Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations

By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.

© 2010

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State of Gujarati Literature and Literary Criticism

‘With the passing of that generation of distinguished critics and editors, field of Gujarati literature is wide open for anyone to come and play. There has been a progressive debasement of literary standards at home where the prevailing motto is: anything goes! (Page 4) While I agree with Natwarbhai about ‘… debasement of literary standards’ but then why this vilification of Gujarati NRIs? And why are the Gujarati NRI writers as Natwarbhai has claimed seeking a Good Housekeeping stamp of approval from the same folks who are responsible for the debasement of literary standards…?

‘There is not any major book reviewing effort presently in Gujarati literature to act as a door-keeper’. Doorkeeper for what, for shrinking sells of a book? His suggestion has no relevance as even a decade or more after a publication of a book, thousand copies of those books remain unsold. One can include in this category novels or short stories written by these ‘critics’. Barring a few exceptions, there in not much there that could command a review.

‘Even with a burgeoning publishing business, all we have is one obscure journal devoted to book reviews.’ Could it be because there are not many books worth reviewing? ‘Formerly, major dailies used to carry a regular weekly book section’. Yes, indeed. That was a time when the giants of Gujarati literature were WRITING. ‘There used to be distinguished journals like Prashtan, (I think Natwarbhai meant Prasthan) Kaumudi, Sankriti, and Kshitij, that carried a book review section. They are all gone. Even the publishers do not see the advertising value of a book review magazine to subsidize one.’ (Page 5). Why should the publishers advertise in such publications? Look at the circulation of these so called ‘book review magazines’. The publishers are in the business of making money, they are not going to waste their money on some advertisement in a journal that very few people read, much less buy. Some times these same publishers, instead of payment of royalty to the writer give only complementary copies of a book to the writer. How can one overlook this reprehensible state of affairs?

In the U.S. for over a decade now many a daily newspapers have stopped publishing book reviews and many have done away with what was once called 'the book-pages'.