We have had a very illuminating discussion on even as basic thing of sf as its definition here and related threads on the Yahoo Forum.Some excerpts from there on this blog also.
We are already familiar with many literary forms of social fictions i.e. stories, novels, novelettes etc, which depict several shades of our society in a lucid and interesting manner. The themes and plots of such social fictions are based only on past or present happenings related to man and his society. That is why the oft repeated adage, "literature is the mirror of society". Science fiction on other hand is the portrayal of man's future. And here lies the difference between social and science fictions, notwithstanding the many similarities of both the genres as they entail identical ways of story telling, selection of a theme and structuring a plot around it and above all engaging the readers with a continuous and sustained flow of suspense leading ultimately to the climax of the story.
And for the sake of clarity I would like to quote the Mastero Issac Asimov here-
Realistic or social fiction deals with events played against social backgrounds not significantly different from those that are thought to exist now or have existed atsome time in the past. SF and fantacy on the other hand deal with events played against social backgrounds that do not exist today and have not existed in the past.
Further, background of the sf could bederived from our own but only by making appropriate changes in thelevel of existing S&T. Bottom line- SF is the perception of change through technology.
Arvind mishra
Afiction which can not or should not sustain itself without its scientific contents.
Dr.Arvind Dubey
The bottom line is science has to be an integral part of the story, but it should also deal with human emotions. Science means dealing with facts and science fiction means how science and technology his going to shape our world and not 'HOW IT HAS SHAPED our world'. Every genre has its own purpose, we can experiment but with keeping in mind the possible advantages or effects that it creates.
Swapnil Bhartiya
A good science fiction has to be basically a good fiction dealing with social issues.For that matter how social issues get complicated or simplified with new science coming into being can certainly be a part of the SF.
1) SF is that branch of literature which describes the consequences of S & T on human being.
2) It is a creative piece of art describing human relations and their existance on the background
of S & T known today and likely to develop tomorrow based on todays S & T
3) Story of people facing the problems created by S & T
A.P.Deshpande
Present or future, or even the past, SF should be about the way science and technology effects changes in our lives - individually or socially. Mere settings alone will not be SF, change is the key and consequent transformation - of body/mind/world/cosmos - is the door to a new vision of of man and his world.
K.S.Purushothaman SF is that fiction which cannot stand without its content of S&T¸ regardless of its setting in space and time.
Vishwa Mohan Tiwari
SF is scientifically justifiable story.
Zeashan Haider Zaidy
An excellent compilation has been made available here by Swapnil Bhartiya .A must see item.
पुस्तक समीक्षा : एक और क्रौंच वध वैज्ञानिक दृष्टिकोण एवं मानवीय संवेदना का संतुलन
प्रोफेसर रामदेव शुक्ल ,विभागाध्यक्ष (निवर्तमान) , हिन्दी विभाग , गोरखपुर विश्वविद्यालय (उ0प्र0)
अपनी सर्जनात्मक कल्पना के माध्यम से मनुष्य बेहतर दुनिया बनाने के लिए तब से प्रयत्नशील है, जब से उसने भाषा की खोज करके सामाजिक जीवन का आरम्भ किया। कल्पना, स्वप्न और यथार्थ को लेकर फैंटेसी रचती है जो आगे चलकर जिज्ञासु वैज्ञानिकों को प्रकृति के नियमों की खोज में प्रवृत्त कर देती है। विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी के क्षेत्र में अभूतपूर्व आविष्कार धरती पर मानव जीवन को सुखसुविधा के साधनों से सम्पन्न करते आ रहे हैं। उनमें से अधिकांश का संकेत एक डेढ़ सौ वर्ष पहले से ही विज्ञान कथाओं द्वारा मिलने लगे थे। विज्ञान कथाओं में कल्पना की उड़ान के सर्वाधिक बड़े अन्तहीन क्षेत्र के रूप में ब्रह्माण्ड की अगणित आकाशगंगाओं और उनमें सक्रिय सौरमण्डलों में जीवन की उपस्थिति का विषय रहा है। अभी तक पृथ्वी के अतिरिक्त किसी अन्य ग्रह पर जीवन की उपस्थिति के ठोस प्रमाण नहीं मिले हैं, किन्तु इस सम्भावना पर सभी देशों में वैज्ञानिक अभियान सक्रिय है।
सबसे उर्वर क्षेत्र इस सम्भावना का है कि पृथ्वी से अनेक प्रकाशवर्ष दूर स्थित ग्रहों पर विकसित होने वाली सभ्यताओं की वैज्ञानिक और तकनीकी उपलब्धियाँ पृथ्वीवासियों की अपेक्षा हजारों गुना विकसित हैं। डॉ0 अरविन्द मिश्र की अनेक विज्ञान कथाएँ ऐसे कल्पित ग्रहों और उनके निवासियों को हिन्दी पाठक वर्ग के समक्ष मूर्त करती हैं। `गुरूदक्षिणा´ कहानी में पृथ्वी पर अपनी ही आकाशगंगा के सैटोरी तारामंडल के टेरान ग्रह की अति उन्नत सभ्यता का वर्णन है। वहाँ भी जीवन का क्रमिक विकास पृथ्वी के समान ही एक कोशीय प्राणी से मनुष्य के उच्चतम रूप तक हुआ है। उनकी प्रौद्योगिकी पृथ्वी की अपेक्षा हजारों साल आगे है। वहाँ सारा काम रोबोट करते हैं। यहाँ तक कि तार्किक चिन्तन भी रोबोट करते हैं। प्रजनन को छोड़कर सारा काम। रोबोट वहाँ के वैज्ञानिको के निर्देशन में पृथ्वी की सभ्यता-संस्कृति का अध्ययन करना चाहते है। एक रोबोट पृथ्वी के युवा वैज्ञानिक का रूप धारण करके एक प्रोफेसर के पास आता है।
