Dear Jeyamohan,
The talk about the importance of literature is intriguing. You’re right when you say that literature is regarded as a luxury and upper-middle-class fashion here. In fact, both the lower class and middle class believe that literature is merely a hobby for the uppermost class. But in fact, the upper class are practically illiterate.
I am currently working in Ahmedabad, and the upper class individuals I encounter here seem to be foolish, as they only focus on making and managing money without any knowledge beyond that. They don’t know the history of Gujarat or its literary traditions. I was talking to a Gujarati educationist about Pannalal Patel; he had never heard that name. I was not shocked either.
Generally our rich people in Tamil Nadu are far better; they at least know some names. Literature is the daydream of the middle class, I suppose. They are the class that creates dreams and ideas. The minuscule minority of them are responsible for the entire art, literature, and philosophy. The remaining individuals believe that art, literature, and philosophy belong to ‘big people.’
Krishnan M
