Don't let border tensions affect literature, say writers from India, Pakistan

Despite the recent escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan recently, authors from both sides of the border were present at the recent Jaipur Literature Festival and they said despite political tensions literature and art should be left alone.

Rahul Pandita, author and journalist, said that though literature and politics have a lot in common, he would want that in this case literature should take precedence.

“No matter what happens in the border please leave literature and art alone,” he said

Pakistani author Nadeem Aslam said that such kind of tension in the border did make him apprehensive though one needed to be clear that this was not the first time such an incident had taken place.

Speaking to Amrita Tripathi on CNN-IBN, he said, “It was not as if it was the first time it (ceasefire violation, gunfire and mutilation of soldiers) had ever happened. The Indian media reported it in a very different manner.”

However, he put in a word of caution about the effect of such literary meets on rebuilding the peace process of the country. He said, “Until and unless the leaders do something about it this cultural exchange would not matter.”