This evening while surfing channels I watched a program on Zee Classic Television Channel called Classic Legends hosted by Javed Akhtar on the life of the famous poet and lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.
which roughly translated means:
I AM SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND
This quote is still perambulating in my mind and the more I delve on it I realize how profound these words are, especially for a creative writer whose work is not appreciated.
So whenever my novel manuscript is returned by a publisher with a rejection letter, I am going to console myself: अन्धो के शहर में आइने बेच रहा हूँ
Isn't this a nice philosophy for creative persons to adopt rather than get frustrated when their work is not appreciated? Much better than self-pity and doing harmful things like drowning your sorrows in drink, isn't it?
Dear fellow creative writers and bloggers - do comment and let us know your views.
Javed Akhtar narrated an incident and a quote ( शेर ) by Majrooh Sultanpuri which I will never forget. Javed Akhtar met Majrooh Sultanpuri in the evening of his life and asked him how he was, to which the poet replied:
अन्धो के शहर में आइने बेच रहा हूँ
which roughly translated means:
I AM SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND
This quote is still perambulating in my mind and the more I delve on it I realize how profound these words are, especially for a creative writer whose work is not appreciated.
So whenever my novel manuscript is returned by a publisher with a rejection letter, I am going to console myself: अन्धो के शहर में आइने बेच रहा हूँ
Isn't this a nice philosophy for creative persons to adopt rather than get frustrated when their work is not appreciated? Much better than self-pity and doing harmful things like drowning your sorrows in drink, isn't it?
Dear fellow creative writers and bloggers - do comment and let us know your views.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this story?
I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To order the book please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-81910
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-ka
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the link below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this story?
I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To order the book please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-81910
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-ka
COCKTAIL ebook
If you prefer reading ebooks on Kindle or your ebook reader, please order Cocktail E-book by clicking the link below:
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MGERZ6
SMASHWORDS
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87925
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Your blog posts always set me thinking (or drowning in the sea of new perspectives), and I can identify with your feelings about publishers, as I face the same thing, and my response is also similar to yours. I do not want to dwell on whether I am being grandiose or not, but it leaves me feeling better.
ReplyDelete@ Subhorup - Thanks for the empathy
ReplyDelete