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Kritya—why?
The word
‘kritya’ means "shabd shakti" or "the power of words".
Ever since I learnt the power of imagination, the word ‘kritya’
has been a dormant yet haunting seed of a thought waiting to be
awakened by my dreams. Dreams, like words, have been my constant
companions. They have never betrayed or deserted me. My fists
were never empty, as there were usually a few dreams stuck to my
wet palm. These were always fascinatingly coloured and spoke to
me in a language I clearly understood. Thus words became an
integral part of my dream repertoire in colours. I do not know
when exactly ‘words’ started to hypnotize me; perhaps it was
when I learnt the art of joining the letters of the alphabet and
reading them as words and sentences. They came with a host of
meanings. Reading soon became my life and a happy get-away into
the wonderland of words.
So, while reading the Vedas, I discovered that the word ‘kritya’
was "negative word power”. Most of the explanations describe
‘kritya’ as a "spell". Again, in mythology ‘kritya’, had a
negative connotation ascribed to it. Here, the word was
synonymous to "Demon or Rakshasi. However, in Buddhism the
direction of the meaning of ‘kritya’ stands altered, but it
still meant word power.
I do not accept this. Because my friendship with words assures
me that the word ‘kritya’ could never be negative. We only use a negative approach I resolved to claim for ‘kritya’ its
original, positive status. ‘Kritya’, the journal, is a
manifestation of my obsession with the word. It is that close to
my heart and spirit.
Now why the web journal? Why wouldn’t I remain satisfied by
writing alone? Why wouldn’t I put my energy in some personal
creation? My journey in the world is not straight forward. The
time and space around me was not so kind and my society was
never generous to a woman with lots of dreams. Dreams were the
stuff of my ambitions and to fulfill them has been nothing less
than a miracle for me. It is a dream again to have a journal
like Kritya under such a demanding circumstance. I can say that
there are few reasons behind a web journal- Firstly, I love
poetry. Secondly, I felt that the world of poetry is shrinking
and dividing into different groups, especially in India.
Thirdly, a web journal can reach out to a wider spectrum of
readers without much expenditure as compared to a print journal.
There may be more reasons, but it is better to stick to these
three.
Looking
Back
Kritya- A Journey of a Dream --
In the beginning, I was all alone with my dream. I talked to the
so called well wishers about the web journal but support was not
forthcoming. May be in India, it was not considered a popular
medium of journalism at that time or maybe people could never
visualize my dream. My medium of writing is mostly Hindi, but I
wanted Kritya to be a bilingual journal in English and Hindi, as
I felt that it should reach out to more and more readers.
English and Hindi are again popular mediums of literature and my
aim was to bring out poetry of as many languages of the world as
possible under one banner through translation. It is an ambitious project and I
have my limitations.
Starting a web journal was not an easy task for me, as there
were a number of obstacles to be surmounted. First of all there
was lack of support. I had to go around in search of different
kinds of help. I personally talked and met a few writers for
support, but a firm answer was always elusive. Perhaps they did
not want to spend their energy on someone else’s dream. Getting
technical help was also not easy. Finally I signed up with a
company hiring them for technical support for a huge price. By
then, I had already left my job and was dependent on my
provident funds. Things were getting difficult.
My idea of the journal was different. I wanted Kritya to have
the feel of a magazine. Most of the web journals have the look
of a newspaper. I wanted art to be a significant part of Kritya.
While making the web pages, I got help from one of the best
artists, B.D Dattan to make logos, that also, without any
payment. A young artist Vijendra Vij from Delhi helped me
in writing the title. And of course the great Malyalam poet
Ayyappa Paniker gave me moral support and encouragement.
As work began, I ran into major problems. Firstly there was no
solution for the font to be used in the web for the Hindi
section- as I live in South India, where the official
and public languages do not include Hindi. By now I was working
day and night. Talking to people, reading, typing etc… Getting
good material was the most difficult part of this journalism.
Hindi writers, especially hesitated to give me their best work.
I do not know from where I got the energy to continue despite
all odds. All I knew was that my ideas about Kritya were crystal
clear.
