Re: A Rejoinder from Natwar Gandhi

Re: Missing the Point--Harsh Trivedi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing,
A Rejoinder by Natwar Gandhi

(Note: - The ‘rejoinder’ was ‘forwarded’ to me by a kind friend. Later Mr.Natwar Gandhi too sent me a revised version of his rejoinder. My reply to Mr. Gandhi is based on his original 'rejoinder')_

A reply to Natwar Gandhi’s ‘rejoinder’
By Harsh Trivedi
© June 2011.

Art thou troubled milord?
(From a Hymnal)

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
(William Shakespeare, Hamlet)

1) Harish Trivedi (his blog--2011) sees irony in publishing activities surrounding the launching of my book Pennsylvania Avenue.
Yes, I did see irony as well as hypocrisy, I must admit.
Next?

2) Further, newspaper interviews, dramatic readings of poems by stage actors at a well-publicized publishing event organized by the publisher—“the whole shindig”—smacks of hypocrisy to him. Quoting words from an article that I had written earlier criticizing such activities, Trivedi writes, “this proves that Natwar Gandhi is no exception to what he strongly abhors in others. Hypocrisy? Chutzpah or just plain audacity of hype—you be the judge.” If Trivedi is keen on proving that I am a hypocrite practicing what I criticize in others, he need not have wasted his considerable energy and several pages. The case could have been made quickly and easily and only in a few words. To the charge of hypocrisy, I plead guilty.

Physician, heal thyself…. The last sentence in 2) above could very well be applied to Natwarbhai’s long and rather self-serving exercise in rationalization. He admits, albeit grudgingly the validity of my criticism but abhors my guts for writing about it…

2) Harsh Trivedi (his blog--2011) sees irony in publishing activities surrounding the launching of my book Pennsylvania Avenue. In particular, favorable news paper columns by Mumbai’s literary lion Suresh Dalal, a well known Gujarati poet and publisher of the book, bothered him.

The fact that this so-called literary lion also happens to be the publisher of Natwarbhai’s book. So any laudatory note, deserved or undeserved constitutes a conflict of interest on the part of this lion. The fact that this particular newspaper continues to publish this lion’s writings as a piece of legit criticism further compounds the folly and makes the newspaper publishers complicit in this shenanigans. This is something worth bothering about, no complaining about and shouting about from the rooftops. Natwarbhai has ignored this important fact when he comes to the defense of this ‘lion’. Natwarbhai seems to follow the dictum don’t let facts come in the way of a good diatribe.

Suresh Dalal’s (the literary lion as Natwarbhai calls him) columns in newspapers and periodicals about works that are published by his own publishing house (well, may be he does not own it, but surely acts as if he does and no body seems to care either) could be described in one word - hagiography. But who are we to complain about this professional promoter, the one who acts like a side -show barker and hides under the moniker of a ‘literary lion’ given to him by one of his own clients?

3) As is often the case in contemporary Gujarati literary criticism, Trivedi’s reading of my article is literal and superficial. Worse yet, his criticism is personal. But he simply misses the point.

I have responded rather at great length and point by point to Natwarbhai’s misconceived and in my opinion ill advised pompous, grand eloquent and presumptuous paean to the NRI Gujarati writers. His view of the criticism of his article simplistic and personal criticism defies logic and undermines Natwarbhai’s own apologia. Readers are welcome to check out my bog on this subject and ascertain the truth at http://harishtrivedi.blogspot.com/2010/08/natwar-gandhi-on-gujarati-diaspora_34.html

5) If NRI writing is to emerge as authentic, the aspiring NRI writer would have to see through all the hoopla—“shindig”— surrounding the publication including favorable reviews and press notices. I wrote, “Most forewords and prefaces offered to NRI writers are misleading at best and disingenuous at worst.” Unfortunately, hypnotized by these false praises, “the writer is under an illusion that the literary doors have been opened to him and he goes back to his writing desk determined to do more writing. Encouraged in such a fashion, we have North American NRI writers who have dozens of books to their credit.


6) Contrary to prevailing NRI publishing practice, none of my book contains any introduction or preface by any of the worthies of Gujarati literature. Nor does it contain on back cover or elsewhere in the book any excerpts from numerous favorable reviews and laudatory comments.

Well, there could be couple of reasons for this absence of excerpts of reviews on the back covers of Natwarbhai’s books. It could be the fact that no one had read his book prior to publication. The absence of ‘preface’ or ‘forward’ in his books may be because of the money that some of our Gujarati ‘preface’ and ‘forward’ writers demand. Of course this absence could simply described as the gentle and very modest authors own choice. Nothing wrong about it.

