Vaish stated that though the plot is simple then the story holds you with emotions of betrayal, homesickness, empathy and much more. By the Sea, a profound work  with deep universal vision, is a story of an exile with a fake name.

Anshu Vaish, giving her review on By the Sea.

The fact that the book has common people as its protagonist who are trying to make a place in the world, makes it full of emotions, as well as interesting. Mrs. Vaish also read a few passages from the book, making the audience lean out of their seats to hear the work.

Dr. Seema Raizada giving her input on the book.

Mrs. Kaneez Rizwi shared that we have all been there in being in that non belongingness and that’s what she identified in the book.

Taneema Datta, a professor of economics, shared her views on the book and read her favourite passage from the first few chapters. The discussion was vibrant and full of interest and promises of more in future. And the evening was concluded with the vote of thanks by Shivangi.

Cultures and Rituals

Reading fantasy is fine is escape the reality but one need to read about reality too, to be able to live it in a proper way.

There are not one but many books telling us about the how to live a life. Another hundred books telling us the history of different time. Another thousands of books on how to be a success in life but as Dr. Kiran Cadha put it in her discussion on 15th January, 2023 at Bhojpur Club, there are not many books on rituals on Hindu weddings. Each ritual holds something important for the future of the couple’s life ahead so of course it important they follow each of it but do we all know about these rituals?

Club Literati brought forth the author of Dalhousie…through My Eyes, Echoes of the Heart…Dil Se, Ehsas: Dil Se and Magic of Indian Weddings which was the hot topic for our discussion.

Club Literati’s moderators, Manjusha Khanna and Parminder Kaur. The sessions was full of laughter and lessons and Dr. Chadha answered all the questions from moderators as well as from audience with all her heart and gave the insights on her own life.

She talked about numerous things and frowned upon few new generation practices where there is too much selfishness yet so little of self love. The author promoted self love saying, “You can’t spread happiness unless you are happy yourself and you cannot be happy unless you love yourself.”

The author sang a Punjabi wedding song at the end of the discussion for the audience and was joined by others too. The multi talented Dr. Kiran Chadha is not only an amazing writer but also full of life and lessons for not only youngsters but women all around and of all ages!