Crazy. This word alone does not suffice to describe the topsy-turvy that the mind of each English student of Jamia is in. Oh, its not because we are distressed, harried or under any kind of duress. We are all experiencing a sort of crazy-happy state. Why? Well, the answer, by now, has been splashed all across facebook, blogs and will soon be covered in newspapers also. The English Literary Association, for the first time in its history, is organizing a literary festival, that will outshine all previous attempts at literary engagements made by members of our or any other department.
The year 2012 is special for literature enthusiasts, because it reminds one of two literary giants – Charles Dickens and Saadat Hassan Manto – for somewhat similar reason. This happens to be the year celebrating the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, the prolific 19thcentury author, whose importance in literary circles can hardly be over stated. This also is the year when Saadat Hassan Manto, the controversial yet widely read Urdu writer, would’ve celebrated his 100th birthday if he were alive. The English Literary Association of Jamia Millia Islamia is attempting to bring together the two master storytellers in a fest dedicated to celebrating their genius. The Pickwick Fest, scheduled to take place on the 15th, 16th and 17th of October, 2012 is an endeavour by literature enthusiasts of Jamia to provide a meeting ground for authors, publishers, academics and book lovers from across Delhi to come and share their thoughts on these great figures and also to learn and acquire deep insights into the life of each.
A little before the fest, we are launching this blog to keep you all updated about the festival, to entertain your queries and also to document every small event detail associated with our carnival. Calling ourselves the 'Pickwick Bloggers', we will bring to you the best from the fest - spices with occasional scoops about behind the curtain scenes. We keep our eyes and ears open, and we urge you to do the same when we are around. You give us something to write about, and write we will, but our journalistic instincts to dig gossip out from a seemingly innocent space cannot be reigned in. Having said that, we hope you will enjoy whatever The Pickwick Journal serves to you.
We are almost set. However, at brief intervals, we realize a certain rise in palpitation, a certain pacing up of our hearts. When you give in your hundred percent to something, and perhaps a little more too, the zeal to see your endeavour turning into a success is almost akin to an obsession. Lucky is what we consider ourselves when we look around and see the kind of support our department has been giving us. Not even a step could have been taken without the blessings and encouragement of our Head, Professor M. Asaduddin, who also happens to be the President of English Literary Association. He has shared his kind words with us, here -
Head's Message
A quick look at our events and guests can be sought here -
Event Diary
Want to meet the team working behind this blog? Here they are -
Up, Close and Personal
Moments frozen in time, picked up with care, and turned into a souvenir of the fest can be found here -
Frames
We hope we have given you a warm enough welcome to our blog. Keep looking at this space for more updates. Do post your queries, if any to us.
And, most importantly, do come and be a part of the literary extravaganza which The Pickwick Fest promises to be!
- Saumya Kulshreshtha
Editor,
The Pickwick Journal
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| The poster of our fest, designed by none other than the 'famous' and the talented, Aaqib Raza Khan |
A little before the fest, we are launching this blog to keep you all updated about the festival, to entertain your queries and also to document every small event detail associated with our carnival. Calling ourselves the 'Pickwick Bloggers', we will bring to you the best from the fest - spices with occasional scoops about behind the curtain scenes. We keep our eyes and ears open, and we urge you to do the same when we are around. You give us something to write about, and write we will, but our journalistic instincts to dig gossip out from a seemingly innocent space cannot be reigned in. Having said that, we hope you will enjoy whatever The Pickwick Journal serves to you.
We are almost set. However, at brief intervals, we realize a certain rise in palpitation, a certain pacing up of our hearts. When you give in your hundred percent to something, and perhaps a little more too, the zeal to see your endeavour turning into a success is almost akin to an obsession. Lucky is what we consider ourselves when we look around and see the kind of support our department has been giving us. Not even a step could have been taken without the blessings and encouragement of our Head, Professor M. Asaduddin, who also happens to be the President of English Literary Association. He has shared his kind words with us, here -
Head's Message
A quick look at our events and guests can be sought here -
Event Diary
Want to meet the team working behind this blog? Here they are -
Up, Close and Personal
Moments frozen in time, picked up with care, and turned into a souvenir of the fest can be found here -
Frames
We hope we have given you a warm enough welcome to our blog. Keep looking at this space for more updates. Do post your queries, if any to us.
And, most importantly, do come and be a part of the literary extravaganza which The Pickwick Fest promises to be!
- Saumya Kulshreshtha
Editor,
The Pickwick Journal
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