Friends,
I am back and have enjoyed going through posts on Ancient SF literature, and resurgence in sf today.
Now what i add may not look as fresh as it would have looked then.
 
Thank you Gene for bringing to light the contribution of Bhaarateeya story 'form' including that of SF. The convultion that the translations have followed from Sanskrit or Pali or Prakrit to Europeans language is amazing, and it sheds light on the compulsion that it generated in the minds of translators who translated it despite its difficulties, both in uderstanding and availability.
 
The period of the creation of the epic Mahaabhaarat is under controversy, most likely because of various biases.
However can  Mahaabhaarat be confered the honour of being the first 'novel', though in poetry format?
It certainly has all the components of a novel, indeed an epic is greater than a novel, but all epics need not be  novels.
 
SF is becoming more popular, but not enough to please us. It cannot surge upwards faster for many reasons. Firstly the understanding of science and existence of scientfic temper in India is at a much lower level than in the West. Literacy itself is very low, and then science literacy is even lower. Secondly, publishers in India do not take risks assocoated with their job. Thirdly, TV is eating away the spare time of anybody who can manage to get close to a TV. Fourthly, Indian literature itself is fighting to survive among the common man, and for a reason I fail to understand, it is narrowly selfcentered, it ignores, if not dislikes, sf. How many of our literateurs know and understand science ! And there are many sf writers who lack proper understanding of science.
 
The Vaalmeekies, Vyaases etc wrote SF but without giving or having a scientific base, but they wrote SF, which became popular. Do we need to learn from them and adopt their technique for todays environment?
 
VMT


 

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To: indiansciencefiction@...
From: cmnautiyal@...
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 11:52:17 +0000
Subject: Re: [indiansciencefiction] Has there been resurgence of sci-fi in India?

Thanks Arvind jee.

 

I thought that it's the Indian Science Fiction Writers Asso. that organises the conference regularly so didn't mention it separately.  Please correct me if it's a wrong notion.

 

You are right.  The pure sci-fi is not so common but certainly more than before.

 

I also want to add publication of books/ compilations of sci- fi and sci-fa.

 

CMN

Arvind Mishra <arvind_drmishra@yahoo.co.in> wrote:

Thanks Dr. Nautiyal, I have some observations ,please check If I am wrong. What you really mean is perhaps  resurgence of sf or sf/f and not the sci-fi because the term sci-fi is usually referred by Hollywood Journalists for block buster moovies.But now a days the term too is getting more popular. 2.Popular Hindi science mag 'Vigyan Pragati' also publishes sf often if not regularly. 3.You perhaps forgot to underline the contributions of Indian Science Fiction Writers' Association. 4.Its great contentment personally to me that while some of our Indian friends went away from the forum owing to reasons only they know better,we got the soothing and enlightening company of  Indian sf lovers even from abroad  like revered Mr. Gene Van Troyer from Japan, Mr.Michael Iwoleit from Germany  and Mr.Adam John Law and Nathan law from USA.I adore their presence on the forum and trust they are with us in years to come.Their presence  on the forum only  validates an oft repeated  Vadic[Rigveda] saying -'Vasudhev Kutumbakam]- that is  the whole world should be like a family.We represent now an sf world family indeed.And I am proud of my extended family. But it all got accomplished due to the great friends like you who were there in all time when I needed someone to be with me to keep the sf flag erect and high. I am stopping here before I get more maudlin and senti... Thanks to all ...A very happy and prosperous 2008 ! arvind mishra --- On Wed, 2/1/08, CHANDRA MOHAN NAUTIYAL <cmnautiyal@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: From: CHANDRA MOHAN NAUTIYAL <cmnautiyal@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Re: [indiansciencefiction] Has there been resurgence of sci-fi in India? To: indiansciencefiction@yahoogroups.co.in Date: Wednesday, 2 January, 2008, 6:57 PM Sure.  Bu there is an upward thrust.   What I am looking for is more arguments to support my statment.   CMN Arvind Mishra <arvind_drmishra@ yahoo.co. in> wrote: Yes you are quite right Dr. Nautiyal, advancement is really there but remember we still have a long way to go. arvind mishra --- On Tue, 1/1/08, CHANDRA MOHAN NAUTIYAL <cmnautiyal@yahoo. co.uk> wrote: From: CHANDRA MOHAN NAUTIYAL <cmnautiyal@yahoo. co.uk> Subject: [indianscienceficti on] Has there been resurgence of sci-fi in India? To: indiansciencefictio n@yahoogroups. co.in Date: Tuesday, 1 January, 2008, 7:03 PM I want to state   "Of late, there has been a resurgence of science fiction in India."  I advance the following facts to support it:   1. There is now an exclusively quarterly sci-fi magazine in Hindi being published, started about 6 years ago (Vigyan katha) 2. The most popular Indian science magazine Science reporter has started publishing sci-fi regularly 3. A forum by name Indiansciencefictio n has been started 4. A national convention on science fiction has become a regular feature for the past few years 4. Movies like ... have a little semblence of sci- fi.   Would you like to add something friends?   CMN Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now Save all your chat conversations. Find them online.

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