Jagate Thiba Jetedina (My column in Odia in Samaja Saptahika this week)

WINDOW SEAT (My Column in www.orissadiary.com)

Matriculation Examination

Matriculation examination is considered as mother of all examinations, at least in Odisha. And this year it has recently started to the deep indignation of some of the examinees because the exam timings have coincided with the ICC Cricket Worldcup.

As I see the young students going to the exam centre I remember the good old days, when we went through this situation. We were taught late into the nights by our school teachers. For many of them our passing or failing was their prestige issue.  In our lower middle class family, only the matric examinee used to get an apple a day during exam time. One bottle of Horlicks was his/her due. Other siblings would only look at the bottle and wished they would grow up quickly to face the matriculation exam so that they could also have a hot cup of that concoction.

Mango Flower

This year in Odisha, mango trees have flowered very well. Almost all the mango trees that I see in Dhenkanal and other places are laden with sweet smelling flowers (baula, we call it in Odia). Farmers believe that if the mango flowers well, then the paddy harvest will also be good. So it is a good sign for the farmers and also for the mango lovers like me.

Bramhaputra

Recently I had been to Guwahati, capital of Assam. I was taken to visit the two places Guwahati is famous for: Kamakhya Devi Temple and River Bramhaputra. It was my second visit to Guwahati and second visit to the banks of Bramhaputra, one of the few rivers that is considered ‘male’.  And both the times the first impression was of  awe.

It is a mighty river that flows through several countries. With its origin in the Angsi Glacier, located on the northern side of the Himalayas in Burang County of Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo River it flows across southern Tibet to break through the Himalayas in great gorges (including the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon) and into Arunachal Pradesh (India) where it is known as Dihang. It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna (not to be mistaken with Yamuna of India). In the vast Ganges Delta it merges with the Padma, the main distributary of the Ganges, then the Meghna, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

It has influenced the local culture of several states and in all those states there are songs dedicated to the river. Bhupen Hazarika had sung number of songs on the river. Director Jhanu Badua has done a beautiful documentary on Bramhaputra.

As I cruise along the river enjoying the refreshing cool breeze, I bowed my head in reverence to the mighty river.

Tailpiece

Prayer just before the Union Budget:

Hon’ble Finance Minister, Govt. of India

Dear Sir,

Kindly add/consider women shopping bills as an investment proff of u/s 80 C.

From Helpless Husbands.

(Got it from a social media post)

***

25.2.2015

Mrinal Chatterjee is a journalist turned media academician. Besides teaching he also writes fiction and plays. He lives at Dhenkanal in Central Odisha with his family and can be contacted at mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

This column regularly appears in www.orissadiary.com

http://orissadiary.com/ShowOriyaColumn.asp?id=57591

ARTICLE

Internet and Odia Literary Magazines: Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee

mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com

Excerpted from a lecture delivered on the same subject organised by Odisha State Sahitya Academy on 27 October 2013 in Bhubaneswar. 

Introduction

Odia literary magazines have been published from mid nineteenth century. They have played significant role in establishing the identity of Odia language, shaping the language, setting new trends in Odia literature, helping freedom movement and several socio-political movements in Odisha, besides providing entertainment and aesthetic pleasure to the readers.

Over the years, Odia literary magazines have faced many challenges. Three major challenges before Odia literary magazines have been:  poor readership, poor finance and amateur management. Interestingly dearth of content has never been a big challenge, until recently. Many of the Odia literary magazines died young. In fact, casualty figure of Odia literary magazines has been exceptionally high. However, thanks to the sheer passion of some litterateurs and literature lovers the stream of Odia literary magazines never dried up. It found new tributaries and continued.

By mid 2013, Odisha has about 100 literary magazines, published from all over the state. However, majority of them are published from Cuttack, the traditional publishing hub and Bhubaneswar, the new Capital city. About 20 of them are regularly published. Rest are irregular. Many of the literary magazines are occasionally published. Many literary magazines are published during Puja (October), Bisuba (April, on the occasion of Odia New Year) and English New Year.

