Covid induced literature discussed at international panel meet

Solan, September 11

Belletristic, the literary society of the department of English, Shoolini University, conducted an international panel discussion on covid-induced literature.

The session focused on an e-book, titled “Covid’s Metamorphosis”, which was launched last year by the society. The book was compiled and edited by Prof. Manju Jaidka of Shoolini University and Dr. Nilak Datta of BITS Pilani, Goa Campus.

This e-book is a collection of unusual, enthralling, and true-life stories concerned with the metamorphosis in human lives brought about by the ongoing corona virus pandemic. Numerous writers from diverse parts of the world had contributed stories to this collection. To mark one year of its publication, the contributors came forward to speak about their experiences over the past one year.

The session commenced with the editors’ observation that the book is tied together by single overarching theme – the Pandemic. Pedro Panhoca from Brazil recounted how he has now learned to treasure the simple pleasures of life. Aleksander from Belgrade, a professor of anthropology who studies rationality, realized the absurdity of his expertise in times that are totally irrational. For Eric Chinje of Washington DC, the covid period has been a time of rediscovery of the self, re-examining all the values he had taken for granted earlier. Prof Malashri Lal from Delhi, a well-known name in literary circles, also joined in the discussion, as did Prof Anil Prasad who has earlier taught in countries like Yemen and Libya.

Nilak Dutta pointed out that the pandemic has left us vulnerable in some ways, but it has also made us stronger and empathic towards the fellow human beings. Malashri Lal commented on the all-pervasive weariness with the digital media that everyone now experiences. People have come to dislike cyber meetings as they now prefer to speak in person. However, Prof. Manju Jaidka observed, the digital medium has also served a great purpose, in the sense that it has taught us newer ways of using technology and changed the field of education forever.