Kritya touches on five main points in arts- It provides for a
selection of the best that is available in terms of contemporary
world poetry. At the same time, another section, Our masters –
acknowledges the contribution of the great poets. A third
section, the editor’s choice explains Kritya’s position on
poetry. It denotes the taste of Kritya. The type of poetry
Kritya promotes is thus evident in this section. Poetry needs
prose too, to talk about herself. Kritya’s-in the name of poetry
fulfills this need by its incisive and enlightening
commentaries. The section - my voice – is the editorial. Thus –
an issue could take a ride from the past to the present, from
prose to poetry. Poetry exists not only in words; pictures also
talk like poetry, so paintings and visuals are an important part
of Kritya.
Bringing our first issue was not so simple. I burnt a good deal
of midnight oil, before the issue saw daylight. It was a
surprising shock for most of the poets in India, as a woman who
lives far from literature GURUS, had brought out a journal,
that was both bilingual and purely literary, for the first time
in India without any kind of help. It was unbelievable for many.
So response from known people was negative. But, poets from
outside the country responded positively. Some envied while some
thought, “Let us see how long this woman goes all alone”.
With Kritya, a number of dreams spread wings. A few literature
lovers chose to join my journey. Jayasree Ramakrishnan Nair,
a freelance editor and translator, Senior Associate Editor,
Samyukta - A Journal of Women's Studies offered her services for
language correction in the English section. Then Suma VS
from Seattle joined us. In the Hindi Section Ajey from Kelang (Himachal
Pradesh), Agnishekhar from Jammu & Kashmir came forward and
supported us with good material..
Every issue is a new challenge for me—with every step I felt my
feet as heavy as muddy boots. In the third month, my technical
team left me after taking the full amount in advance. This hurt
me a lot, but the hurdle gave me fresh energy and I started
learning web designing myself. From the fourth month, I became
my own technical help…and then I was very busy, yet I made time
to use my imagination for the artistic development of Kritya.
Every hurdle gives you new power, that’s what I learnt in this
long, arduous but fulfilling journey.
All my hurdles and pain disappear into thin air with every issue
of Kritya.
Achievements of Kritya-
The greatest challenge for Kritya has been to stick to deadlines
and release it on time. In the last two years, Kritya has never
been late; Moreover, Kritya could bring together poetry from
different languages of the world.
We have had five special issues-
1- Special issue for Telugu poetry
2- Special issue for Dogri poetry
3- Spacial issue for Australian poetry
4- Special issue for Italian poetry
5- In Memoriam Ayyappa Paniker (1930-2006)
We made a number of friends. Kritya is not only just a
journal, but a mission – a mission to achieve cultural and
linguistic harmony. Poetry is only its weapon. We know Kritya
has not achieved every thing, it wanted to achieve. But the
struggle has certainly, been worthwhile. Kritya now exists as a
fusion of peaceful literary and cultural pluralities in the
minds of all its readers.
Kritya as a foundation for arts, literature and culture:-
Kritya is a foundation established to widen the scope and reach
of global literature, arts and culture. It seeks to be
accessible through translation, publication, performance,
interaction and exchange of literary ideas among various
languages and cultures. Kritya was formally registered as a
trust in January
2007
Our
Trustees are-
1.
Dr. Rati Saxena specialized in the study of the Vedas,
especially Atharva Veda, and secured a Ph.D. Degree in Sanskrit
from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur She has published Four
collections of her own poems in Hindi. One in Malayalam, two in
English and a critical work in Hindi on the renowned Malayalam
poet Balamani Amma (Sahitya Akedemy). Her recent work is
research on Atharvaveda –“The seeds of mind” a fresh approach to
study of Atharvaveda with the fellowship of Indira Gandhi
National Center for Arts. She has translated about ten Malayalam
works, both prose and poetry, into Hindi and has participated in
several national seminars and published articles in a number of
journals. She is the recipient of Kendriya Sahitya Akedemy award for translation
in year-2000 She is the chief editor of
www.kritya.in , managing trustee of Kritya
foundation and director of poetry festival.
2.