प्रोफेसर कुछ ही देर पहले हुई ट्रेन दुर्घटना में अपने प्रिय शिष्य हर्ष की मृत्यु के समाचार से अवसन्न है कि अचानक हर्ष उपस्थित होकर उन्हें चकित कर देता हैं। बताता है कि ट्रेन उस समय दुर्घटना ग्रस्त हुई, जब वह एक पुल से गुजर रही थी। मैं नदी में गिर कर बच गया। सबेरे नदी किनारे होश में आया तो लगा कि मुझे प्रकृति ने बचा लिया है। यही नया हर्ष था अर्थात रोबोट, जो दुर्घटना में मर चुके युवा हर्ष के वेश में प्राफेसर उदयन के पास आया था। उसे अपने ग्रह के वैज्ञानिक नियमों के अनुसार काम करने के लिए पृथ्वी पर दो वर्ष का समय मिला था। रोबो हर्ष एक जनवरी 2001 से लेकर 25 दिसम्बर 2002 तक की अपनी डायरी के पृष्ठ पढ़ता है। कथाकार ने डायरी के माध्यम से भारतीय विश्वविद्यालयों में शोधकार्य के क्षेत्र की अनेक विसंगतियों, भारतीय सभ्यता, संस्कृति, इतिहास, मन्दिर , भगवान आदि पर सटीक टिप्पणियाँ की है। रोबो हर्ष प्रयोगशाला में डायरी के पन्ने पढ़ रहा था, उसी समय प्रोफेसर उदयन आए। डायरी पर उनकी निगाह नहीं पड़ी। अध्ययनरत शोधछात्र की साधना से पुलकित प्रोफेसर उसके साथ ही घर गये। उधर टेरान ग्रह के प्रमुख ने हर्ष को सूचना दी कि 31 दिसम्बर को रात दस बजे अदृश्य यान उसे लौटाने के लिए घर के सामने उतरेगा। उस रात प्रोफेसर के अन्तिम दर्शन के लिए पहुँचने पर हर्ष ने प्रोफेसर को हार्ट अटैक से तड़पते देखा। फोन करके उसने उनके डाक्टर को बुलाया। उपचार के बाद डाक्टर ने हर्ष से कहा, हर्ष! तुम्हारे सिवा दुनिया में प्रोफेसर का कोई नहीं है। ... ... अब तो तुम्हारी सेवा सुश्रूषा और सानिध्य ही इन्हें नया जीवन दे सकता है। समझ लो, यही तुम्हारी गुरूदक्षिणा है।´´
कहानी का अंत इस रूप में किया गया है कि रोबो हर्ष अपने ग्रह के प्रमुख वैज्ञानिकों के आदेश की अवहेलना करके गुरूदक्षिणा चुकाने के लिए अपने ग्रह को छोड़कर पृथ्वी का निवासी बन जाता है। लेखक ने आखिरी वाक्य लिखा है- `` टेरानवासियों ने अपना एक बेहतरीन रोबो खो दिया था ... ...।´´ कुशल कथा शिल्पी अरविन्द मिश्र ने रोबो को मूल्यचेतस मुनष्य में बदल दिया है।
``राज करेगा रोबोट´´ कहानी में रोबोशासित ग्रह के प्रमुख की घोषणा होती है, ``मानवों का सर्वनाश हमारा मुख्य ध्येय होगा... ... आपरेशन जीनोसाइड।´´ पृथ्वी के वैज्ञानिकों को खबर मिल गयी। `टाइम मशीन´ और स्वप्नदर्शक यंत्र के सहारे अतीत में जाकर भविष्य को सुधारने का प्रयास किया गया। अन्त में इजाक आजिमोव विरचित `रोबोटस एण्ड एम्पायर 'की घोषणा होती है कि ' कोई भी रोबोट मानवता को हानि नहीं पहुँचायेगा और अपनी किसी कार्यविधि से मानवता को यह मौका नहीं देगा कि खुद उसे (रोबोट का) कोई हानि पहुँचे। ' सन् 2901 में रोबो को पूरी तरह अपने जन्मदाता मानव की सुख सुविधा का ध्यान रखने वाले अनुचर के रूप में परिकल्पित किया गया है। रोबोटिक्स की नियमावली के कारण यह करिश्मा हो सका। उसी नियमावली के कारण भारत वर्ष के एक कार्यालय में काम करने आई सुन्दरी रोबोट रोबिनों ने कार्यारम्भ करने के पहले ही त्यागपत्र दे दिया। इन दोनो कहानियों मे पाठक का भरपूर मनोरंजन भी होता है, और `रोबो´ प्रकरण के साथ मानवीय भावनाओं के सामंजस्य का आस्वादन भी।
`सम्मोहन´ कहानी में बारह प्रकाश वर्ष दूर ग्रह के रोबोट से एक अंधी युवती की भेंट काफी हाऊस में होती हैं। वह आदमी के रूप में है। उसी तरह खाता पीता है। उसकी आवाज से असहज हो आई युवती की हैरानी देखकर वह अपना परिचय देता है। ``हम लौह भक्षी है, बिना लोहे के हम जिन्दा नहीं रह सकते। हमारी बनावट में लोहे के अंश ही तो है... ...। आप के यहाँ तो रोबोट के ढ़ाँचे भर है ... ...पर हम तो बुद्धि से युक्त अत्यन्त उन्नत सभ्यता के लोग है- रोबो जैसे निर्मित बुद्धिहीन प्राणी नहीं ... ... हम अजर अमर है, हम प्रजनन कर सकते हैं ... ... हम खरबों में पहुँच चुके हैं... ... इन खरबों उदरपिशाचों को लोहा चाहिए, लोहा नाश्ते में, लोहा खाने में दोनो वक्त .. ...।´´ वह बताता है कि हम लोग पृथ्वी का सारा लोहा लूटने आए है। तीन चरणों में लूटेंगे। विदा लेते समय उसने युवती को सम्मोहित करके आदेश दिया कि तुम मेरे विषय में सब कुछ भूल जाओगी। लेखक की शिल्प योजना के अनुसार युवती अंधी है, इसलिए सम्मोहित नहीं होती और लेखक को अजनबी के विषय में बता देती है।
अरविन्द मिश्र की विज्ञान कथाओं में वैज्ञानिक आविष्कारों के आधार पर कहानी रची जाती है। इसके साथ ही गहरी चिन्ता आज की सभ्यता में `मनुष्यता´ अर्थात मानवीय भावनाओं के विलुप्त होते जाने पर व्यक्त होती है। इस कहानी में अन्तरिक्ष वासी रोबोट कहता है, ``हमारी पहली खेप तुम्हारे सारे अस्त्र शस्त्र और आयुध होंगे। एक तरह से यह तुम्हारे लिए वरदान ही होगा। `छुपा हुआ वरदान´ -बड़ी लड़ाई करते हो तुम तुच्छ लोग। आपस में ही लड़ते मरते रहते हो... .. तुम्हारी जैसी लड़ाकू स्पीशीज का यही हश्र उचित होगा।´ इसी तरह `राज करेगा रोबोट´ कहानी में मानवों का नामोनिशान मिटाने की योजना इसलिए बनाई जाती है कि ``लालची, लोभी, घमण्डी, स्वार्थी मानवों का सर्वनाश ही हमारा मुख्य ध्येय होगा।`` लेखक वर्तमान युग के मानवों में इन अमानवीय दुर्गुणों के अतिचार से मुक्त पूर्ण मानवीय सभ्यता का स्वप्न देखता है। बीसवीं शताब्दी के दो विश्वयुद्धों में व्यापक नरसंहार के बाद दुनिया भर के संवदेनशील बुद्धिजीवी विश्व के समस्त देशों के एक शासनतंत्र की सम्भावना तलाशने लगे थे। इसी कहानी में अरविन्द मिश्र ने केवल एक विश्लेषण के माध्यम से उस परिकल्पना का संकेत किया है। रोबो आक्रमण से बचाव के लिए बुलाई गयी बैठक को `वैश्विक सरकार के मुखिया´ संबोधित कर रहे थे। संकेत की व्यंजना स्पष्ट है कि एक होने के कारण मानव बच सके।
