Jangam Vidyapeeth

Poet Rajesh Joshi’s excellent write-up on Dr Namvar Singh in Dainik Bhaskar’s Sunday supplement today touched the core of heart. It is a great piece of literature worth preserving. How I wish I could present the piece in English translation here!
Rajesh has quoted Baba Nagarjun as describing Dr Namvar Singh “ Jangam Vidyapeeth Ke Kulpati”. Admittedly, I read this phrase for the first time. But I am absolutely marveled at the most apt description of the octogenarian ace Hindi critic.
Rajesh has simplified ‘Jangam Vidyapeeth’ as ‘Bol Kar Batana’. Its literal translation is a futile exercise. Viewed in the context of the write-up, the Jangam Vidyapeeth Ke Kulpati could mean the scholar-head of the varsity that disseminates knowledge through spoken words rather than written ones.
Dr Namvar Singh is endowed with rare gift of erudition and articulation. The combination has made him the most respected (and controversial too) Hindi critic. He has been regaling his audiences across India with his incisive observations on literature, social science, politics and ideologies for the last three decades.
Dr Singh’s baritone voice, Marxist worldview, accurate selection of words, weaving personal experiences with the given subject, treasure of anecdotage and repartees come into a vibrant play when he speaks.
More importantly, the sensitive listener gets enough in Dr Singh’s lectures to carry on home for long time to ruminate with friends. It is not as though a juggler of words has cast a spell whose magic is off the moment one is out of the lecture hall. His magic is enduring.
Dr Khagendra Singh Thakur has done a great service to Hindi literature by compiling Dr Namvar Singh’s important lectures in a book form—‘Alochak Ke Mukh Se’.
Rajesh’s piece has evoked some old memories too.
Hindi’s progressive writers have a penchant for invoking Dr Namvar Singh, Muktibodh and Munshi Premchand at the drop of a hat. Of the three, only Dr Namvar Singh is alive.
That perhaps explains why the Hindi critic is not always remembered reverentially as the other two (Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh and Munshi Prem Chand) are.
During the famous literary standoff between the Bharat Bhavan and the progressive writers during Ashok Vajpeyi’s heydays in eighties, Dr Namvar Singh was leading the Marxists’ charge against the multi- art complex.
I had numerous opportunities to mingle with writers, wannabe writers and camp followers of both sides in those years. The reactions would amuse me.
Many young writers on both sides would denigrate or eulogize Dr Singh without much knowledge about his contribution to Hindi literature. The camp following in literature is as much, if not more, blinded by personal loyalties to the leader as in politics.
Words like “Akahdebaaz”, “ Paththa” emptily reverberated the seemingly fierce debates in closed- door drinking sessions and seminars on polemics about Bharat Bhavan versus progressives.
The debates amused me no end. Since I was neither a writer nor aspired to become one, I could afford to view Dr Namvar Singh objectively.
My assessment of Dr Singh was illuminated by reading of his book ‘Doosari Parampara Ki Khoj’ and his marvelous evaluations of the poets of “Tar Saptak.” It was he who established Muktibodh as grater poet than Agneya. It was he who, despite ideological differences, pronounced Nirmal Verma as one of the most important storywriters.
I can go on writing endlessly. But that’s not my purpose. The purpose was to tickle the memory of the days when the camp following in Hindi literature in MP had spawned a plethora of ill-informed and semi-literate writers.
They are nowhere in the contemporary literary scene.
Only those who had the capacity to imbibe their literature with historical insight survived.
Rajesh Joshi is one of the most illustrious examples. And such writers still respect Dr Namvar Singh.
Lastly, I can’t go without mentioning that when Bharat Bhavan’s magazine ‘Purvagrah’ was revived recently, the trust chose Dr Namvar Singh to release it in New Delhi.
An incorrigible Marxist was thought most suitable by RSS-controlled Bharat Bhavan to release its in-house magazine. Of course, it enhanced prestige of both.