SPAN - January/February 2010

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SPA3< How to Publish
Your Book
Traveling Through
History
Indian Americans
Serving Others
J ANUARY/FEBRUARY 21
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1 On the Novembet-December 2008 1 Another word tor SPAN
cover 2 Rand who wrote The Founlainliead
8 Lunar Armstrong: small step for... 3 Totally cool in '80s U.S slang
9 Tree of Hawaii. California and Florida 4 Precedes Christmas and New Year s Day
13 Hosts American Idol 5 An American beer or a pa!
14 Earth shaped 6 Monsanto on lire slock exchange
17 Code before U.S. phone numbers 7 Curved lines
18 July 4 celebrates American 8 Famous Indian artist painled SPAN cover
SPAN invites our readers to par­ photography, and articles about the 21 U.S. neighbors geographically below 9 . tor the course (U.S goll slang)
ticipate in our 50th anniversary themes of our upcoming issues. These (abbrev,) 10 Italian river reached by U S. army on July 23.
celebrations, culminating in include: clean environment, American 22 Small library in India, an American , 1944
November, a half-century since the first entertainment, U.S.-India relations, busi­ 24 100,000 Indian students are In the 11 Headed rebel lorces in U S. Civil Wai
U.S. lor 12 Gran cartoonist who drew many SPAN covets
issue of the magazine was published. ness. technology and science achieve­
25 "And I don't?" 15 Symbol ol Utah
Please join the readers who have ments. education and sports links. 27 Leads a nation 16 What one uses to gel 42 Down
been sending us suggestions on how If you have an article of 300 to 29 Sound o! angry 115 Across $ European cousin of the American Bald
to commemorate this event, and mem­ 1.000 words, or original art or photog­ 30 Anonymous Jane or John Eagle
31 Tee bee' online 20 Shape of the U S President's office
ories of their encounters with SPAN raphy on these subjects, you can send
32 With 36 Down, an American butter 21 Moore s 1823 poem built Ibis jolly guy's image
over the years. them to us at [email protected] for 33 California's Santa Monica moun- 22 Cape.... Massachusetts
Beginning with this issue, we will possible publication in SPAN or mail to tains, casually 23 Japanese American musician-arlist
be printing favorite articles from past SPAN, American Center. 24 Kasturba 34 SPAN is not aboul this country 26 Nickname ol Broadway's Ziegfield
37 Water color in U.S Virgin Islands 28 SPAN topic Irom atoms lo zygotes
years, in response to reader sugges­ Gandhi Marg. New Delhi 110001.
39 A Hawaiian staple 31 200,000 of these Southeast Asians in the USA
tions. We also hope you will share your Also watch for the launch of our new 40 U.S. friends across the Atlantic 33 Theme of our first calendar in 2003
SPAN memories. Web site and SPAN-sponsored events (abbrev.) 35 Big Cheese in Ihe sky
All year long we will be looking to throughout India, To start things off. 41 U.S. graduates wear them 36 See 32 Across
46 What was on the first SPAN cover 38 Each one in SPAN has 3 questions
our readers for guest essays, artwork. here is SPAN'S first crossword puzzle.
47 In the year (Latin) 41 South African beast"
48 Best known U.S. museum 42 1st challenge m lop U.S. sport is getting
Our family interest in SPAN spans more than four decades 52 FOter, Paul and Mary 43 My . or . pertecl
54 Exaggerated pride 44 A sound Eve lived lo loathe
back—the day we were glued to the All India Radio (as 56 American zed 45 Tania James' .. ol Unknowns
57 Designation for a nuclear guided 46 What remains ot ihe avocado
there was no TV at that time in India) to hear the news
missile cruiser 47 Expression ol surprise or friumph
about Neil Armstrong landing on the moon and our 58 Part of Arkansas' capital 49 Favorite Indian drink
60 These commercial notices don't 51] 1st 43-Down of Disney dwarves' chorus
regrets of having not seen the astronauts on TV. However,
appear in SPAN 51 Alaskan pad
the beautiful pictures we saw in the subsequent issue of 61 A basketball toward needs good.. 53 Private university in Houston. Texas