Internet was introduced in India in 1995. Odisha, fortunately had a relatively strong telecom backbone and had access to Internet fairly early. However, the penetration was slow because of several reasons (discussion of which is beyond the scope of this article). As per census 2011, Internet penetration in India was 3.1 per cent. In Odisha it was 1.4 per cent. However it is rising very fast. Majority of the users happen to be youth in the age group of 18-35.

Odia newspapers took to Internet by 1999. It is in the new millennium that more newspapers and even periodicals marked their presence on the web by launching their websites. Though there were not many visitors from the State, it provided them the opportunity to connect with the Odia diaspora worldwide. It also accorded them a status of ‘coming of age’.

By mid 2014, several established Odia literary magazines are on web platform, besides print and few audio book and audio visual version. There are about a dozen web only literary magazines. About half of them are active. About half a dozen web only semi-literary magazines are run, mostly by Non Resident Odia (NRO) organisations across the world. Many of the literary magazines are active in social media platform as well.

This essay will discuss the impact of Internet on the Odia literary magazines on three aspects: content, business and management. It will take into consideration the established literary magazines (with or without presence on web) and the active web-only magazines.  

Challenges that Odia Literary magazine are facing

In the second decade of the new millennium, Odia literary magazines are facing four major challenges now.

1.       Low Readership

2.       Amateur Management

3.       Poor financial status

4.       Not many research based quality creations

These form a vicious circle.

Low readership and amateur management lead to low advertiser enthusiasm, which again leads to low revenue. Low revenue/income means less money for investment in high quality input for the end product, which translates to poorer quality product in terms of paper and printing quality; also low (in most cases- zero) payment to the writers. Low payment to the writers leads to reduced interest, particularly in the area which requires investment of time and extensive research and travel. Without consistent high quality content, the readership is impacted. The vicious circle is complete and it continues to hang around the neck of Odia literary magazines.

What are the reasons?

a.       A dip in the interest in studying Odia literature, especially by the upper and middle class. In fact there is a marked dip in overall engagement with Odia language, despite it being given official status with certain rules that mandate engagement with Odia language in several spheres including primary and secondary education. There is a marked decline in the number of students opting for Odia as an honours subject in graduation level and in Masters level. This has impacted the quality of Odia language and literature education as well. Over the years there is a marked dearth of good students and a lack of enthusiasm and respect for the discipline.

b.      Literature, especially serious Odia literature is gradually being pushed out of social discourse among educated Odia knowing population. Without a vibrant social discourse, the younger generation hardly feels the importance of it in their social life and in shaping their aesthetic sensibility.

c.       Odia literary magazines have somehow not being able to link themselves with the cultural identity of the Odia as people- the way Bengali literature or Tamil literature have been able to do. It has not been an ‘in thing’ to learn the language or study the literature, or keep oneself abreast with the latest in literary world. There is no sense of remorse if an educated Odia does not know the language or its literature. Or, sense of pride if one does.  

d.      Low circulation (especially among the elite class) of literary magazines attracts less advertisement, which translates to its poor financial status. There is a need to cut cost. The result often is low quality paper, printing and less payment to the writers. Of late fierce competition among the literary magazines forced them not to economize on quality of paper and printing. They economise by paying lesser amount to the writer. The premise is: “creative writers write out of the urge to write and get published. They do not need money. Nor is there any need to pay them. They will write anyway.” Also this: “the writers need us more than we need them. In fact we are doing them a favour by publishing them. So instead of us paying them, they should pay us.” And in fact this is happening to some extent in Odia book publishing world.   

e.      As there is no adequate compensation, many creative writers are shying away from putting in the amount of effort and time- the work warrants. Of course there is no direct relationship between less compensation and quality of work of art, but  it impacts the motivation level at some point of time and that impacts the overall quality of the creation. Especially in creations which require extensive research and time.