`अतिम दृश्य´ कहानी `मेटेरियल ट्रांसमिशन´ की सम्भावना पर आधारित कहानी है। अनेक नाटक और फिल्मी कथानक कहानी की रचना प्रक्रिया के शिल्प में आते हैं। अन्त में दर्शक सुखद एहसास से भर जाता है, यह देखकर कि नाटक तो पूरा हो गया। इसी विषय पर कहानी लिखने वाला लेखक अपने मित्र से बात करता है। अमेरिकी मित्र विपिन की बात होती है। वह इसी प्रक्रिया से अमेरिका से आता है। कहानी के विषय में चर्चा सुनता है, करता है। कहानी का अंत होता है लेखक के बाथरूम जाने से। अमेरिका पहुँचकर पलभर बाद विपिन वहाँ से फोन करके मेटीरियल ट्रांसमिशन का प्रत्यक्ष प्रमाण देता है। पाठक मंत्रमुग्ध होकर `मैटेरियल ट्रांसमिशन´ का चमत्कार देखता है। सुगठित शिल्प में रची यह कहानी विज्ञान की अपूर्व क्षमता व्यंजित कर देती है।
हिमालय की ऊँचाइयों पर `येती´ नामक प्रजाति के होने की अनेक कथाएँ प्रचलित है। `कायान्तरण´ कहानी एक जीव वैज्ञानिक तथ्य पर रची गयी सम्भावना है। `सैलामेण्डर अपने लार्वा रूप में ही प्रजनन करता है ... ...ऐम्बायोस्टोमा सैलामेन्डर का स्थायी लार्वारूप बनकर प्रजनन करने लगता है।´ अरविन्द मिश्र एक सम्भावना पर काम करते हुए अपने मित्र के हेलीकाप्टर दुर्घटना में बचकर येती परिवार में पहुँचने और `येती´ में कायान्तरित हो जाने की कथा गढ़ लेते हैं। पाठक चमत्कृत होकर अपने और वानर प्रजाति के सम्बन्ध पर सोचने लगता है। पूरी कहानी पत्र शैली में लिखी गयी है, कायान्तरित व्यक्ति का पत्र लेखक के नाम और लेखक का पत्र कहानी के पाठको के नाम। यह शैली, कहानी की विश्वसनीयता को बचाए रखती है।
`आपरेशन कामदमन´ कहानी सर्जनात्मकता और कामेच्छा के अभेद्य सम्बन्ध की मनोवैज्ञानिक कथा है। सर्जनात्मक साहित्य की महत्ता स्वीकार करके कुछ वैज्ञानिक चिन्ता करते हैं कि लेखक काम की पूर्ति में अपनी ऊर्जा का अपव्यय कर देते हैं। इसलिए कुछ लेखकों की सहमति से उनकी कामेच्छा आपरेशन करके खत्म कर दी जाती है परिणाम? वे सभी स्वस्थ, प्रसन्नचित्त और निरोगी थे, किन्तु उनके रचने की चाह का लोप हो गया सा लगता था।´´ भारतीय परम्परा पूरी सृष्टि को काम-कामना का ही परिणाम मानती है। महाकाव्य `कामायनी´ में जयशंकर प्रसाद की स्पष्ट घोषणा है- काम मंगल से मंडित श्रेय, सर्ग (सृष्टि) इच्छा का है परिणाम। तिरस्कृत कर इसको तुम भूल बनाते हों असफल भव-धाम।।
अरविन्द मिश्र ने अपनी कहानी में इस सत्य का मार्मिक व्यंजना की है। `एक और क्रौंच-वध´ में वैज्ञानिक की निर्ममता को प्रेम की कोमल अनुभूति के हाथों पराजित होना पड़ता है।
`अछूत´ कहानी में एक अद्भुत उड़ान है, कल्पना की। सुदूर किसी ग्रह पर सारा काम बहुत उन्नत सभ्यता के लोग अति उन्नत तकनीकी के माध्यम से करते हैं। पृथ्वी के एक वैज्ञानिक उस सुदूर ग्रह के वासी एक परिवार तक अपना संदेश पहुँचा देते हैं कि अपना विवाह किसी उन्नत ग्रह की वैज्ञानिक युवती से करना चाहते हैं। उधर से भी युवती और उसके माता-पिता सहमत हो जाते हैं। किन्तु पृथ्वी से विशेष यान द्वारा विवाह के लिए उस ग्रह पर पहुँचते ही पता चलता है कि वहाँ भी शूद्र और अछूत की समस्या पृथ्वी के देश भारत की तरह ही घृणित रूप में फलफूल रही हैं। कथाकार इस अमानवीय प्रथा को अस्वीकार मानते हैं। किन्तु यह भूल जाते हैं कि इतनी उन्नत अवस्था में यह कोढ़ रह ही नहीं सकता। `धर्म पुत्र´ `अन्तरक्षि कोकिला´ आदि कहानियाँ वैज्ञानिक आविष्कारों की सम्भाव्यता के साथ पाठक का भरपूर मनोरंजन करती हैं।
डॉ0 अरविन्द वैज्ञानिक हैं और कथाकार भी। अपने दोनों रूपों के बीच सहज संतुलन स्थापित कर लेने के कारण ही वे अपनी कहानियों के माध्यम से वैज्ञानिक दृष्टिकोण और मानवीय संवेदना का विकास करने में सफल हो रहे हैं।
रामदेव शुक्ल
शीतल युयश, राप्ती चौक, आरोग्य मंदिर
गोरखपुर-273003
(मूल कृति-एक और क्रौंचवध, प्रथम संस्करण, 1998, तृतीय नव-संस्करण, 2008, मूल्य रु0 125/- पृष्ठ 94, प्रकाशक : लोक साधना केन्द्र, वाराणसी)वितरक : विश्व हिन्दी पीठ, 3/16, आवास विकास कालोनी, कबीर नगर, वाराणसी-221005)एक और समीक्षा ब्लागर अनूप शुक्ल द्वारा
We have had a wonderful discussion on various aspects of sf and mythology especially Indian mythology here on Yahoo Indian Science Fiction Group and here ,courtesy to great Greg Bear ,one of the luminaries of contemporary American sf.
While you could accesss the links directly here is an excerpt from the lively discussion which I trust you will enjoy -But please do not hesitate to put your own views to enrich the discussion.
From: Swapnil Bhartiya Location: New Delhi, India Date: 03/31/2007
Hi Greg, I am a technology journalist and sf writer. I have read you a lot and, of course, a fan. But at times I think have you tried to explore the intellect of ancient India? Indian literature is full of such instance like Nuclear Bomb -- Brahmastra; guided weapon like -- Sudarshan Chakra; plastic surgery and the concept of Geetha....? I would request you have a look into it, I guess that would enrich the SF literature.
Thanks for writing, Swapnil! I quite agree--I think the ancient Indian writers and thinkers would have gotten along well with science fiction writers--and certainly taught us a thing or two. I'm utilizing Hindu concepts and words (and ancient gods, reshaped) in CITY AT THE END OF TIME, but there's always more Indian source material to be mined for inspiration. (In ETERNITY, I opened the novel with a quote from the Upanishads...)
