PCI chief asks publishers to find literary talent

Saying that India is passing through very difficult times and great writers are required to enlighten the people about the problems they are facing, Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju asked publishers to locate literary talents in remote areas.

Saying that India is passing through very difficult times and great writers are required to enlighten the people about the problems they are facing, Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju asked publishers to locate literary talents in remote areas.

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"People are looking for such greatness. It is for you publishers to go and find them. Not that they (great writers) are absent, may be they are living in the rural areas…In the tribal areas where the tribals are living. The Bhils, the Gonds and Santhals, I am sure there will be great literary talent there," he said.

In his address to the Federation of Indian Publishers, Katju cited lack of good literature in the country today and said Indians are thirsty for it.

"Where is the Prem Chand of today? Where is the Sharat Chandra Chattopadyay of today? Where is the Charles Dickens of today? Where is the Upton Sinclair of today? Where is the Sinclair Lewis of today? Where is the Bernard Shaw of today?" he asked.

Katju said India is passing through very difficult times and great writers are required to enlighten the people about the problems they are facing.

"The greatest agrarian crises that the country has been facing. Millions of farmers have lost their livelihood and have fled to cities for jobs which are not there. Industrial production is declining," he said.

The former Supreme Court judge said people migrating to cities often end up becoming domestic workers, street hawkers, criminals or prostitutes but writers highlighting their plight are not there.

Talents like that of Hugo, Dickens, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, great French, German and Russian writers were desperately required in India today, he said.