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The Man of Letters and The Doomsday Clock
Every year a distinguished writer and creative thinker who has studied Indian literature deeply is invited to give the Sahitya Akademi Samvatsar Lectures. Reflecting a deep concern for human values, the lectures open up new vistas of thinking regarding a literary movement, a current literary trend, some original thinking about a great writer or a new path in literary criticism or literary creation.
The first Samvatsar lectures were given in 1986 by S.H. Vatsyayan and the subject was "Perspectives of Memory"; the second in 1987 by Ananda Sankar Ray on "Renaissance in Bengal: In Retrospect", and the third by Umashankar Joshi in 1988 on "The Idea of Indian Literature".
The fourth Samvatsar Lectures were delivered by K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar (b. 1907) in 1989 and the theme was "The Man of Letters and the Doomsday Clock". Iyengar gave two lectures: the first on 18 February on "The Machine and the Clock"; the second on 19 February on "The Clock and the Man of Letters".
A father figure of Indian literature, Iyengar finds that "it is a new age we are living in, for mankind moved, on 16 July 1945, from Anno Domini to Anno Bombini, and we are in the 44th year of this age of delirious ambiguity." Outlining the nuclear peril he observes: "Either scenario is open to humanity today: the mad plunge into the abyss of pride and strife and racial suicide, or the long night's journey back to brotherhood and survival, and the tasks of peace and universal well-being." He hopes that "when the man of letters turns his words into winged squadrons of the Spirit, the resulting revolution in thought, feeling, conviction and action will avert nuclear Doomsday, smash the Machine and the Clock, and greet the Greater Dawn."
The first Samvatsar lectures were given in 1986 by S.H. Vatsyayan and the subject was "Perspectives of Memory"; the second in 1987 by Ananda Sankar Ray on "Renaissance in Bengal: In Retrospect", and the third by Umashankar Joshi in 1988 on "The Idea of Indian Literature".
The fourth Samvatsar Lectures were delivered by K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar (b. 1907) in 1989 and the theme was "The Man of Letters and the Doomsday Clock". Iyengar gave two lectures: the first on 18 February on "The Machine and the Clock"; the second on 19 February on "The Clock and the Man of Letters".
A father figure of Indian literature, Iyengar finds that "it is a new age we are living in, for mankind moved, on 16 July 1945, from Anno Domini to Anno Bombini, and we are in the 44th year of this age of delirious ambiguity." Outlining the nuclear peril he observes: "Either scenario is open to humanity today: the mad plunge into the abyss of pride and strife and racial suicide, or the long night's journey back to brotherhood and survival, and the tasks of peace and universal well-being." He hopes that "when the man of letters turns his words into winged squadrons of the Spirit, the resulting revolution in thought, feeling, conviction and action will avert nuclear Doomsday, smash the Machine and the Clock, and greet the Greater Dawn."
51 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
5 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar
25 books10 followersKodaganallur Ramaswami Srinivasa Iyengar (1908–1999), popularly known as K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar, was an Indian writer in English, former Vice Chancellor of Andhra University. He was given the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1985.
He joined the Department of English, Andhra University which was started in 1947. In 1966 Prof. Iyengar became the Vice-chancellor of the Andhra University on 30 June 1966 and continued till 29 November 1968. The Department of English, one of the oldest in the University, was carved out of the Department of Modern European Languages.
He prepared his lectures in Indian Writing in English to be given at the University of Leeds in 1958 that later formed the basis of the famous book, Indian Writing in English.
Iyengar in October 1972, gave a series of six lectures on Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla covering the following themes: the Yogi and the Poet; the Savitri Legend; Aswapati the Forerunner; Savitri and Satyavan; Savitri’s Yoga; Dawn to greater Dawn.
(from Wikipedia)
He joined the Department of English, Andhra University which was started in 1947. In 1966 Prof. Iyengar became the Vice-chancellor of the Andhra University on 30 June 1966 and continued till 29 November 1968. The Department of English, one of the oldest in the University, was carved out of the Department of Modern European Languages.
He prepared his lectures in Indian Writing in English to be given at the University of Leeds in 1958 that later formed the basis of the famous book, Indian Writing in English.
Iyengar in October 1972, gave a series of six lectures on Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla covering the following themes: the Yogi and the Poet; the Savitri Legend; Aswapati the Forerunner; Savitri and Satyavan; Savitri’s Yoga; Dawn to greater Dawn.
(from Wikipedia)
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September 2, 2012
read this today. very strong and pertinent points on the absolute horror and futility of the 'nuclear option'. had read only one lecture from the Samvatsar series before, that too by the great 'Agyeya'. will look our for the whole series now. thanks to Sahitya Academy for publishing such great work.
Displaying 1 of 1 review