DR. V.P. MOHAMMED KUNJU METTARU is a Professor and Former Dean,
Faculty of Oriental Studies, Former Member, Syndicate,
University of Kerala knows several languages - Malayalam, Hindi,
Urdu, English, Practical knowledge of Sanskrit, Arabic and
Dutch. More than 300 papers in standard Journals in Hindi,
Malayalam and English.. He has a number of books to his
credit. Adhunik Hindi Ka Srot: Naya Chintan, Published by the Author,
TVM, 1986. Dakhini Hindi Ka Sufi Sahitya, Lok Bharti Prakashan,
Allahabad, 1988, Masnavi Kadam Rao Padam Rao, Arya Prakashan
Mandal, Delhi-31, 1990..Dakhini Hindi Bhasha Aur Sahitya, Lok
Bharti Prakashan, Allahabad, 1994,Shantivahak Nabi, Lok Bharti
Prakashan, Allahabad, 1994.Adhunik Hindi Ka Srot; Nav Chintan
(Revised and enlarged edition) Alekh Prakashan, Delhi 32,
2002.Irshadnama, Alekh Prakashan, Delhi-32, 2002.He got a number
of awards for his literary works. some of them are-Rashtra
Bhasha Parishad Award, Govt. of Bihar, Patna, 1982.Hindi Writers
Awards, Central Hindi Directorate, Govt. of India, New Delhi,
1987.Acharya Ramachandra Sukla Award, U.P. Hindi Sansthan, Govt.
of U.P. 1996.Sammelan Samman, Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag,
2002.Rajbhasha Gaurav Samman, Dehradun, 2003 & 2004.
Dr. Mohammaed Kunju Mettaru is General Secretary of Kritya
foundation
3.
K. G. Balakrishna Pillai is a Gandhian cultural and
educational activist, writer, translator and journalist.
Actively associated with Gandhian thoughts especially with regards
to illiteracy eradication and propagation of Hindi at national
and international level .An author of several articles, features
and books and booklets in Malayalam and also in Hindi /English.
He has edited a literary journal in Hindi -Keraljyothi for about 30 years. He has severed in several
Hindi advisory committees of government of India.
4
Thomas Mathew
 is
the technical adviser to Kritya. An engineer by profession, he
is an expert in the I.T and I.T . Enabled Services. His
professional responsibilities include managing three Software
companies (Sanmath Technologies-Software Development, Righters-Support
Systems and Solutions for Health care, Atticlabs-web based
software applications development), Technical Consultant to I.T
and I.T.E.S companies( Redwebsolutions,U.K, Insoft Websolutions,
Quicktrans Solutions, Finesse technologies). He is one of the
directors of CRUST (Centre for Rural and Urban Studies and
Training), an NGO closely associated with central and state
government projects, dedicated to the utilization and spread of
IT services including GIS (Geographical Information Systems) in
the rural and urban developments.
5
Shalbha
 is a young artist, singer and sportsperson. She
is an architect pursuing her masters in advanced construction
management . She is creative, responsible and has good
organization and leadership skills
Indian consultant for language
Shyamala Nair is Currently working
as reader in Lady Amritbai Daga College for Women, (L.A.D.) Nagpur. Areas
of academic and teaching interest include Modern poetry,
Critical Theory, Women’s Studies, Shakespeare studies… Was
member of Larkin Society and The Poetry Society of India besides
others…. Published articles and Poetry selected by Imtiaz
Dharker and Kamala Das in Femina, Quest, The Journal of the
Poetry society of India, The Journal of the Nagpur University
English Teachers’ Organisation, Horizon…A collection of Poems ‘A
Side of the Sun’ Writers’ Workshop, Calcutta, 1997.
Kritya-Print -
Joneve McCormick, who hosts Soul to
Soul, lives in Manhattan. Her poems, short stories and articles
have appeared in various journals, periodicals, anthologies, and
on websites such as World Poems, thanal online and on The
Argonauts' Boat, with some of her photographs. She recently
edited the anthology World's Strand for publication, and
Goldfish Press is bringing out a collection with poet Koon Kau
Woon in 2007. Joneve offers online services which include
writing poems for loved ones and special occasions, research and
writing, ghost writing, promotional writing, consulting, editing
and tutoring.
Christina Pacosz has been
publishing in little magazines and small presses since the
1970's and has several books of poetry, the most recent,
Greatest Hits, 1975-2001,Pudding House, 2002. She is teaching
urban youth in Kansas City, Missouri
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