Hi Mr.Greg, Its great to hear you are interested in ancient hindu scriptures and mytholgy which are full of imaginative ideas and human/humane values.I know you are aware that Carl Sagan was also inspired by these sources of ancient knowledge.Please do tell me whether mythology could in any conceivable way inspire sf writing? What aspects of mythology could relate to sf?or THEY are just poles apart? Your opinion may be of great value to indian sf writers in general and to me in particular. There are many extrapolations,imaginative plots,descriptions of gadgets very akin to sf of today in Indian mythology like 'PUSPAK VIMAN'a special kind of aeroplane full of emotions and always has a seat vacant for last time VIP[very important person] entrant[Please remember, RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA BY CLARKE].SUDRSHAN chakra AND ARROWS used by LORD RAMA comes back to the owner just after hitting the target.ofcourse these are the ideas of acient writers only but how interesting when we care to see that they came into existence thousands years ago.There are still many more like MAYA YUDDHAA very akin to virtual war,birth of an army by a live body[pind] in great epic war-MAHABHARAT and one is tempted to make an anology to human cloning with it.May be only if you like it more of it next. regards ,
Dr.Arvind Mishra
From: Greg Bear Date: 04/04/2007
I don't know of any Western sf writers who haven't been inspired by one or more traditions of mythology. Physicists in particular seem taken with Buddhist and Hindu scriptures, since they deal with such long vistas of time, and such curious cognitive and metaphysical states--much like modern physics. Roger Zelazny, decades ago, wrote the much-admired LORD OF LIGHT based on Indian stories and myth. Sir Arthur's FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE takes place on both ancient and future Serendip, a.k.a. Taprobane, today known as Sri Lanka--though Sir Arthur moved it a few degrees, as Gregory Benford reminds us, to expedite a space elevator. I'm sure there are many more examples! In Western myth and legend, there are many science fiction-like tales of marvels both technological and philosophical. One example I'm fond of are the legends concerning Alexander the Great, who in medieval lore is reputed to have done many extraordinary things--defeating dragons by wearing protective armor against their poisonous breath (a space suit?), diving to the bottom of the sea in an inverted bell, etc. A heroic Tom Swift type! Human imagination has always trended toward the marvelous, and today we often call it science fiction. Perhaps the greatest analogs to stories like Mahabharata are found in comic books--tales of superheroes--and in movies and television shows like X-Men and "Heroes." Is Dr. Who a wandering god with a propensity for young human females? Perhaps we should color him blue, like Krishna!
Swapnil Bhartiya Date: 04/05/2007
Now, Indian mythology is very rich and is full or references of events, people and devices most of which S&T realized after years as well as many others which are still to become reality. Besides, the episodes in Mythology could give some writer's ideas to base their stories upon. I am not against mythology, but the kind of points I was expecting were missed out altogether.
I wanted to see the view of my experienced friends on the same. I wanted to see their view on a utopian society created in the times of Ram Rajya -- could not such a society be a bane instead of boon? Failure of any utopian society is destined -- HG Well's Time Machine is a vivid example of what happens when everything is good. Instead of celebrating Indian Mythology (every civilization has its own myths) is it possible we take lessons from it as well and base our SF on it, warning of the same?
I was also expecting to analyse the multi-dimensions of Indain Mythology --- Krishna shared the doctrin of Geeta with Arjuna in the war of Kurukshetra -- Geeta was so lengthy that it would have taken Krishna Weeks to tell it, would two armies - with Duryodhan on one side - wait that long standing because two guys are talking? Or, Krishna gave Geeta the way Neo was trained in Matrix -- information was fed directly into the mind of Arjuna?
We must also consider most of the thing in Indian mythology was exploration. In Indian mythology, people referred to nine planets (and Sun and Moon are not planets, as described in mythology -- but today's science has expelled Pluto off the planet's list), this is confusing. I trust my friends know we DON'T have nine planets anymore (click here to learn how we lost Pluto).But Indian mythology has no reference to Neptune, or moons of other planets. Indian mythology has no reference that actually there are three stars which make our pole star. Its not one. Dear friends doesn't this raise questions on authenticity or limit of mythological imagination? I wanted to explore that through this discussion.
With all due respect sir, I beg to differ with the belief that future generations will not laugh at us when they look back. They will. But by that time they will have their own newer superstitions; newer fantasies. Future generations will have their own fantasies and will be laughed at by their future generations. This is a non ending cycle of evolution.
Now, Tiwari Ji has very rightly put the point of short sight -- but I don't completely agree that we are ignorant. People in India are ignorant of global warming and our effort to address it is zilch. But same is not the case in more aware societies like the west. I guess my friends are aware that there may organizations working and lobbying to deploy policies like Koyoto Protocol for the same. This year Al Gore's documentary -- An Inconvenient Truth -- won the Oscar and the movie addresses the issue of global warming. But the debate is also on that is it man made or due to natural reasons?
Weather is one of the most complex phenomenons on our planet; we cannot predict it for more than few weeks. And we don't have enough data to analyze how the climate of the world changed in ages. This we do know that there have been several ice ages, and that was the reason of collapse of a race -- Neanderthal man. So it could be a natural phenomenon. And to address issues like global warming and comet impact as predicted by scientist in year 2110, NASA and other organizations are exploring possibilities of moving to inner planets like Mars. I guess my friends have enjoyed views of Mars at their home on Google Mars which gives you free trip to Mars and Moon. (Please click here to take a free ride to Mars)
The point that I want to drive home is Indian mythology does give some references but it is not ultimate truth. You can take references from it if what ever is available in mythology suits your needs. That is a rich source of ideas.
But, our Mythology doesn't talk about such celestial events like meteorite attack, comet impact or mass extinction. Indian mythology gives no solutions to upliftment of ordinary human's life. And as Zakir put, there is more to ordinary beings -- humans -- than gods and heroes.
Now, as dear Arvind ji pointed, there is more to learn from nature -- my story Rhythm Of Nature is based on such phenomena -- Arvind ji has read it. Many natural phenomena are still unexplained. Rukhsana referred to one -- Bermuda Triangle. I am sure my friends are aware that Earth is losing its magnetic field. Poles are shifting, in some years North Pole will becomes South Pole -- what will happen in between when we have no poles? We will be consummated by the solar winds? What will happen when the molten core of the Earth will solidify?
Any answers in Mythology?
Mythology offers some good ideas to those who have not explored them yet. So does nature and current S&T. A debate arose that mythology is SF of that time. It came out that it could not be SF, but fantasy. As some one on the panel added that our SF can be traced back to the hard science but same is not the case with mythology. However, to some extent same rule is applicable to contemporary SF as well. For example, there is no reference of Star Trek Enterprises' devices or Start War's gadgets in real world!
Also if we talk of society, in Mythology we do find examples of individual's capacity to do things powers with gods like hanuman or devices like pushpak viman -- a plane with only executive class. But those facilities were not far masses -- ordinary people were kept deprived of all that. Whereas SF deals with ordinary life -- that, how science affects them -- Zakir's approach and something I have seen in Arvind ji's stories.