62 Faithlul in Yosemile 55 Not was, but .
SPAN gave us a lot of solace. 63 It cools (abbrev) 59 Former SPAN editor, ora meadow
66 U.S government radio overseas 64 Popular U S singer Bob in India's Northeast
— Dr. IIS. Sree Ramulu, Coimbatore
(abbrev.) 65 http/span state gov is a (abbrev)
67 Who publishes SPAN 67 SPAN Is published in ibis language
1 1 4 rL□5 r 7 0 □r 9 10 11 12 70 More ol a color in the U.S Hag 68 Gilt decorations
_ 73 Nooyl at f^psico since 2007 55 Cul de . a dead-end street
□
7j 19 16 7? 74 ftcino or Gore 70 U.S, Ambassador to India
i ¥9 n 20 21 22 n 75 An affirmative vote (var.) 71 Cole's "Lazy, Crazy. Hazy . of Summer"
r r 76 "On the , Side." SPAN cartoons 72 70s fashion, lie &...
Ti ' 26 79 Feature inside SPAN'S back cover 73 Host 1 A.D; (abbrev )
1 □ r
S8 29 30 31 83 You in yore 77 Many live in Edison New Jersey
r 84 Parents want to keep their children... 7B Sound made by U.S. No, 2 pet
32 11
__ r L 85 Tne... has 50 ol 100 Across (abbrev) 79 Opposite ol 21 Across (abbrev)
35 TO T? 38 86 Has too much to drink 80 Not all. but
40 -ti 12 43 44 87 No more" in Southern Texas 81 Saul! Marie, Michigan (abbrev.)
r □ I89 U.S military formally (abbrev.) 82 Jumping stick popular in the U.S. since 1920
it 46 47 id & 50 51 93 Bugs Bunny's voice or a comedy 88 What he did with his meal
5 88 5? ' director: their surnames start with B 90 Lincoln: Government.... by and lor Ihe pec-
□ 94 Travolta's . Shorty pie
58 S9 fT 61 96 Anniversary SPAN is celebrating 91 We use couriers or Ihe post to... SPAN to you
031 W IBS OG this year 92 Bye-bye gesture
n □ ■ 100 See 85 Across 95 Cily in Nevada
67 n m 7V-, 71 n 73 103 Song title ' the Stars and Stripes i Won 2008 Oscar lor her Michael Clayton
L
71 75 75 77 105 less fancy Ihan a hotel in New England rote
: ' 5C" 81 82 B II ' 106 Bratty baby 98 Not oul
108 Adam's better hall? 99 SPAN is published in Ihis language
65 55 ST K 69 &0 91 109 Midday in the U S, 101 What is SAT
02 -- 'U 95 06 37 98 73 111 Nickname of cowboy writer in 102 A Southern U S. pick-me up, often iced
□ January-February 2007 issue 103 Number of U S. consulates in India, outside
101 it:: 103 104 105 >C«6
112 Salton on the San Andreas Fault New Delhi
tea 110 111 113 SPAN is famous tor beautiful 104 Learning system not used in the U.S
□ 115 America's favorite pet 107 One of the 68 in SPAN
>12 114 115
■ H■ □ 116 Theme of the 2010 SPAN calendar 110 .. la la in New Orleans
117 SPAN’S associate editor 114 American greeting
_ _ _
.CrotswoftJWoaver com
Answers on page 60
January/February 2010
SPAN Front cover: A collection ol books tor young readers and
laces ot young American writers Junot Diaz. Tania James,
Uzodinma iweala, Lisa Genova, John Wray, Akhil Sharma
Nicole Krauss Yiyun Li and Gary Shleyngart Photographs
from Andrea Arlz. . AP-WWP i Creative/Gelly Images and
VOLUME II NUMBER I
courtesy Junol Diaz, Tania James. Lisa Genova, Penguin
Publisher Michael P Pelletier Andy and Bernice Tate Collage by Hemant Bhatrragar,
Editor in Chief Lisa A Swenarski de Herrera
Editor Laurinda Keys Long Left Beena Bishl reads An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma
Associate Editor Deepanjali Kakali on her lirsl day al the American Library in New Delhi
Urdu Editor Anjum Naim
Hindi Editor Giriraj Agarwal
Copy Editors RichaVarma
Shah Md Tahsin Usmani
Art Director Hemanl Bhalnagar
Deputy Art Directors Khurshid Anwar Abbasi 44
Oasim Raza . Pragya Jain: Her Service Informs
Editorial Assistant Yugesh Malhur Her Arl BySubhraMazumdar
ProducliorvCirculation Manager Alok Kaushik
Research Services Bureau ot International 46
Children: Scouting for Adventure
Inlormalion Programs
The American library By Alvin Townley
21 * Women: Indian and American Students
for Safety on Campus By Mamsh cirand
24
Health: The Psychosomatic Secret
By Amanda Schaffer
26
. Guest Comment
By Dr Vlneet Gupta
27
On the Lighter Side 4 0 Book Review: Scout's Honor
By Warren Smith
Travel
49
2 . Indispensable Partners * Golden Oldies: Lillian Carter Revisits
By laurinda Keys Long Vikhroli By Carmen Kaga!