How Internet is impacting?

a.       Opening the world  to get better access and dissemination

b.      More young men are accessing and using this

c.       English being the major operating language, English knowing people take better advantage

Impact on Odia literary Magazines

Challenges

a.       Impacting Readership: Young, educated  men and women are moving away as they are getting acess to other language literature. English, being the major operating language, it is enjoying a huge advantage.

b.      Impacting Sales: Sale is down, as people with access to net prefer to read on Internet. And without paying anything for the content.

c.       Impacting Content: Bi-lingual Writers, especially Young writers  prefer to write in English to reach larger group of readers.

d.      Impacting Contact with the writers: Most of our writers are not Internet savvy. They are losing connect with this net-addicted group

e.      One needs net-interested if not net-savvy people to create and maintain website of litetary magazines.

Opprtunities

a.       Worldwide market. Target First Generation Odia diaspora.

b.      Try to teach Odia to second/third generation NR Odia

What we should do

Govt.:

a.       Appreciate the need to be on Internet and to use it.

b.      Use organisations like Sahitya Academy to act like an information portal for Odia literature, litterateurs and also for literary magazines.

c.       Help the literary magazines to come aboard Internet. Provide them a platform. This could be done through Sahitya Academy.   

Literary Magazines

a.       Go aboard Internet. Expand your reach.

b.      Modify content to cater to the taste and need of the youth as they form 60 per cent of the population.

c.       Today’s youth is tech-savvy, who has a whole world of information at his/her tip.

d.      Try to monetise the content. Act as literary agent of the writer. Organise events. Promote writers as brand.

e.      Form an easy payment gate.

Writers

a.       Be Internet savvy. Learn the tool. Use it.

b.      Use Internet to do proper research

c.       Use Internet to translate your writings into other language.

d.      Use softwares and templates to move the content to different forms, e.g. story to screenplay. 

e.      Forge connection with the readers. Social media offers you the opportunity. Without that connect you will not be known, unless you r exceptionally brilliant.

***

The author, a journalist turned media academician is a well known fiction writer and columnist.  He writes in Odia and English. He has published 6 novels, 3 short story collections and 4 ‘table talk’ collection. Many of his novels and short stories have been translated in Hindi, English, Bengali and other languages. Presently he heads the Eastern India campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communications.

Opinions expressed in this article in his own.

Sanchar Marg, Dhenkanal 759 001.

26 July 2014

JOB OPPORTUNITY

JIMMC, Noida, a media training centre set up by the Jagran Education Foundation (a part of the Dainik Jagran Group), is looking for a faculty to teach graduate and post-graduate students:

Specialisation : Advertising (both Theory and Practical)

Industry experience desirable.

Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience.

Pl mail your CV to sandeep.jimmc@ gmail.com

My Column 'Window Seat' in www.orissadiary.com

Summer

Gradually summer is stepping in Odisha. Lighter sheets have replaced heavy quilt at night. Heavy woolen clothes are waiting to be sent to the dry cleaners. Half sleeve shirts and cotton banyans are waiting to be brought out from the almirah. The wind has gained speed in the evenings, making playing badminton outdoors almost impossible.

In the recent years, summer is setting in  little early. Earlier holi (the festival of colur) used to mark the end of cool nights and mornings. These days it is Sivaratri.

Book Fair in Odisha

Book Fairsin Odisha these days resemble more like fairs of any other articles than books. There are umpteen number of food stalls, stationary shops, stalls selling magic items, beauty products, feng sui articles, framed photos of Babas and Swamis, agrbattis and such knick knacks. In one Book Fair there was this stall selling Electric Cloth Driers. There are umpteen number of stalls promoting private schools, coaching classes and English Speaking courses. In the crowd of such stalls, the books are gradually disappearing. And among the books too, there are more number of books either for Children or religious books. A quick survey will tell you that these two category form over 70 per cent of all books displayed and probably sold in any fair in Odisha.