Respected Tiwari Ji and Dear Rukhsana, I would request you to please identify more such issues like global warming and death of sun, and see how mythology could give solutions to these. We are not living in past. We have new sets of problems -- serious ones. Mythology has nothing that could cure disease. Now please friends don't bring in Charak - he is not part of mythology!
For disease like AIDs, Cancer and eradication of racism -- which plagued our mythology as well -- discrimination against woman (a rich king can have 100 wives --no respect for woman at that time) and so-called lower cast. Mythology has a lot of dark chapters too, but we ignore them, why? Does mythology offers solutions to disease, Identity crises? Wars? Racism? Expansion of human civilization? Employment? Public entertainment? Mass source of information like the internet? And many more.
If it does, then we can refer to it. If it doesn't then we should not live in a dreamland and come out to address the grotesque reality of our times and try to make the world a better place.
We have to find a mid path; we live in today's world. We have to find how mythology can help. Onus is on us: we want to live in a Utopian world that doesn't exist anymore or we want to open our eyes and look at pain surrounding us and solve some problems.
We are free beings. We make choices, and there is nothing right and wrong. It's just what the need of the hour is.
Regards , Swapnil Bhartiya
From: Greg Bear Date: 04/05/2007
Fascinating discussion!
In the West, an erroneous (in my opinion) distinction is often made between what we teach as mythology and what many consider religion. The traditional stories and even the religions of others are considered by many Westerners to be "mythology," which they regard as lesser, or manifestly untrue.
But my perspective is that of Western mythologist and philosopher Joseph Campbell, who in his works pointed out that mythology is the rich background on which all our thoughts and lives are based--be it modern religion, ancient myths, fairy stories, or fantasy. (He did not consider science fiction to be any sort of mythology--one point on which we disagree.)
In Western science fiction fandom, there has often been a debate between "serious and constructive" stories--particularly so-called hard SF, scientifically rigorous--and more free-wheeling fiction, often labeled fantasy or science fantasy.
I think it is a mistake to expect any mythology--and most science fiction--to offer practical and immediate solutions to present-day problems. Their value lies in more personal enrichment. Like religion, however, they may offer ethical guidelines for real-world solutions--or warnings against destructive behaviors.
My apologies for loosely conflating formal Hindu religious beliefs with science fiction ideas, or perhaps the less enlightened usage of the term Myth. Joseph Campbell regarded all religions as coming under the umbrella of mythology--and never considered mythology to be "fanciful" or "a lie." He was extremely respectful of all cultural ideas, and worked to compare them in a larger human and historical context. That's what my discussion has attempted to do.
From: Arvind mishra
Thanks for sharing your views on mythology and sf.I find myself greatly benefitted.But i fail to understand why one should be apologetic for exploiting the mine of ideas ie mythology for betterment of a creative persuit like sf.You are modest in admitting that.Its amazing that you are aware of even very subtle things as tendencies or even the colour of a Hindu god ie Lord Krisna.As such do you have a longing to visit the land of those facsinating and eternal ideas ie India? arvind mishra
From: Greg Bear Date: 04/06/2007
One of my favorite professors, Elizabeth Chater, shared a deep love for Hindu stories with me, and my shelf of Indian religious and mythological texts is about a meter long!
I'd love to visit India. Gregory Benford is the Killer B who has made the most visits to India, and most recently to Sri Lanka. His photographs and essays certainly pique my interest.
From: arvind mishra
India awaits the Great Greg!.It would be a great moment for Indian SFfandom too.May be we we could organise an event this years end and reguest your goodself to chair a session.I shall let you know if things are finalized.Thre we would have a detailed discussions on the associations of sf and mythology especially the Indian mythology. I can recall Issac Asimov also had a longing to visit India but his dread of air travels prevented that.I feel you dont have any such phobias. arvind mishra
From: Swapnil Bhartiya Date: 04/07/2007
Dear Greg,
Once aging the journalist is back(pun intended).The discussion with you is getting more and more interesting. But there is one more opinion building in the process. Just like TV was a killer of imagination, as it limits a viewers own imagination of events, similar is the case with mythology. As you have also mentioned that every civilization has its own mythology. Don't you think that limits the flight of imagination a SF writers could have had otherwise?
Your point puts it very clearly that we should look and learn from mythology, but when people try to prove that actually people of those times knew science behind things like -- Pushpak Viman (a plane) looks illogical to me.
What is your opinion Greg, that where should we draw that line of not going overboard and prove that people of those times were much more learned?
Writers who are obsessed with mythology tend to forget present day issues and live in a Utopian society, where as those who know where the line is -- Sir Clarke and yourself, they do justice.
Please share your views -- where to draw the line.
From: Greg Bear Date: 04/09/2007
There used to be a lot of books about how we could find evidence of modern technology in the past--CHARIOTS OF THE GODS by von Daniken being a good example. I've never been convinced. But what we can prove is that our ancestors had imaginations as rich and developed as our own--and created fantastic stories in their own contexts. In a way, we live some of the things they could only dream about--but we have yet to live ALL the things they dreamed about! There's nothing wrong with being inspired by ancient imaginations! But as you say, let's not get carried away...
Thanks for kind reply.We anxiously await your arrival to India .Indian sf could derive inpirations from your works and person.You have very well concluded[what I think!]the issue of myth and sf.There are many such examples which denote that many a dreams of our ancestors are still to be realized in want of suitable technology. Thanks for sparing your valuable and bysy minutes to enlighted us on the topic of universal interest. arvind
First Natioanl Discussion on Science Fiction and ' Banaras Document on Sf ' - Vishwa Mohan Tiwari (air marshal, retd)
[The aim of ' Banaras Document on Sf ' is mainly to put in writing the essence of discussionsof five groups on subjects that were given to them in the session called 'Document Banaras'. The subjects were so chosen as to provide sufficient coverage necessary to develop a strategy for growth and popularization of science fiction (SF) in India. SF is an important and futuristic genre of literature. The purpose of discussions was to obtain a road map for the promotion of growth and popularization of SF in all forms in India. However a broad outline of entire proceedings of the Conference is also given, in brief, because that activity formed the basis of thinking about Document Banaras on sf 2008.]
A conference with the theme, 'National Discussion on ‘Science Fiction: Past Present and Future', the first of its kind, was held at Varanasi during 10th - 14th November 2008. National Council of Science and Technology Communication, (NCSTC, the sponsor) Government of India, New Delhi, Indian SF Writers Association, (ISFWA) Faizabad andIndian Association of SF studies (IASFS), Vellore, Tamil Nadu joined together to make this unique conference happen.It was a productive Conference in which various delegates from different parts of India participated warmly and whole heartedly.
The Conference was launched on 10th Nov. with a Press Conference. Dr Patairiya, Director NCSTC, Dr R.R.Upadhyaya, President, ISFWA and Dr Arvind Mishra, Convener of the Conference delineated the objectives of the National Discussion to the press persons.In the evening a Puppet performance, based, befittingly, on an SF story by Zeashan Haider Zaidy was staged by a Puppeteer from Lucknow, Arshad Umar. Then a short SF film 'First World' by Mark Lund was also screened. The climax of the day was celebration of the 'World Science Day’ with an interesting presentation entitled ‘Moon: Facts and Fictions' by Dr Nellai S. Muthu, a scientist from Chennai.