54
Literature . A Look Back: 50 Years Ago
By Deepanjali Kakati
6 . Poetry and More: 58
. Achievers: Rahul Kumar
Something New at the American Center
By RichaVarma
By Tahsin Usmani
60
Letters to the Editor
28
. Walking. Riding, Boating Through
Correction
History By Raniila Biswas The photographs for the article "My Clean" trt the
34 November/December 2009 issue were provided courtesy
. Education: Nobel Scientist's Advice: http yV'wvi'w. ptiyalhip.wsu eduWorVHoTl332/planllir,f& himl
Do What Makes You Happy
Published by the Public Allairs Section, American Center. 24 Kasturba
Service Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 (phone [phone]), on behalf of the
U S. Embassy, New Delhi Printed at Thomson Press India Limited
10 . Tania James: Reading Made Her a Writer 36 . ItsTime to Get Involved! By RichaVarma p1r8e/s3s5e dD ine lthhii sM 6a8lh-puaragFet omaadg,a Fzainreid daob ando t Hneacryeasnsaa r1ily2 1re0f0le7c t Othpein viioenwss e o* r
policies of the U.S. Government
By Laurinda Keys Long 39
. Volunteer Vacations By Howard cincotta ★ Articles with a star may be reprirtled with permission
12
. Junot Diaz: Connecting Different Worlds Those without a star are copyrighted and may not be
41 . Indian Americans: Working for
reprinted. Conlacl SPAN al 011-23472135
By Deepanjali Kakati
Solutions By Deepanjali Kakali or [email protected]
14
. Everybody Wants to Be an Author:
http://span.state.gov
With Print-on-Demand, Anyone Can
By Steve Fox Comaci us. [email protected]
1 9
My Wrestle With theReluctant Reader For subscriptions or address change:
[email protected]
By Dean Pitchlord
A LETTER
FROM THE
PUBLI SHER
s SPAN commences its 50th anniversary year,
1 am honored to greet you as the 28th publish­
er of this magazine that has acted as a bridge
between Americans and Indians tor such an interest­
ing half-century i am even more excited to be inter­
acting with you as we build together the indispensa­
Partners
ble partnership between the United States and India that Ambassador
Timothy J. Roemer outlines in the SPAN interview featured in this issue.
These new avenues ot partnership and areas ol common ground will be
covered by SPAN throughout this year We start with this issue's themes
of literature and service.
Our articles include interviews with emerging writers Junot Diaz and
Tania James, whose work exemplifies the many traditions that form By LAURINDA KEYS LONG
American culture. American songwriter Dean Pitchford shares his secrets
for reaching young, reluctanl readers in this modern-gadget age and Steve
U.S. Ambassador
Fox gives an in-depth overview of how to become a published author 1
should write a book," many of us have said. We now live in an age when Timothy J. Roemer says he has ‘one
it’s more possible than ever before.
