Sahitya Aajtak Delhi 2024 Day 3 – Sahitya Aajtak 2024: Secularism will not work in our country, secularism is needed: Shashi Tharoor – Sahitya Aaj Tak 2024 day 3 Siyasat Aur Sahitya Sath Sath Author Former Diplomat Bureaucrat Member of Parliament Dr Shashi Tharoor lcla
Today is the last day of the biggest Mahakumbh of literature ‘Sahitya Aajtak 2024’. The session ‘Politics and Literature Together’ on the platform of Sahitya Aaj Tak 2024 introduced the audience to the new definition of the mutual relationship between politics and literature. Noted writer, former diplomat and MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor participated in this session. He discussed the importance of literary approach in politics and ways to make society aware through writing. While sharing his writing experiences, Dr. Tharoor explained in depth the mutual connection between literature and politics.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor has written 26 books and has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi. This session was conducted by Rajdeep Sardesai. Shashi Tharoor said that I consider myself an ordinary person. Politics is different. My 26 books are like my children. I want people to read my books.
Liking a book is different, it is not necessary that you should also like the author. I am a former minister, one day I will be a former MP, but I would never like to be a former writer. The impact that books have on people is very individual. After reading a book, a woman told me that my grandmother, who is abroad and has cancer, was reading my book. He read that book every day, for 20 days, and died after completing it. My heart became emotional after hearing this. To be able to make a difference in the lives of ordinary people is also a very important thing.
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When you write a book apart from politics, you find a different kind of peace in it. On the question related to politics, Shashi Tharoor said that I do not need money, I get pension from UN. I have come here after working there for 29 years. There is no better option than politics to serve the public and bring about change. That’s why I entered politics. I think about values.
I want there to be brotherhood in the society because there is diversity and multi-voice here. People of different colors live here. Here people come together to strengthen India. As long as our voters give us a chance, we will continue to take this work forward through politics. I am also a person. I am interested in cricket. In response to a question related to the English language and the party, Shashi Tharoor said that the Congress party wanted Kharge Saheb to become the leader of the party, I had tried, but he did not become the leader. I accepted the policies of the party.
In response to a question regarding a book in English, Tharoor said that I was invited to give a speech in Oxford. When it was uploaded on YouTube, 30 lakh people watched and listened to it in a day. This thing continued for a long time. Then I got calls from publishers asking me to write a book on this. After this I wrote this book. I tell the youth that if you don’t know where you came from then how will you know where to go.
After reading my book, the British told me that they did not know that our elders did everything in India. There are so many museums in London, there are so many flea markets. They earn money by stealing things from other countries and keeping them in museums there. The British did not know their own history. I say everything in English, Forgive but never forget… Our economy has been bigger than theirs for some years. All British should know what happened in Jallianbala Bagh. The British have still not apologized for what happened in Jallianbala Bagh.
Religion does not teach to hate each other… Tharoor recited Allama Iqbal’s couplet
Tharoor was questioned about the book ‘Why am I a Hindu’. On the difference between Hindutva and Hinduism, Tharoor said that a person wants to look towards his creator. Allama Iqbal had written – Religion does not teach to have hatred among each other. This is what Hindu religion teaches. Very small minded people in Hindutva make it politics. If we accept all then we are accepting the real Hindu religion.
In response to a question regarding the slogan ‘Bantenge to Katenge Aur Ek Hai To Safe Hai’, Tharoor said that this kind of politics is being done just to get votes. If anyone accuses anyone in the name of caste, it will cause great harm to the country. Tharoor said that India has such good relations with Islamic countries. Religion is not the business of our politics and politicians. It should be kept separate. Secularism will not work in our country, but secularism can work. The government should take care of this.
Tharoor said that it is wrong to target any person in the name of religion. Put humanity above. The job of those taking votes is to run the government, not to run the temple. There are people of all religions in India, Hindus, Muslims, Christians. Keep Indians united. If India is united then India will be safe. I am against dividing India into pieces. I never want our souls to be divided, the land has already been divided. On the question of caste census, he said that we only want to know the actual figures. On the question of reservation, Tharoor said that today many people feel discrimination in the name of caste and religion. This subject is quite complicated.
