[Reader-list] Things are changing

[Jeebesh]

dear All,

Yesterday evening Parismita Singh's first graphic novel "Hotel at the  
end of the world" was released. The book is remarkable.

What was most heartening was that the evening was mediated by three  
other graphic novelist Orijit, Sarnath and Viswhajyoti. Orijit and  
Sarnath meticulously took us through Parismita's work and opened out  
the intricate thought process, play with time, cultural resources,  
craft etc that has gone in making this graphic novel. Vishwa then had  
a very gentle conversation with Parismita.

Why am i writing about this evening in this list, given that the city  
is filled with book releases these days?.

This evening is important. Here were a evening where fellow peers got  
together to bring to an eager public a value of a work. This was done  
with dignity, lightness, rigor and warmth. A true act of peer-ship and  
publicness together.

In a society marked by knowledge hierarchies, peer envy, and bitter  
polemics this gesture was striking and moving. If taken with  
seriousness this way of being with peers and publics can bring in a  
range of celebratory energies.

An earlier news item a month back said 400 mumbai based film personnel  
(mostly technicians) got together to felicitate Resool Kutty and some  
went with him to the airport to see him off for the BAFTA film award  
ceremony. What a lovely way to appreciate someone. That was also a  
very rare event in the present competitive world.

Things maybe changing and new values may be slowly asserting themselves.

warmly
jeebesh