In "Poetry and More," Tahsin Usmani compares and contrasts Indian of the best jobs in the world.’
and American poetry, and details how this art form is being expressed in
fresh ways by young people in both of our countries. We've also provided
information on the wide range of events, from poetry readings to photo
exhibits and movies, which American Centers, Consulates and SPAN are
providing throughout the year. You can look forward to concerts, a nation­
wide spelling bee, special "Golden Oldies" articles reprinted from past
issues, our new SPAN Web site and just for something different, our first
SPAN crossword puzzle, prepared by Editor Laurinda Keys Long.
We invite you lo visit our SPAN and American Library booths at the
upcoming book fairs in Kolkata and New Delhi, where we will have
quizzes, prizes, videos. SPAN magazines, memorabilia, American Library
memberships and other services.
It your plans this year include a trip to the United States, you can't go
wrong by reviewing Ranjita Biswas’ "Walking, Riding, Boating Through
History,” which opens a window on some of the lesser-known but most
beautiful sites around the US. capital.
Our collection ot articles on service covers the Boy Scouts of America,
celebrating their 100th anniversary, as well as border-spanning collabora­
tions such as Ihe American India Foundation and tndicorps, explored by
Richa Varma and Deepanjali Kakati. Subbra Mazumdar reminds us in her
profile of Indian American artist Pragya Jain that every individual has a
contribulion to make. Carmen Kagal made the same point in 19/7, in
Lillian Carter Revisits Vikhroli.” which we have reprinted. Painting a pic­
ture of Mrs. Carter’s encounters years after she had worked in India as a
Peace Corps volunteer. Kagal illustrates the lasting bonds created by
Indians and Americans working together to help others and solve prob­
lems. Manish Chand’s article, "Indian and American Students for Safety
on Campus.” demonstrates that this drive remains strong among our
young people who are not afraid to take on the toughest problems and
work for solutions.
That is our dream for this year and all the years to come.
Happy New Year!
2 SPAN ) \K' l I I HRI ,(iY into
Notice to Indian families out for both a professional and a personal way.” On September 16, Ambassador Timothy J.
a picnic at a historic monument “The President, when 1 met him at the Roemer greets P-ravin Pntknr. director of
or attraction! A man striding White House, said to me. ‘Tint, you know' Prenma, which works to eliminate trafficking
across the lawn with a smile on there are a billion people in India and 1 of children in Mumbai's red-light district.
his face and a handshake or want you to meet as many as you possibly
namaste ready may well he U.S. can,’ ” the Ambassador told SPAN in an “where w'e play often with my boys and
Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer, interview. “And 1 am doing that. 1 am hand­ girls and with visitors.”
asking what you would like to say to ing out my business card, going into Describing the first months in india for
President Barack Obama. schools, going into villages, shaking as himself and his family as “an absolutely
Ambassador Roemer, who arrived in many hands as I possibly can whenever 1 go eye-popping, wonderful experience," the
New' Delhi in July, says he has made it a out to public functions." The Ambassador Ambassador has particularly enjoyed
point during his first months in India, said this is one of his key goals for the com­ traveling with his wife and four children
“with instruction from the President of the ing year, to practice public diplomacy “in as to experience India's treasures, such as
United States, to get out and meet as many many ways as we can." the foothills of the Himalayas, the Ganges
people as I possibly can. to travel, to get One new- form of diplomacy at River, the Taj Mahal and Ranthambore
to know the country and the people, in Roosevelt House, the Ambassador’s resi­ tiger reserve.
dence in New Delhi, is basketball games. One of their first visits was to the Red
President Bur nek Obama and Prime Minister The Ambassador has played basketball Fort in New Delhi, where viewing the
Manmohan Singh ill the White House on with Indian children and teenagers and architecture was just not enough. "We
November 24. had a hoop installed at the residence were getting a tour and there were several
3
Above: Ambassador Roemer greets a mother and child at the
Working Women Forum's micro-credit program in Chennai.
Left: Ambassador Roemer meets residents of Basti Nizaniuddin in
New Delhi on December 18.
A Below left: Ambassador Roemer helps distribute food at the Sliishu
Y
Dft Bhavan children's home in Koliada on October 14.
