Prayagraj: “Literature is not just an arrangement of words, but a living document of the consciousness of society, culture and time.” This view was expressed by Dr. Shlesh Gautam, the keynote speaker and Assistant Professor of the Law Department of Allahabad Degree College (Allahabad University) in the dialogue series ‘Vimarsh’ organized by the North Central Zone Cultural Center (NCZCC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The program organized in the multipurpose auditorium of the center on Saturday was inaugurated by Center Director Sudesh Sharma and keynote speaker Dr. Shlesh Gautam by lighting the lamp.
In his lecture, Dr. Gautam stated that literary creation is an eternal, positive, and ongoing process of thought and expression, which, while assimilating time, era, and circumstances, expresses tradition, experimentation, change, and resistance with the dignity of words. Literature is not only a synthesis of reality and imagination, but also a powerful medium of ideology, a sense of the times, human sensibilities, and social responsibility. He stated that literature plays an important role in shaping society, preserving cultural values, and connecting new generations to their roots.
He said that in changing times, the role of literature becomes even more important because it connects society with sensitivity, human values, and cultural consciousness. Literature is a bridge of communication between individuals and society, connecting generations.
Dr. Shlesh Gautam holds a distinct identity in the fields of literature and culture. For his poetry collection “Chand Sulagta Hai,” he was honored with the Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan Young Lyricist Award (2012) by the Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan. He has also been awarded numerous prestigious honors, including the Shishu Vallabh Award, the People’s Poet Kailash Gautam Award, and the Folk Artist Award. He has received the Junior Fellowship and the Fellowship on Intangible Cultural Heritage from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He has also made his presence felt through poetry recitation and conducting at national and international poetry conferences.
Dr. Gautam’s published works include “The Moon Burns,” “Ram Your Name,” “Aadam-Size Dwarfs,” “Read Kabir for the New Century,” “Beyond the Age of Rama, We Are the Realization of the Age of Rama,” “Tasting Guru,” and “I Have Seen History Change with the Power of Dialogue,” among many other popular books. He is also a member of the Official Language Implementation Committee of Allahabad University. The program was moderated by Akash Agarwal.