It seems as if Natwarbhai is alluding to the publication of my play Exit-stance (I am going to shamelessly plug my play that has been recently published and perhaps cause some annoyance in the process…) If so, let me clarify – The reviews and comments, some of which appear in my book and the back cover came from folks who either had seen the play or read a copy of the manuscript of Exit-stance. The use of blurbs, quotes, prefaces, reviews and what have you is a tool for marketing of a publication. Use of such method is a matter of choice and it should not be used as an occasion for needless cheap shots as any one, particularly at one who has written, no matter how unflattering an expose of a recent publicity stunt in Mamba, India.

7) I also know that there is a novelty factor in my attempting to write poetry while still deeply engaged in a day job as Chief Financial Officer of managing the $10 billion budget of Washington, DC. Many commentators both here and at home have wondered how I maintain literary interests and write poetry in arcane Sanskrit meters after nearly fifty years of living in the United States. Or, for that matter, I write at all while maneuvering my ways through the treacherous waters of Washington politics and public finance. All this makes an interesting human story and good copy for newspapers.

What an example of modesty! More power to you Natwarbhai!

It seems as if any other Gujarati diaspora writers do not have to hold a full-time job in order to survive, as if every one of those Gujarati writers hold a high paying government job, as if every one is married to a rich banker and does not have to do any house work except to travel and write… Wouldn’t it be nice if it were so!

Natwarbhai, why don’t you ask some of these Diaspora Gujarati writers whom you are providing some unsolicited advise as to what they have to do to survive. You would be surprised by what you hear from them. Distributing newspapers each morning, starting around 3 am, cleaning up toilets in the high-rise offices, criss-crossing the neighborhoods to count heads for the Census Bureau, unemployed for over twenty years and living on a parsley pension and social security payments…. Their writing is no less useful, important, relevant and at times enlightening than some one who manages a $10 billion budget!

Only Natwarbhai holds a very important job as a Chief Financial Officer and manages s budget of $10 billion dollars, of places in Wahsington D.C. So no wonder the poor scribe in Mumbai finds there in a human-interest story. Sorry, for missing this human-interest angle!

I remember an incident that occurred not too long ago, when a reputed writer’s column had erroneously printed one less zero in the billion figure of Natwarbhai’s budget and Natwarbhai had taken this poor wretch of a writer to task for missing some zeros.

Here is an excerpt from a ‘thank you’ note that I had sent to Natwarbhai at that time –

‘You have thoughtfully pointed out 1) Possibly the obvious lapse in proof reading or 2) your concern that some readers may think that (the columnist’s) literary sense and sensibilities are far better than his monetary understanding... (Natwarbhai’s words) How well you have expressed this in your own discreet, diplomatic and subtle way!’

‘Reading your note I also learned something that I was not aware of - that because of some misprint or error in proofing some zeros were misplace in the billion figure and it may cause - hurt feelings of hundreds of thousands of District (of Columbia) citizens of which Mr. Barack Obama is one - who would read this particular column by ... Again your thoughtfulness and concerns about the feelings of your fellow citizens was evident there...’

‘While I do not know the print circulation of the newspaper that publishes ( ) column or the number of people who read Gujarati in the Washington DC area, I am sure the Divya Bhaskar editors and publishers would be happy and ecstatic to know that hundreds of thousands of Washington DC folks read ( ) column. Not only that but the DC citizens are also vigilant about any inaccuracy in news pertaining to their district. I am really thrilled and illuminated by this discovery!’ - From my note to Natwarbhai, July 14, 2010.


Frankly, I did not know that many people in the D.C area read this newspaper column with such a dedication and an eye for details and misprints – all written in Gujarati. But I digress let us move on….

8) Without trying to make any comparison, I would not be surprised if the notable novelist and playwright K. M. Munshi also aroused similar human interest in his day because in addition to his prolific literary output he also distinguished himself in law, politics and government.
Without trying to make any comparison – But you do so sir, you do…

9) I have no illusion of grandeur about what I write or what I do in Washington. Since I have not applied for sainthood, let me take this opportunity to plead guilty, in addition to hypocrisy, to many other deadly sins as well for the benefit of Trivedi and all others who have their watchful eyes on what I do and write.

Natwarbhai says, I have no illusion of grandeur about what I write or what I do in Washington. That may be so and we take his word for it. I know he is a very modest and unassuming person. No doubt or question about this on my part and I hope every one knows this fact…

My only gripe or complain is this - Natwarbhai could have spared all of us the trouble of reading his ‘rejoinder’, albeit a very late ‘rejoinder’ at that, (since my bog was posted in August of 2010) simply by pleading guilty, in addition to admitting being a hypocrite etc. in the last paragraph of his rather a long ‘rejoinder’.

As far as I know, no one had asked him to write a rejoinder and no one had asked him to plead guilty to any real or imaginary sin.

No one has any right to ask Natwarbhai or for that matter any one else to admit guilt for anything that they may have done. It is none of any one’s business. And as far as I am concerned no one should ask him to admit to anything, let him manage the $10 million budget and keep writing in arcane Sanskrit meters…