A
Above right: Ambassador Roemer meets Indian officers at the U.S.-
India military exercises in Agra on October 19.
Far right: Ambassador Roemer is shown rice samples al an
experimental field of the Achan/a N.C. Ranga Agricultural
University in Hyderabad on October 21.
Below right: Ambassador Roemer and his wife, Bally, at the Taj
Mahal in October.
know things are not going to be given to you. you have to cam
them.’" He says he has been blessed in many ways by learning
this lesson early in life. He credits hard work, responsibility and
a good education with “having the dream come true." He was
elected to the U.S. Congress and now "1 have been able to rep­
resent my country of over 300 million people to a country of
over a billion people. That’s a pretty awesome responsibility and
one that is one of the cornerstone accomplishments that 1 w ill he
A able to look hack to in my life...and say. ‘This was really one of
DUTT the best...jobs in the world."""
AJ
MK Other goals for the Ambassador in the coming year are: to con­
A
P tinue executing the successful programs on which President Obama
families that were picnicking in the area, and they had young and Prime Minister Manmohun Singh agreed in Washington. D.C.
kids," the Ambassador relates. “And I would just casually walk and to "make sure we have a new set of initiatives for a highly suc­
up to different families and introduce myself and ask them if they cessful v isit" by President Obama to India in 2010.
would like to tell the President of the United States something When the Prime Minister extended the invitation during their
that was on their minds. Oftentimes. I heard exactly what some­ meeting at the Oval Office in November. President Obama said
body in America would say. Arid it was: ‘We are pretty con­ he would "love to make it sometime in 2010 and if it works out
cerned, we arc interested in. we are almost consumed by trying travel-wise that he would try to bring his children, his family."
to make sure our children get a good education and our children said the Ambassador. Before the Slate Dinner, at which Prime
have opportunities to succeed in life as we have.' Minister Singh was the guest of honor. Ambassador Roemer
"We see that in the United States," he reflects, "the opportuni­ spent some time with First Lady Michelle Obama and her
ty to succeed in education is really the foundation for opening up daughters, telling them about the fun his children have had on
opportunities and continuing to fulfill your dreams,” Both India India's rivers, at its national parks, museums and heritage mon­
and America, he feels, “are entrepreneurial societies...where uments. "And we actually got into a little bit of detail with Malia
education really fuels your opportunity to move ahead." and Sasha about what they might he able to see."
Ambassador Roemcr comes from a middle-class background. No promises yet, however, about the timing of the visit.
"My parents told me early on. ‘You have to go to college, you Ambassador Roemer feels there is an obvious conclusion to
have got to work, pay for college." And 1 have done that, worked be drawn from India’s prime minister being "the first official
since I was 13 years old. turd I think that...is the American State Dinner guest of the Obama presidency, the new. historic
dream. If you work hard, you learn the value of money and you initiatives that have been announced and the fact that the
4 scan i w uo i Huti'AM am)
President will he visiting India," The conclusion, he says, is that areas of agreement and you continue to look for more opportu­
this U.S. presidential administration “believes that the partner­ nities of moving forward."
ship with India is truly one of the best and most important of any One example of this that very much excites the Ambassador is
relationship for the United States of America." He says it is “on an initiative to provide ISO million cooking stoves to poor Indian
an upward, positive, optimistic trajectory, working on the most women in villages that will bum much cleaner than the coal, wood
important 21st century challenges facing world leaders." These or cow dung currently used. The U.S, government, the Indian gov­
include counter-terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation, trade, eco­ ernment, Indian and American businesses and universities are all
nomic development, helping the poor, climate change, emerging part of the project.
technologies, preventing pandemic diseases and water security. “This is an issue that touches both women and children's
“These are the issues that will define the world’s success and lives." he says, “indoor pollution that prematurely kills some­
these are the issues that the United States and the Republic of where in the vicinity of 400.000 Indian women and children a
India will be working on.” year. There is evidence it may be linked to black carbon and be a
Ambassador Roemer says the relationship is moving beyond global polluter."
