Hityakara is known by its creation. Defining 'creativity' is a bit difficult. A psychologist named Gilford has used research to link creativity with 'divergent thinking'. A creator is someone who thinks a little bit better than what other people think. If there was no breath in this, 'Meghdoot' would not have been found and Shakespeare's poem, 'The solitary Reaper' would not have been found. When an original poet, storyteller or dramatist thinks differently, society gets to create something original and supernatural. Someone asked a poet like Wordsworth: 'Where do you think all this?' The poet's reply was: 'A presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts.' What is this 'presence'? Whose presence is it? God's? Any supreme authority? The poet has not specified. How happy must have been the day Narsingh Mehta got the poem 'Vaishnavajan'? Imagining is also difficult, because it is possible for the imaginator not to experience ecstasy. Many Saraswats and commentators may seem to be aloof from such divine realization. There is a light-year gap between creativity and criticism. In 1967, a film became very famous in the world. It was called: 'The Graduate.' I saw the film when I was a teacher at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). It is the story of an oppressed and black youth. You might have seen it too. The story is interesting. Every Dalit youth watched it. A dark oppressed and poor youth meets a very rich man and asks: 'What should I do if I want to become rich? Give me a tip.' The super rich man immediately answers in one word: 'Plastic.' The year is 1967. Environmental awareness was low. If an oppressed, exploited youth asks me such a question today after so many years! In that period the future was plastic. What to answer today? The value of plastic has fallen now because it does not dissolve for about five thousand years after it is mixed in the ground. My answer would be: 'Education.' A question always haunts today's writers. How to balance hilarity and seriousness in your writing? If gaiety increases, seriousness is bent and seriousness is excessive, no reader will read such a text! One statement of Gandhiji is not particularly well known. Listen: Both seriousness without humor and humor without seriousness are meaningless. At this moment I am reminded of Veer Narmad. I was educated in the same primary school in my village Rander where Narmad worked. The people of Surat are followers of rugged simplicity. Look at the simplicity manifested in the poem written by poet Narmad! Narmad glorifies education in very simple language. LISTEN: BHANO BHANO RAY BHAI BHANO BHANO; By studying ha re, aniti-wham will go away; Yes, good deeds will be done and work will increase, brothers, study, study… Yes, learn a lot by studying and enjoy success and happiness at the end of the enterprise; Brothers, study, study… Yes, increase the respect of the new temple. Bhaio bhaano bhaano… It is worth noting that Nishala was glorified as 'new temples' in those days. When reading this simple poem, one remembers that Gandhiji was born in the same year Ghalib died. The year was: 1869. Poet Umashankar dt. 1977, published an article of mine in 'Culture' on page 376. It gave the details of when Nishala started in Gujarat. Bill Gates, the richest man in the world today, has written a book. Everyone knows that Bill Gates is the CEO of Microsoft! In the introduction to the book, Bill Gates writes: If that poor young man had asked me the question, what word would I have given instead of 'plastic'? I would have said: 'Information.' Today's age is information age. In those days there was talk of plastic, but today there is talk of information. A 'Knowledge Commission' was formed in the country and the chairman of the commission was Dr. Sam was Pitroda. A question haunts today's writers: How to balance hilarity and seriousness in one's writings? If happiness increases, seriousness will bend and if seriousness increases, no one will read the text! What is Yugabodh for today's writers? Also, don't fool the readers. They have a firm understanding of whose writings to read and whose not to read. The age at which the turban ends become thick is 15 years later than I am today. (American financier Bernard Baruch) Note: At 88 years of age this does not seem to be true. Aging leaves no one; Not even jokingly! The question is the conflict between seriousness and cheerfulness. }
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