Why does a nation need writers?

A few days back, a Sri Lankan who has dedicated his whole life to the craft of writing, transcending nationality, race and religion, asked to comment on how he manages financially, appealed to me that the subject be dropped, stating that even to utter a single comment more would cause him indescribable agony.  This particular author prefers to spend much of his time away from his birth country, Sri Lanka. The reason is that a different country that is not bound to assist him, nevertheless is more helpful in nurturing his mission than his own.

Asked about what he thinks Sri Lanka needs as a policy to change this situation he appealed to me to stop. It is pointless even discussing the matter, he insisted. Braving the dragons of penury he had managed to get his latest book printed and he preferred to speak of it. We have scheduled an interview with him and the details of this latest book and also his life story would be featured in this page.

A writer is a human being

What we would like to comprehend in this piece of writing is why a nation and the world at large need writers. A writer is a human being who has decided that his or her commitment is to reflect the heartbeat of life in whatever the chosen form – whether it be scholarship, research, poetry, fiction, journalism, narratives or novels - or even integrated artistry. A writer is not a public relations puppet of convenience that measures his words from the point of view of rewards. A writer, functioning to his truest of calling, will write using his own blood if he cannot afford ink and will stick to his mission even if he is thrown into the worst dungeon. Starvation will not stop him. Isolation will not stop him. If he cannot afford paper he will write on earth. This is the type of writer that is fast becoming a species facing extinction. This is the type of writer that we began quoting at the outset of this article.

The soul of a writer cannot be bought for gold or silver. A writer that seeks justice not for himself  but for others unites his will with the larger heartbeat of the universe. But is this world offering a home that is conducive to these types of humans? How are writers created? Can they be purchased at societal functions? How can a writer be differentiated from a socialite? And what ultimately is the responsibility of a writer?

Consciousness

While many of these questions the reader could attempt to resolve as per his or her understanding, the answer to the last question could be defined as ‘consciousness.’ The honest striving of every writer who has discarded the fickle, is to raise consciousness of humanity. This is the case whether one has chosen academic or creative writing. It could be argued that the perils of such a cause is that a writer may find himself or herself carrying out a thankless task. He or she would possibly gather more enemies than friends. Yet, this, it could be argued, is a far better way in which to spend one’s life rather than be the acolyte of pampered mediocrity.

One salient truth remains that a nation is a living tomb if it does not create a space for the life of the present and future to be chiseled. And the only type of humans who could do this, who could transform bones into form using the flesh of words are a nations’ writers.

The purpose of this above reflection is to get the reader and the nation to think, as we follow up in our upcoming editions with relevant interviews and ideation to create a world that will hone rather than kill its writers. We will try to understand how writers across the world have helped to heal this world and why we need more word healers than ever before in our divided and warring world.  (SV)