that of a natural friendship between the world's biggest and old­ “There are price issues, cultural issues, technical issues that
est democracies to one of “indispensable partners,” that is. need to continue to be addressed." he acknowledges, hut he is
"strategic partners working on global issues together." enthusiastic that the Indian government recently announced it
Evidence of the trajectory, he says, includes more than 100.000 would make this initiative a high priority, "putting forward an
Indian students at American universities, a 20 percent increase ambitious call of trying to get some 130-150 million cook stoves
in the number of Americans at Indian schools and a doubling of out to people in low income communities. You are looking at
trade over the past five years Also, deepening joint defense women’s development, health, issues of climate change all com­
operations, the potential for SIX-22 billion in military equip­ ing together." It will be market-driven with sustainable growth.
ment sales to help modernize the Indian Air Force. Navy and “It could be one of the true big accomplishments on a cross-sec­
Army with the best military technology, spare parts and deliv­ tion of critically important goals being reached to better the
ery systems, and the possibilities for India's growth through environment for the people of India.”
clean nuclear energy. Ambassador Roemer is also looking forward with confidence to
“That doesn't mean that everything is going to go perfectly the on-schedule completion this year of tire final steps of the civil­
every minute of this relationship,” Ambassador Roemer ian nuclear cooperation agreement. More than 50 U.S. companies
acknowledges. "We can be working shoulder to shoulder and ready to share technology and build clean-fuel nuclear plants
hour by hour to exchange intelligence information in unprece­ recently visited India. The Ambassador says it's a positive story' for
dented ways, as we are doing. But that doesn’t mean that we are the use of technology and provision of manufacturing jobs in tire
going to agree on every single issue, including how to get to a United States, for trade in products and equipment being shipped to
nuclear weapons-free world in the India. And it is a good news story for
future. Will we agree on every single Indians, for those the Ambassador
non-proliferation item? Probably not. I reaches out to shake hands with and
In a healthy and strong relationship inquire about their concerns. Clean
like we have, you continue to look for nuclear enemy means, he says, "provid­
ing electricity to communities su that
kids can turn on the lights at night and
study, do their homework. Businesses
U.S Embassy
can conduct business at 9 or 10
http://riewdelhi.usembassy.gGv/
o'clock at night. People can have a
Photo Gallery: Prime Minister Singh's State Visit
refrigerator and have their milk be
hllp://www america.gov/mullimedia/phologallery cold turd better preserve their food and
Ktml#/4110/obama _singh/#popup add to the quality of their lives,"
span iam i i upi uo sim o
On July 4, 2007, at the front gate of the the day. The American Centers have Poetry transcends international bound­
American Center in New Delhi, an attracted continually changing artistic exhi­ aries and aficionados are able to appreciate
American security officer's welcome bitions as one would expect of any cultural the richness of different traditions. For
in my native language, Urdu, was center. example, much American poetry is fused
surprising and pleasant. This cultural Poetry is an important part of my cultur­ with the musical cadences of jazz or the
acceptance showed the bond between the al traditions, as it is for many Indians. How melancholy of the blues.
United Slates and India at a grass roots delightful it is that poetry recitals have In India, there is a long tradition of poet­
level. become a regular feature at the American ry recitals in Urdu and Hindi, while
I had arrived for a job interview with Center in New Delhi, English poetry recitals have not been com­
Urdu SPAN. The American Center was cel­ In Mumbai, there are also literary dis­ mon.
ebrating America’s Independence Day and cussions. poetry events and digital video At the American Center in New Delhi,
die atmosphere was full of joy and thrill. concerts with American cultural leaders at recitals started in February 2007 under the
An American soloist was singing with the American Center auditorium. The auspices or the American Library along
enthusiasm as Indian guests enjoyed food objective is to bring eminent poets and with Delhi Poelree.
and friendship. It was a new experience for writers into discussion about their works Since May 2009 they have moved to a
me. Now I am a part of the American with members of PEN, the worldwide regular monthly spot as a first step toward
Center and also a witness to its continuing association of writers. In June 2009. Lynn providing a platform for English language
revitalization, not only in New Delhi, but Chandhok. an American poet and author, poets, says Anne Lee Seshadri, the
in Kolkata and Mumbai. held a digital video conversation with American Center director.
