DLF urges readers to ask questions, think
Can a reader evaluate a work of literature when s/he learns that the author is charged with sexual harassment?
This was a key question repeated by the participants of a session on ‘No Nobel: #MeToo in Literature’ at Dhaka Lit Fest 2018 on Bangla Academy premises on Saturday.
This was the closing day of the festival and the session was held at the the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad conference hall of the academy. The speakers including Olga Grjasnowa, Philip Hensher, Richard Beard, Himanjali Sanker and Ros Porter shed light on the theme from different angles while participants asked questions and shared their views.
The audience comprised of people from Australia, UK, Spain, India and a few other countries.
There was no conclusive answer but the audience was left to take their own decision on such matters. “The man with a pen has a privilege over common people as the work of art transcends time and place,” said Richard Beard.
“Literature is not activism,” rather it functions on the deeper realm of human senses, Granta magazine deputy editor Ros Porter told the meet.
“Shouldn’t the society’s attitude about sexual harassment be changed?” said British author Philip Hensher who thinks society needs time to change. The ‘normal' things that are considered rights today were beyond imagination once, he added.
Famous Oscar winner actress Tilda Swinton talked on ‘On Drumduan Hill’ at another session and she focussed on a feature film about a progressive school. There was a queue of visitors to attend Tilda's session.
Indian author Jaishree Misra talked about ‘Rebel, Role Model’, in another session held at the lawn of the academy.
Many literature lovers came with their children and were seen buying books and foods.
“The Lit Fest is wonderful. I love this because everyone is talking about books here. The people are wonderful too,” said Carley from Australia.
A Spanish mother who came with her child, said she had "very good time" at the festival.
The three-day festival began on Thursday. Manisha Koirala’s session on the story of her fight against cancer and Nandita Das’ biopic ‘Manto’ on author Saadat Hasan Manto drew a huge crowd in the past two days.