Writers must have social responsibility, says Jogi

FROM LEFT: Senior writer Jogi, author Dadapeer Jyman and student activist Kusuma Ayarahalli at Mysuru Literature Fest in city yesterday.

Mysore/Mysuru: Senior writer Jogi expressed his belief that we should observe the movements in life rather than the other way around.

He shared his views during an interaction on the topic “Jolige Tumbi Suriyuva Jogiyavara Bahumukha Barahagalondige Neelikurinjiya Narugampu” (The multifaceted aspects of Jogis who blossom with movements) at the Mysuru Literature Festival held yesterday.

In response to a question by student activist Kusuma Ayarahalli about the circumstances under which he would write stories, Jogi stated that he writes stories when he finds no answers in life. He emphasised that most of his stories are based on the life experiences of others and how they have influenced his own life. Jogi stressed the importance of having clarity in roles, as the absence of clarity not only affects the particular role but also the entire story itself. He added that his stories are a reflection of his long journey in search of life.

 When asked about the social commitment of writers, Jogi commented that journalists and writers should have a sense of social responsibility. He believed that journalists and writers should question themselves regarding their social commitment in their work. As an example, he mentioned that Poornachandra Tejaswi wrote the book ‘Chidambara Rahasya’ during a period of turmoil in the Western Ghats as a response to the situation. Jogi underlined that a writer cannot always react like an activist whenever something goes wrong in society, as writers have their own platforms to express themselves. However, he expressed regret over the transformation of social media into a forceful influencer in today’s world.

author Dadapeer Jyman added that exploration is key for a writer. He expressed the opinion that we are currently living in a complex era and poets should stay updated with the situation. Jyman argued that response is vital for a challenging life and highlighted that no platform is inherently big or small.

This post was published on July 3, 2023 7:34 pm