Literature shapes readers more deeply than history books, Sahitya Akademi laureate argues

Literature wields greater influence than historical record-keeping alone, with creative narratives built on historical scaffolding leaving deeper imprints on readers than data-driven chronicles, Sahitya Akademi laureate and Member of Parliament Su. Venkatesan said on Friday.

Speaking at The Hindu office, Venkatesan argued that contemporary struggles mirror historical ones, making the temporal setting of a story less important than the truths it conveys. "What happened yesterday is what is happening today as well. Therefore, what difference does it make whether we speak about a 2,000-year-old story or a story of today?" he asked.

Fiction's Advantage Over Academic History

The writer cited his Sahitya Akademi-winning debut novel Kaval Kottam, an epic rooted in Madurai's history, to explain why he chose fiction over scholarly documentation. "For history, a few pieces of data are enough. But what literature crafts using history as a tool creates an immense impact," he said. He pointed to Saadat Hasan Manto's Partition short stories as proof: despite numerous history books on the India-Pakistan Partition, a single Manto story conveys the pain and impact more powerfully.

Balancing Historical Accuracy With Artistic Freedom

Discussing his second novel Veerayuga Nayagan Velpari, Venkatesan explained he wove knowledge of the Sangam era, from astronomy to maritime wisdom and flora, throughout the work to complete the world he portrayed. "I created Velpari as a painting drawn using each one of these elements," he stated.

He acknowledged limits to creative liberty: established historical truths cannot be entirely altered, or the work will not endure. "Hence, our artistic liberty lies only in how we reenact the events that took place in history. A battle can be staged as a small affair, or it can be staged on a grand scale," he said.

Politics Through Cultural Reclamation

When asked whether writing or public service drives greater social change, Venkatesan distinguished between their purposes: literature creates monumental impact with lasting lifespan, while an elected representative's relief addresses immediate needs. "The purpose of literature is entirely different; the two cannot be compared," he said.

He emphasized that historical stories must be continually reclaimed and retold through the lens of present-day realities. "Velpari should not remain merely Kapilar's story or a story of Kapilar's era. It must transform into a story of our times as well," he said, calling this cultural work a crucial political arena conducted within the space occupied by cultural adversaries.

Source: The Hindu