Sahitya Akademi awardee Shanta Gokhale emphasised the power of silence in her thought-provoking keynote address at the inauguration function of the 13th Goa Arts and Literature Festival at the International Centre Goa (ICG) on Thursday evening.
Gokhale cited the example of rampant demolition and construction activity in her Mumbai neighbourhood and lamented how silence, particularly in an urban environment had almost become impossible. The otherwise soft spoken Gokhale said, “I feel this great urge to turn violent. But I can hardly throw the noisy excavators into the sea.”
Gokhale quoted Mahatma Gandhi and explained how the leader had advocated the need to sit in silence to connect with one’s inner self for sometime every day.
She also mentioned how Peter Brook, the famous theatre director had used the most simple costumes, large open spaces and long periods of silence to interpret an epic like the Mahabharata.
Academic and author Sumana Roy who delivered the first keynote address threw the spotlight on the language of plants. Quoting the works of scientist, Jagdish Chandra Bose, Roy explained how Bose was ridiculed for stating that plants and trees could actually have feelings identical to human beings. “People ridiculed Bose in his time. However modern science has proved that plants indeed feel stress and pain.” Roy said.
The other highlights of the evening included the unveiling of the GALF artwork made by artist, Sonia Rodrigues Sabharwal. A beautiful image of a goddess, who Sabharwal referred as the goddess of art and literature surrounded by the elements of earth, water, fire and air and the Aboli flowers of Goa. Konkani poet Ramesh Ghadi read out his poems and noted author, William Dalrymple was interviewed by Padmabhushan awardee Vidya Dehejia.
The festival at the International Centre Goa, is open and free to the public; and will conclude on February 15.
