I like a good conference as much as anyone else. But reading this report (entitled ‘R.K.Narayan’s concern for Children recalled‘) in The Hindu today, I couldn’t help but be snarky.
R.K. Narayan’s insight into a children’s world and his concern for their emotional sensitivity came under focus at the inaugural session of the three-day national seminar on the late novelist organised by the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Mysore, on Tuesday.
This is indeed true, and the subject is worthy of a lecture by a sensitive reader of Narayan’s novels. The students and faculty members of the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) in Mysore ought to spend an evening discussing these matters. But a three day national seminar? What will they discuss?
The seminar is expected to discuss the following themes — Child and Family in R K Narayan’s work; Depiction and treatment of child and family in the context of Indian culture and way of life in the writings of R K Narayan; Narayan’s ideas and concern for children and childhood; R K Narayan: The Man and his life.
There you go!
Narayan is a great writer but an educationist, he is not.
And these guys are in charge of educating our children!
I am already sleeping better.
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