Reader Writers

Muslim Murasu, April 2011

Forty writers are certainly necessary for a magazine of eighty pages. Magazines are published with certain taste, quality and dimension with an understanding of prime objective. A group that can do field analysis, individual research and exhibit domain knowledge is not available in Tamilnadu. Reading the magazine or ignoring it seems alike. Individual experiences of six crore Tamilians should be brought out in the magazine. Opinions belonging to five or six types are dominating and one grows weary. A reader, without going through the magazine, ignoring news, quickly drops the magazine on the floor. Expenditure of thousands of rupees becomes fodder to dustbin within minutes. Reader should understand the causative history behind this mishap.
Grooming writers has not happened consistently, continuously. The continuity is broken in the middle.
In film industry, stunt director, lyricist, supporting actor, assistant director, film critics, cameraman are relentlessly created without any break. There is no dearth of artists. Individual groups, training institutes and government film college take up the mantle of grooming and mentoring them. Limitless glory, glamor, money, influence and facilities available in film industry attract and keep attracting newcomers. Creation of next generation does not rest and continues tirelessly.
A business management graduate, fresh out of college, is lured with offers of 30 lakh rupees per Annam at the campus doors. Multinational firms keep cultivating new managers every year.
Society pays sufficient attention for engineers, doctors, tailors, construction workers, painters and house labors. The needs of the society are fulfilled without gap.
But literary world is not so easy. Anyone cannot enter at will. Even if one gets entry, one cannot survive for more than a couple of years. Either the writer will feel jaded or the reader will feel frustrated. This is a job that holds sway over all the hearts. It brings all domains under its ambit. It is certainly difficult. Only the fittest can survive.
Those with broad hearts and who ignore their circumstances can shine. Readers can turn into writers and creators. There are vast opportunities. It demands sacrifice. One should spend time for this, reduce entertainment and going after money. At present, 31 districts are not represented in magazines. Five readers in each district can practice writing. This will alleviate the paucity.