The Conference was formally inaugurated on 11th Nov. by Prof. SN Dubey, VC of JRH Chitrakoot University. Keynote address was delivered by Dr Y.H. Deshpande, a well known Marathi SF writer. Dr Patairiya Presided and Ms. Madhu Pant, and Mr.Hemant Kumar also expressed their views on the necessity of SF.Books by Harish Goyal, Dr. Ratnakar Bhelkar and Zeashan Haider Zaidy were released on the occasion .Dr RR Upadhyaya, President ISFWA proposed the vote of thanks.
The first technical session, 'Historical Perspectives of Indian SF', was chaired by Prof. Sagar Mal Gupta, and Dr Arvind Dubey, Dr Chandra Mohan Nautiyal, Dr Arul Aram presented their papers. The second technical session, 'Understanding of SF : A Cognitive Approach' was chaired by Ms.Madhu Pant, former Director Bal Bhawan, N. Delhi. Dr Thirumani. Mr.Harish Goyal, Mr VP Chaturvedi, Dr Amit Sarwal, Mr. Mehrdad Anaseri, Mr. Mohan, Mr. Kamalesh Shrivastava presented their papers. The third technical session 'Current Trends in SF' was chaired by Dr. Vibhawaree Deshpande. Ms. Anwesha Maity, Ms.Reema Sarwal, Zakir Ali Rajneesh, Dr. Bhelkar, Mr.Anil Kumar and Jai Prakash presented their papers. Two joint teams of Mr. M Venkateshan and Ms.M Srividya, and NS Sampath Kumar and S. Valliganthan presented papers on SF films. The fourth technical session, 'SF for Science Communication' was chaired by Mr Unnikrishnan Nair. The fifth technical session, ' The Latest Trends in SF', was chaired by Prof .R.D Shukla. Hemant Kumar, Zeashan Zaidi,Amit Kumar, Arshad Umar, Dr. Taralika Trivedi presented papers.In the last session, under the chairmanship of Dr RR Upadhyay, subtle qualities of SF stories were explained by Dr Upadhyaya. Dr Arvind Dubey, Harish Goyal, VishnuPrasad Chaturvedi, Rajneesh, Amit Kumar also explained structure, communication and effectiveness of SF stories for various media. In all the technical sessions, questions - answers and the discussions were lively, positive and to the point.
A special and an important session was held to discuss various issues necessary for promoting the growth of Science Fiction in India. In this session AVM Tiwari was on the Chair and five experts from different fields were on the dais Viz.,Dr. Vibhawaree Deshpande, Ms.Madhu Pant,Prof. RD Shukla, and Prof SM Gupta, Mr Unnikrishnan Nair.
Aim of the special session : AVM Tiwari explained the aim of the session in brief. SF is an important genre of literature as we are living in the age of information revolution created by tremendous advances in science and technology. The advances are taking place at the speed of light and the society is hardly able to cope with the consequent changes, resulting in social discord, distortions and loss of orientation. It has always been the responsibility of litterateurs to protect the humane values which are under constant threat owing to negative traits like greed, extreme selfishness etc and dominance of inhuman technology. S&T forms vitally essential part of an SF story. However as the knowledge of S & T in India is limited resulting in a highly reduced readership in SF, it discourages the authors and publishers of SF.
Therefore the need for accelerating the growth of SF is paramount. The aim of this session is to draw a road map for promoting the growth and popularity of SF in India.
A definition of SF still needs to be clearly enunciated as there are many of them floating in the literature. Giving definitions about any concept dealing with human society is always a difficult, if not impossible task because life itself cannot be contained within the boundaries of definitions. Also there are ambiguities on the scope of SF which need to be clarified. Prof. SM Gupta took the lead and a group was spontaneously formed to assist him.
The second issue was promotion and popularisation of SF. Media's role is important in popularization. Noted SF writer and a scientist Dr Vibhaawaree Deshpande took the lead and another group was formed.
It was felt by the delegates that one of the reasons for SF being not popular is ignorance about it, its purpose, content and style. Is it possible to educate people on this subject?Ms.Madhu Pant took the lead and yet another group was formed to assist her.
It is considered by some that SF must deal with future. If literature can deal with past, present and future why not same is the case with SF also? A delegate mentioned thatimpact of science can be better grasped by taking the concepts of S&T into future. It was decided to form still one more group for this subject 'Futurism' in SF, and Mr.G.S. Unnikrishnan took the lead of this group.
AVM Tiwari proposed that SF being a new genre, it may need new rules of ethics. Some delegates immediately opposed the idea of restraining literature with ethical rules. They claimed that the freedom of a creative artist must not be restrained for it may interfere with his creativity. AVM Tiwari explained that liberty without responsibility is in fact a counter productive option.. Then, literary creativity itself needs a discipline of language, of style, of form and of social good. Fictionwritten only for entertainment does not make good literature. As already said the aim of literature is to keep the humanism alive. Therefore ethics must form part of SF also. Dr. RD Shukla was requested to put forth his views. He convincingly argued in favour of ethics as a dominant value for SF. He was chosen by the delegates as the leader of this another parallel group.
All the Groups were given time to deliberate and come out with written conclusions. A brief resume of various group discussions is given here.
1. The scope of SF is expanding, like the universe. It might have been dominated by adventure stories in the beginning, now it is exploring not only all the fields of science and technology it is also creatively predicting future possibilities in S&T, good or bad. At the same time in style it is experimenting with scientific interpretation of myths, cyber punk, space opera, science satire etc. SF has proved popular in films in the West. Apart from all the subjects that SF films have explored, serious philosophical subjects are being taken up in films like Matrix, and 'What the Bleep Do You Mean'.
SF's scope is same as that of literature i.e. ‘Life’; it is only the dominant role of S&T in its works that makes it different from standard literature. Prof Amit Goswami has added a new component to its role as, 'the critique, extension, revision, and conspiracy of revolution, all directed against static scientific paradigms.' Here Amit Goswami is bringing out a surprising fact that the tendency of human beings which is to get attached to ‘ideologies’ is present even among scientists and SF writers. In addition to creation of better understanding of modern world, and possibilities of future world, SF may also through the story, indirectly communicate science to its readers and may ignite interest in science,help to develop scientific temper in people, and help people improve the society with better use of science.SF looks sympathetically, intuitively, critically and intelligently at life. Thus SF may do all this, but SF is more than the sum of its parts, because it is literature which sees what even Sun cannot see, as a proverb in Hindi claims.
Having decided on the scope of SF, many definitions were discussed. Famous SF writer (the member of the trio of SF, I. Asimov, and Arthur C Clarke)Robert A.Heinleinhas given a definition of SF: “Realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method.." SF is more than speculation. SF has an aim, nobler than entertainment, to restore humanism in humans. SF uses speculation. SF does many things as described, but SF is more than the sum of its parts, because like literature it sees what even Sun cannot see, as a proverb in Hindi claims.SF looks realistically, imaginatively, critically, sympathetically and intelligently at life. This definition is not broad enough for our grand SF.
