Indian novelist and political figure Pankaj Mishra has said that while the western countries have developed its own ideals of politics, economy, and lifestyle, third world countries like ours is unable to reach that position despite its efforts.
He said this during a session titled “Run and Hide” based on a novel written by him on the last day of Dhaka Lit Fest on Sunday. The session was moderated by writer and photographer Vivek Menezes.
When asked about the motivation behind writing such a novel Pankaj Mishra said: “First the idea came from looking at China. At one time it struggled to find itself after the influence of Chinese colonialism. We are also currently going through this period; I think that the beneficial expression of this moral conflict is possible through the novel.”
In explaining the psychological tension of the main characters in “Run and Hide”, the author relates his own life experience to it.
He said: “The landscape of Himachal Pradesh has changed drastically in the last 20 years. I feel like a foreigner in my own land. We give priority to material development in all areas but its inherent harm remains neglected.
“So, I wanted to see people in a different way. Having a sense of roots is important for people in some areas, but broadly speaking I don't think people have any accountability to any specific geographical boundaries,” he added.
Pankaj Mishra also said: “Technology has indeed made the way to knowledge easier these days. But it has now become the main communication medium for scepticism and analysis. As a result, political miscreants are taking the opportunity to rob it.”