There are energetic musical performanc­ Indian poet Jane Bhandari, and writer, poet “American culture has a rich tradition of
es that leave the audiences standing and and playwright Anju Makhija. An audi­ poetry', so we help to introduce American
applauding even after several encores. ence of 45 enthusiasts gathered at the poets to leading Indian poets. Wo will look
Plays draw theater lovers to Jill every seal American Center to hear the discussion in this coming year for American poets
in the auditoria. Programs in just the past and ask questions. Similar events featured who may be travelling to India and then
six months have included poetry evenings, Indian American poet, essayist and literary will plug them in to this event.
ecology festivals introducing new prod­ critic Vijay Seshadri from New York and “The American Center should be a cul­
ucts, plays, dance, displays of photographs, Carlo Rotella. director of the American tural hub for New Delhi,” she adds. “We
movies, library programs for students, and Studies program a! Boston College in are inviting artists of all different kinds
academic discussions on news events of Massachusetts. who would like to partner with us....”
“America is a country where there is
a lot of pluralism, values and
toleration, which find expression in
the poetry there, and this is the
reason why I love American poetry."
— Ranjit Nair
fl SPAN JANUARY I lliRI'AKY 2011:
K *
Rukmmi Bluiya Nair (from left), Keki Sciences at the Indian Institute of only distill your own reality, i.e.. what you
Danmalfo and Am it Dahiyabadshah at a Technology, New Delhi. experience, and then how you respond.”
Delhi Poetree program at the American Can such programs bring Lhe two Macy notes that writers who hold promi­
Center. nations closer? Kunal Anand, features nent positions in the foundations of
writer at MensXP.com, replies, “Definitely. American poetic and literary tradition were
“It is important for the American Center However, like all inter-cultural programs, existentialists such as Ralph Waldo
to host poetry evenings, particularly here in it won't be an instant change. Because of Emerson, Henry David Thoreau. Herman
India, because of the relationship between listening to American poetry. I’ll further Melville and to some extent Wall Whitman,
traditional American poetry and the Indian be able to get closer to an American's real­ all of whom were influenced by Indian
poetic and literary tradition,” says U.S. ity. I’ll have a tiny understanding of scripture and poetry. “Emerson translated
Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Michael America, but that understanding will be many of the great Indian philosophical
P, Macy. "1 think it is important for a num­ more honest, and not what 1 may general­ works, studied Sanskrit so he was able to do
ber of reasons; poetry has a real place of ize from HBO” movies on television. It and was very influenced by what he
prominence in Indian society, it’s one of “We don’t do the American desi. dias- learned. That work also influenced other
the more profound ways of communica­ poric version of injecting superfluous American writers. So there is this deep rela­
tion, And what the American Center details, like the names of food dishes, into tionship between what many people see as
attempts to do is encourage greater com­ poetry without having a fitting reason to do the first authentic American voices.”
munication between the people of India so,” Anand comments. “Beyond the factor Commenting on the creative atmosphere
and the people of America,” says Macy. of novelty, good poetry should have a res­ of India and America. Ranjit Nair, an
In the first Delhi Poetree program on onant theme, with which it can stand up for English-language poet and director of the
May 2b, 2009 three English-language itself wherever it is,” Center for Philosophy and Foundation of
poets in New Delhi recited their work. Anand, who has attended almost every Science in New Delhi says, “America is a
They were Arnit Dahiyabadshah, the poetry program at the American Center, country where there is a lot of pluralism,
founder of Delhi Poetree; Keki Daruwalla says. “Having attended Delhi Poetree read­ values and toleration, which find expres­
and Rukmmi Bhaya Nair. head of the ings. the definition that works for me is to sion in the poetry there, and this is the rea­
Department of 1 lumanities and Social call poetry' a distillation process. You can son why I love American poetry."