Another SF author, Theodore Sturgeon gave one definition, "A good science fiction story is a story about human beings, with a human problem, and a human solution, that would not have happened at all without its science content.” A good practical sort of definition, though this seems to be somewhat vague about the role of science in SF.
Amit Goswami, a famous Theoretical Quantum Physicist, gave this definition, “Science Fiction is that class of fiction which contains the currents of change in science and society. It concerns itself with the critique, extension, revision, and conspiracy of revolution, all directed against static scientific paradigms. Its goal is to prompt a paradigm shift to a new view that will be more responsive and true to nature. This is a definition, which may be better applied to hard core SF.
Majority of the group then gave their definition of SF, “ SF deals with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals; it often involves speculation based on current or future science including technology.' Strictly speaking it is not a definition because it does not tell what SF is but what it deals with and what it involves with. Further in this definition neither impact of men on science, nor impact of men on men in a world made complex by S&T is included. After all the considerations made so far, anotherdefinition is proposed, “SF is a means of understanding and exploring the world through an interesting story in which S&T have a strong role, and, possibly, raise the awareness to change the world for a better place.”
2. Futurism in SF
Many delegates insisted that SF must be futuristic. In SF interaction with S&T and human beings is explored and dramatized. If one wants to show the impact of a scientific idea or technology which is not clear in the 'present' then one must go into the future to see its consequences. This may be a valid method of doing so, but it does not mean that 'Futurism' is essential for SF. Also to say that 'Futurism' in SF is not essential is neither to deny this method nor to deny that a futuristic SF appears to be more appealing and more useful. It is to say that exploration in SF is possible in present time as well. A case in point is the famous suggestion by Arthur C Clarke of a 'Geosynchronous Point' for communication satellites; it involved no reference to future. All the knowledge required to produce that wonderful idea was available to everybody, but the brilliant thought occurred to Clarke. Synchronic and futuristic are both useful in SF. Unlike in the normal literature anachronism has a place in SF, but with caution. Anachronism is mixing up of time periods in a narrative, like in 3000 AD, one cannot show the use of a present day mobile phone, unless someone might have discovered the mobile phone of today lying somewhere and then by suitably modifying it he can use it, to produce a dramatic effect. Further, as a word of caution, time travel is a fantasy, it is against all the known principles of science.
By using S&T, human tragedy - comedies, dystopia, utopia and realism etc., SF is in a better postion to explore the interactions of S&T and society, thereby making a people aware of strengths and weaknessesof S&T whilst at the same time narrating a wonderful SF story.
3. Education of SF.
Every member agreed on the need of education in SF. Literature is being taught from primary standards to post graduate levels. Govt. has to be approached for its inclusion in curriculum of students of all stages, just as standard literature is. Indeed SF should be treated as integral part of literature, and taught like it. This issue is more to do with literary institutions like Sahitya Academies etc. Therefore they need to be approached to accept SF as integral part of literature. Teaching of SF should not mean teaching of science. Opposition to this effort is coming mainly for three reasons. First is resistance to change and second is clash of interests. Curriculum- time being limited, some aspects and works etc of literature would have to be replaced by some SF works. Third reason is lack of high class SF literature in Indian languages. Despite this resistance, efforts have to be made. As the introduction of education of SF is a difficult project, the task should be taken up by a special cell.
4. Role of Ethics : Whilst agreeing that the creative writers or poets cannot be dictated by any written code of conduct which may impinge on their creative freedom, necessity of responsibility and discipline for any creative work must also be realized. 'Humane Values' must be preserved in the SF works that are created. The SF work must not be didactic, as in any good literature, but the suitable message ought to be there submerged in the created work. Ethics need not be confused with religion, although ethics is generally derived from religious scriptures. It is humane behaviour that is recommended by ethics that is desirable in SF. Humane values such as love, truth, forgiveness, control on self, non stealth, non – inflicting pain or misery on innocents, tolerance of different view points, kindness, cleanliness, fortitude in adversity, wisdom etc. are to be encouraged.
Without Humane Values, SF or any fiction may be pure entertainment, but it would neither be responsible literature nor contributing to progress of a society without various types of conflicts e.g. conflicts with other man, with nature, with oneself.
5. Promotion of SF and its Popularization.
To be in forefront in S&T is vitally important for a nation today if it desires to remain free from technological and economical domination by advanced countries. Promotion of growth of SF means growth of S&T. Poor science – literacy no doubt discourages people to read SF. Addiction to pop soaps on TV on the one hand, and no SF education and lack of interest in science among the public and lack of availability of good SF in Indian languages on the other hand are obstacles in growth of SF and popularity of SF in India. Although it must be admitted that availability of good SF and popularity of SF may be in a catch 22 syndrome.
Spread of SF literature would help our society in rationally accepting the influence of S&T, which otherwise has a tendency to dehumanize the thinking of the people. By using dystopia, utopia and realism, SF is in a better position to analyse interactions of S&T and society, thereby making people aware of strengths and weaknesses of S&T. However the problem of popularization presents a disappointing scenario. Visual and print media, the most powerful arms of mass contact, just do not show interest in giving coverage to S&T, they having sold themselves to lucre. Internet is a good medium for spread of S&T and SF, within its limited reach today. Apart from a change in media's attitude, SF has to improve itself so that media accepts to publish their work.
SF is in a pioneering state, and obstacles in its path are many, SF writers who love this genre have to work enthusiastically and selflessly for promotion and growth of SF; other agencies also need to be urged to be positively responsive in this field. Having studied the problem of promotion of growth and popularization of SF, it is essential that a separate cell for this task be set up. As Govt and academia both are involved, a PG&PSF Cell ( Promotion of Growth and Popularization of SF Cell) may be set up. First with the Govt. e.g. preferably with NCSTC and its branches at some suitable universities. Volunteer organizations need to work so that multi agencies work in this field and may help each other and balance each other's shortcomings.
Here are important suggestions:
PG&PSF Cell should
1.generally work to achieve growth and popularization of SF,
2.Urge Govt. and private educational institutions to improve the standard of science teaching and science laboratories in schools. While teaching science aim also must be to impart capability of scientific thinking. Students must understand the concepts and not learn them by rote.
3.Work towards introduction of SF as part of literature in Education system, and acceptance by Sahitya Academies of SF as part of literature. All activities that are performed for literature should be applicable to SF as well.
4.Assist NCSTC in meeting their SF objectives, including organization of National and International Conferences on SF.
5.Award Fellowships for research on Inidan SF.
6.Offer Honours and Awards for quality SF. Other SF institutions may be urged to do the same.
7.Should approach jointly with SF clubs etc. Govt and Prasar Bharati to start a 'Science Channel' each on Radio and TV. Which of course would include SF.? They should help in promoting broadcasts and telecasts of SF activities and works.
8.Conduct workshops on SF for new SF writers and students.
9., in Universities, work with University administration to incorporate SF as a part educational curriculum and preparation of syllabi.
