Dr Rao VBJ Chelikani
An RWA has the unique distinction of being not only in political governance, but also in social governance Should the State lead the society or should the society lead the State? Or, in other words, is the State for the Society or the Society for the State? Is politics important or is culture more important for a human being? These questions are put only to share the impression that we are giving undue importance to politics and political leaders more than to anybody else in society.
We have to keep in mind that in a perfect democracy, when power will be exercised by people directly, the state is expected to disappear or dilute or whither itself away. If we believe that what counts ultimately to humankind is Human Development and Social Development since they are interdependent, then, are we not spending too much time on political governance and not enough about social governance? Therefore, we need to devote more time to searching and identifying the social leaders who think, write and express themselves about society and its members who are good, bad and indifferent, and those who reflect on the interactions and transformations that cause pain and pleasure in their relations.
In a dynamic society, its active members whom we can call the intelligentsia and the elite, like the teachers, scientists, doctors, lawyers, journalists, researchers, managers, artists and sports persons should be identified, singled out, recognized and appreciated for the levels of their contribution to the society. This is the only way for social progress towards a more humanistic culture and modern civilisation. We are living in times, where politicians and social communicators are highlighted more highly than others, and only those thinkers, artists, writers and books that are favoured or opposed by them or those involved in political controversies are getting into the public attention.
Other thinkers and writers are ignored and their books are not sold even in the book shops in their own areas. But, recent Literary Festivals being organized in Jaipur, Chennai and Hyderabad, among others, refuelled our hopes. If a book fair is conducted as a social event or as a festival, people could be attracted towards the subject. The Tarnaka Literary Festival and Book Fair has been conducted with the objective that instead of a macro event, a micro event will bring into focus many local authors in the neighbourhood and the co-residents would get to know them first, and also buy and read their books. Experienced authors are often a 'human library' to consult.
Their reflections, expressions and messages would have a direct and immediate impact on those who are acquainted with them. Since, it is possible with the urban citizens living in the Resident Welfare Associations to search, identify and recognise the thinkers and writers from among themselves, the Standing Committee of Tarnaka Resident Welfare Associations (SCOTRWA) has taken this initiative to launch this initiative and eventually formed Tarnaka Rachaithala Sangham (TARASAM) or Tarnaka Writers Forum, with a WhatsApp group. We earnestly hope that other Resident Welfare Associations in other areas would take up similar activities.
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