As a writer, I felt concerned. Real concerned.

Book Fair Jottings1

A meek voice called out to me from a corner of a book stall. I looked around. There was no body. The voice was heard again. And this time I could locate. It was a book calling out to me. I went there. The book said, take me out of here. Take me with you. I feel suffocated here crammed in the packets, which these days are hardly opened. I looked on. The voice said, look without a reader for company I feel lonely and miserable. 

The voice sounded like an old father begging for some time from his well off children, who do not want to see him anymore.

Book Fair Jottings-2

I go and buy books for Rs 2000/-. Somebody snidely remarks: teachers are getting fat salary these days. Go splurge man! Show off to the world.

I go and buy a mobile for Rs 2000/-. The same person remarks: how miserly is the man. Instead of buying a smart phone, buys a cheap one. Chepo!

Bechara!

ICC Cricket World Cup has begun, and how! And it will be on till 29 March. Just think about the poor Matric Examinees of Odisha and their parents. The examination, by the way, begins from 23 Feb. Bechara!,nachainse pad paenge, na match dekhpayenge.

Tailpiece

Dear Girls,

If a guy replies to your text during India Pakistan cricket match… marry him. He is the one….

(Got it from a social media post)

***

17.2.2014

Mrinal Chatterjee is a journalist turned media academician. Besides teaching he also writes fiction and plays. He lives at Dhenkanal in Central Odisha with his family and can be contacted at mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

- See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowOriyaColumn.asp?id=57350#sthash.wYiGttII.dpuf

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Professor and Associate Professor wanted in Tripura 
Tripura University, a Central University located in the State of Tripura, has advertised for recruitment of an Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication. Both the appointments will be under un-reserved category against regular vacancy.

The last date for submission of application has been fixed at 5th March 2015 and the text of advertisement can be accessed at www.tripurauniv.in.

Retired Eminent Professors/Scientists may also apply for appointment to the Post of Professor, on contractual basis against consolidated salary. Extra allowances are applicable for NE region as per rules.

MEDIA INFO

Balasore based Odia daily Anudhyan celebrated its 10th anniversary on 16 February at Balasore Club.
Editor: Banshidhar Jena.

My Article

History of Konkani Journalism published in Vidura, Jan-March 2015.
History of other regional language journalism (Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Assamese, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada) have been published in earlier issues of Vidura.
All these have also been incorporated in my book 'History of Journalism in Odisha' and its Odia version 'Odishare Sambadikatara Itihasa'.

BOOKS YOU MAY LIKE TO READ

In this column I'll post information about books, that I have recently came across and liked.



Chasa O Desha 

by Natabara Khuntia

Language: Odia

Genre: Development Economics

Publisher: Odisha Chasi Vikash Trust, B-304, Moti Block, Toshali Apartment, Satya Nagar, Bhubaneswar 751 007

Pages: 512. Price: Rs 300/-. First Edition: August 2014

Natabara Khuntia is a well known columnist, who has been writing on agrarian economics and development from late 1960s.

This book is a compilation of selected 126 articles out of the hundreds of articles published during 2003 - 2014 in leading newspapers and periodicals of Odisha.

Sawarkarnka Samajika Bichara

Original Marathi: Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar*

Odia Translation: Nilakantha Rath

Publisher: Sikshasandhan, N.D.7, VIP Area, Bhubaneswar 751015

Pages: 148. Price: 140/-. First Edition: February 2015

This is a compilation of some little known articles of Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar, considered by many as a Hindu ideologue. These articles reveal a completely different dimension and persona of Sawarkar, than what is projected now.

Prof. Rath, a well known economist lives in Pune and often writes essays in Odia. He has also translated several important works from Marathi to Odia.

·         More about Sawarkar here: http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/veer-savarkar.html