Nair’s favorite American poet is
Emerson, a founder of American transcen­
Far left: U.S. Embassy
Cultural Affairs Officer dentalism, who was a seminal influence on
Michael P. Macy Henry David Thoreau among others.
addresses the audience As a scientist and philosopher, Nair
(left) at a poetry event at believes that science is close to spiritual­
the New Delhi American ity. In mystic emotion “lies the germ of
Center. all art and all true science.” said Einstein.
Nair's favorite poem is Emerson's “Brahma.” Y
He notes “striking... phrases like ‘I am the R
T
doubter and the doubt." With poetry or
E
prose, the language in which it is written O
rather than the nationality of the writer is P
SPAN J AM ARY/f PURI' AM 2010 7
Poetry Slams
he U.S. Consulate-General in Chennai organ­
ized a Poetry Slam contest in December sim­
ilar to examples of this competitive perform­
ance art in the United States, in which poets are
encouraged to focus on what they are saying and
how they are saying it.
Five well-known poets as well as student
poets Irom 10 colleges in Chennai presented
their original works within a time limit of two min­
utes without props or costumes. There was no
restriction on the subject or language of the
poem and prizes were awarded for the judges'
and audiences' favorite English and regional lan­
guage poems.
Every year, poetry slams in the United States
witness the emergence of new poets from all
over the country. HBO (one of America’s biggesl B ir t h o f a N e w G enera
film production companies) has captured this
process in the documentary Brave New Voices
i www.hbo.com/bravenewvoices/) which
features young Americans writing original poems CHENNAI, DECEMBER 18, 200S
and reading them out with passion, intelligence,
creativity, honesty and power.
Read a blog about the Chennai Poetry Slam at
httpy/rumjhumkbiswas wordpress.com/2009/12/2
4/il-lurned-oul-to-be-a-poetry-thon/
what counts. spiritual or devotional poets...which is feeling that I am reading to a full bench of
“Emerson also wrestled with the appar­ reflected in people like Whitman and later the Supreme Court,”
ent contradiction of the unity of reality on American poets like Allen Ginsberg, who As for differences between young Indian
ihe one hand and the Itux on the other,” was very influenced by his experiences in and American poets. Dahiyabadshah says,
says Nair. “This is very similar to both India. And so there has been this continu­ “Memories of slavery still fuel the writing
Buddhist (Samsara and Nirvana) as well as ing echoing back and forth between of many African American writers. Young
Vedic religions, which ramify into several Indian and American poets that is now Indian writers are more experimental with
schools, but the solution is similar.” 200-some years old.” form and structure. American poetry is sim­
As Maey says, ‘There are similarities As India had an influence on American ple and piercing into the heart, compara­
between any of Lhe great poetic traditions poetry over the centuries, is there a tively the young American poets have a
because the wellspring, the source, of all reverse effect, too? Anand says yes. wider vocabulary than the young Indian
great poetry is a common human experi­ “Personalty, i feel American poetry poets.” What are the common topics of
ence on a very profound level, which is gives Indians a chance to work with more
why poetry continues to move people. texture, more ingredients, and more con­
I Regular
There are some things which can only be texts,” he says.
said by poetry and they draw on this very “Due to globalization...and blurring of
American Center
deep human experience...” boundaries, old contexts are slowly wither­
Maey adds, “Between American and ing away. This is true for the American con­
Indian poetry there is on some level a kind text as well. American film director Programs
of wild freedom that one finds in the poet­ Quentin Tarantino once said that, ‘You
ry of Meerabai or Kabir Das or Bhakti, can’t write poetry on the computer.’
However, 1 have often seen eloquence in a
For more information: common Facebook status update!”
American Center, New Delhi The audiences at the American Center are
mostly university students who love litera­
http://www.lacebogk.coni/americancentemewdelhi
ture. says Dahiyabadshah. In general, how­
American writers and Indian themes
ever, he feels Indian poetry lovers can he
tittp//chennai.uscoftsu late.gov/pdis/amencanpoets.pdf exacting in their criticism. “1 find U.S. audi­
Quotes on poetry ences far more receptive of a new way of
looking at things. Indian audiences are far
http://www.quotegarden.com/poetry.html
more judging Lo the point that I often gel a
8 SPAN I Wt \KVI I IIKIAKI 2011)