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Mahendra Bhatnagar(continued) Interview by Dr. Nilanshu Kumar Agarwal What are the formative influences on you? You mean, influences in giving shape to poetry. A far as the structural construction of poetry is concerned, I do not do much labour. I wrote metrical compositions in the beginning of my poetic career. Afterwards I inclined towards blank verse or free verse. I feel comfortable in writing free verse; but not without meter and rhymes. Of course, there is no regular meter and rhyme. Hindi poet Nirala wrote such free verse. But the framework of my poetry is rather new and original. Most of my poems give a glimpse of free verse; but actually they are metrical under discipline. There are internal rhymes also in my poems; though not regular. I wrote very few prosaic poems. Poems written in prose style are often not impressive. A sort of tone or tune may be there. In fact I write poetry in my own style. I tried my level best to create poems having a modernistic expression. As a senior professor of literature, what do you think are the
reasons for the diminishing interest of the youth in literature? The
young men and women hardly care for literary icons. The really meritorious
students do not go for higher studies in the field of literature. They
opt for careers in engineering science. What factors are responsible
for this apathetic attitude towards literature? What are the possible
remedies for this problem? I think the main and the foremost reason of the diminishing choice
of the youth for literature is purely and clearly economic. One has
to earn money for oneself and for one's family. Everyone wants to live
safe. Everyone wants to live a smooth and easy-going life. Everyone
wants to enjoy all the boons of the present scientific and technical
progress. That's why young people are also running to get more and more
monetary gains. Literature doesn't provide such gains to a large majority
of people. As far as the diminishing interest in literature is concerned, there
are other factors, too. Obsolete literature has no charm in it; however
rich that may be. The age has changed. Scientific achievements have
changed totally our thinking. Today's youth is more realistic. Only
that literature will become popular, which possesses the realities of
the time. God-centered devotional literature has lost its relevance.
Though we are secular and modern, yet in Hindi literature you will find
a major thrust on old-fashioned devotional utterances. In the curricula
of schools and colleges there is no agreement with the times; students
are rather compelled to read the literature, concerned only with Ram-Sita
& Radha-Krishna. We must search human values in current literary
arena of our times. That will surely create interest in the readers. Secondly, literary works must be simple and clear. Communicability should be the primary condition of literary writings. Unfortunately, today's literature is not fulfilling this urge. Most of the present literature is difficult to understand. Complicated expressions are often overlooked. We want to read that literature which is healthy in thoughts, lucid in expression and bright with artistic skills. Who are the other contemporary bilingual authors and poets writing
in Hindi and English languages? What should be done to promote bilingual
writings in India? Are there certain associations for this purpose? I am not much aware of other bilingual poets and authors. Bilingual
poetry is very useful; especially with English as one of the languages.
I write poetry in Hindi and English. Hindi versions of my poetry are
read throughout India. Most of my Hindi poems are translated into English
and are available in nine volumes. These English translations help the
non-Hindi speaking readers very much. They easily grasp the contents
of the poems more correctly. With the help of these English translations,
my poems got translated into other Indian languages, viz Tamil, Telugu,
Kannad, Malyalam, Banglaa, Manipuri, etc. Mrs. Purnima Ray (mother-tongue Banglaa) translated my poems very successfully
in French with the help of these bilingual poems. Ray taught French
at Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. Her French translations
are published in book-form — A Modern Indian Poet: Dr. Mahendra
Bhatnagar, Un Poèt Indien Et Moderne, with English versions.
This bilingual collection (English & French) got global publicity.
Mr. Seifi Hino, a well-known Japanese poet, translated my poems into
Japanese, with the help of the above mentioned English-French bilingual
collection; as he knows French, also. Japanese versions are published
in GENDAISHI KENKYU (International bilingual - French & Japanese
- Magazine / Published in Yamagata - shi/Japan) Publishers also publish such bilingual collections easily; due to their quick sale in a wider area of the country and abroad. What are the major issues/themes before the contemporary creative
writers in India? Major issues/themes before the contemporary writers in India today
are not new. They are almost same as were in a few last decades. I think,
secularism should be given top priority. Writers must attack by their
writings on the communal forces. One great problem, involved in creative writing, is that publishers
do not easily come forward in publishing the books of new authors. In
most of the cases, the authors are charged money for the publications
of their books. How can this problem be solved? Can e-publishing be
an alternative? Are there certain problems in the publication on Internet
too? I think the people do not take the Internet publications much seriously.
They just go cursorily over the whole text. Moreover, very few people
are armed with the facility of the Internet. So, what is the way out?
Your views about all this. Nowadays everything is commercialized. Publishers publish only those
books which are easily salable. Poetry books are not very popular amongst
readers, because most of the poets are writing highly difficult poetry.
The problem of communication is foremost in the field of poetry writing
today. Fake and incompetent poets are seen in abundance. They are writing
a lot of trash poetry. In the name of blank verse or free verse, poets
are writing poetry in prosaic form. Such poetry doesn't appeal to the
common man. It's true nowadays genuine poets also are facing difficulties in publishing their work. On the Internet, too, we see a lot of raw and rubbish poetic matter. Of course, we find standard matter in e-magazines and in blogs of reputed poets. The popularity of the Internet is increasing in the educated class of society. No doubt, the Internet is a satisfactory channel for the poets to display their work. You are associated with a number of literary figures and organizations.
Will you mention some, whose cooperation has assisted you in the moulding/shaping
of your literary sensibility? Oh, I am not much associated with literary figures and associations.
My movements are limited. I am afraid of travel, mostly alone. That's
why I am not able to take part in outside symposiums, lectures, meetings,
etc. I do not attend Kavi-sammelans (poets' meet). I even do
not go to conduct viva-voce tests of research scholars or attend meetings
of several academic, literary and audition (AIR) committees, though
universities are ready to provide for the expenses of air travel or
a hired taxi for this purpose. I am connected with a few literary personalities only through correspondence
or through the Internet. I am not associated with any group of writers.
I was never supported by any "Mahant" (eminent chief
of literature). That is why I suffered a lot. My writings didn't come
into the limelight; as it should be. I have carved out a niche for myself
in the field of literature through my own efforts. People know me only
through my writings. 
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