10.Promote translation of SF works preferably among Indian languages, and also into and from English.
11.Organize competitions in SF writing.
12.Urge Government and public libraries to buy SF books.
General considerations:
Clubs - 'SF Buff' - could be established by SF lovers where SF reading and discussion could take place, like poetry clubs do.
Some film makers could be approached by SF clubs to produce SF films.
SF lovers should open 'Science' or 'SF Blogs' and/or 'Web sites'.
Scientists should be portrayed in SF works as humane and inventive persons who are busy solving problems faced by society, so that they can become a role model for people.
If India has to be self respecting and an advanced country then Science ought to be taught in Indian languages, and SF must be written in Indian languages. Cross translation of SF works among regional languages must be encouraged.
Growth of SF in India is sine qua non for progress in S&T and also for a rational society not falling prey to its dehumanizing effect. Although SF deals with Science, so to say, it was an emotive subject, for it is a literature genre as well. About 75 to 100 delegates took active part in the deliberations, sometimes heated, but always giving more light than smoke. It is hoped that 'Document Banaras' will carry the gems of knowledge condensed in these discussions to various agencies who can help in promotion of growth and popularization of SF and to various SF lovers, especially the creators of SF.
-Professor Sagarmal Gupta Sobhasaria Eng. College Siker,Rajsthan
A five day (November 10-14, 2008) National discussion entitled ‘The First Ever National Discussion: Science Fiction: Past, Present Future’ was organized in the holy city of Varanasi, India. The event was jointly sponsored by National Council for Science and Technology, Communication (NCSTC) New Delhi, Indian Science Fiction Writers’ Association (ISFWA), Faizabad, Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies (IASFS), Vellore. The conference was convened and coordinated by Dr. Arvind Mishra, a noted Science Fiction writer and science activist himself. The conference was attended by about 100 delegates from all over India, including SF buffs, SF writers, SF readers, professors, administrators, persons from the media, puppeteers, magicians science activist and students and researchers of science communication and SF genre.
The landmark achievement of the Conference is the preparation of Benaras Document – 2008, which will go down in red letters in the annals of SF in India. This document is the brainchild of Dr. Manoj Patraiya, Director NCSTC .
Preamble Fiction writing and reading is very popular among intellectuals.Lately India has produced Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai and Arvind Adiga, who have won the coveted and prestigious Booker Prize for their novels. Detective Fiction by Sherlock Holmes, Raymond Chandler, Earl Stanley Gardner and a host of other writers are widely read all over the world. SF, on the other hand, (though almost 150 years old in its origin) does not enjoy that much readership. A science fiction is a fine fabric of a number of elements together interwoven in a manner so as to entertain the reader on the one hand and to arouse one’s creative imagination on the other. It can also inform us with an analytical and rational approach as also enable us to foresee futuristic perspectives. Several classical Science fiction stories prepared the ground for a number of landmark inventions. Further, it has tremendous potential to motivate, to educate and entertain the masses especially the children, science fiction can be a popular means of science communication.
But it is sad that it does not enjoy that popularity which is enjoyed by fiction in general and detective fiction in particular even in the age of science and technology. Concerted effort on the part of writers, readers critics, syllabus framers, publishers, and media personnel is required to popularize science fiction. Hence ‘The Benaras Document’.
Objective The objective of the Document is to popularize and propagate SF amongst children, students, researchers, professors, common readers and science buffs in particular and to create science awareness and scientific temper in general. Questions That were Addressed to The Document addressed itself to the following questions in five sub-committees formed out of the conference delegates: 1. What is Science Fiction? 2. Is Science Fiction a part of Science Communication? 3. Should Fantasy be included in SF? 4. Is Speculative fiction a part of SF? 5. Should SF be anachronistic, synchronistic or futuristic or would be all the three? 6. What is the objective of SF? 7. Should the history of SF be included in the Document? 8. What is the scope of SF? 9. What recommendation can be made for the promotion and propagation of SF? 10. Should SF be included in the curricula? 11. What strategies be adopted for the teaching of SF?
The Draft Outline
There was a lot of disagreement about the definition and scope of Science Fiction among SF writers and SF buffs. Some writers insisted on SF being futuristic whereas some were happy with the synchronic description of Science and Technology in SF. Some writers were against including fantasy whereas others felt that fantasy helped in resolving the problems of reality. Some insisted on the inclusion of human values in SF – writing. Some discussants argued that anachronism is a disqualification in literature but there could be a place for anachronism, synchronism and futurism in SF. One critic of SF felt that SF is a literary art; structure is important and human sensitivity is also important, he argued. According to some writers, science fiction combines both literature of knowledge and literature of power. One writer of science communication went to the extent of saying that SF is a part of Science communication whereas one writer of SF vociferously refuted this supposition and said that SF and Science communication are entirely different and by writing SF, we are not popularizing SF. Arguing against the inclusion of human values, one SF writer says that the term human values is a relative term and is governed by time and place whereas SF is neutral to such human values.
Finally, all the delegates came to define SF in the following words. SF deals with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals; it often involves speculation based on current or future science or / and technology. Science Fiction combines science elements with fictional elements in such a way that the form and content are fully merged. Fantasy cannot be ruled out from SF because any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Like a literary fiction, SF has a plot, characters, and a point of view. The plot of SF is scientific in that it is based on current or future laws of science. It can make predictions about future science but need not. The plot of SF should follow Aristotle’s dictum to the effect that there can be probable impossibilities in SF but not improbable possibilities.
The scope of SF is extending. SF started as adventure stories (Vide Jule Verne’s From Earth to Moon (1865) and ‘Around the Moon’ (1870); ‘Aashcharya Vrittant’ (‘A Strange Tale by Ambika Dutt and Chandra Lok Ki Yatra, ‘Journey to the Moon’ by Kesav Prasad Singh in Hindi; in Japanese, Ukeshiro Monogartan by Yano Ruykeis) and included lunar journey, space exploration, robotics, mathematics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, surrogacy, genetic engineering, cloning and stem cells in its fold. The current SF includes cyberpunk, space opera, alternate history fiction, science satire, motion pictures and television series in its fold. In contemporary SF, there is a combination of myth with modern technology Ashok Kumar Banker reimagines The Ramayan in a SF context. This treatment of the Ramayan is parallel to CS Levi’s treatment of the New Testament in ‘The Chronicles of Namia. These examples highlight the extension of the scope of SF in the contemporary world and refers to its unlimited possibilities. Recommendations
The following recommendations were made by the delegates to ensure the promotion and propagation of SF:
(1) It was suggested that an SF Cell be set up with a Director in a University with the financial assistance from NCSTC, New Delhi. This Cell will be entrusted with the following responsibilities among others:
(a) This cell will look after the promotion and propagation of SF and SF studies.
(b) It will award fellowships to researchers to do research on SF including Indian and regional SF.
(c) It will arrange national and international conferences on SF in which publishers too be invited among others.
(d) It will organize workshops on SF for new writers and students of science communication to train them in the art of SF.
(e) It will organize contests among SF writers at regional and national level.
(f) It will promote translation of regional and Hindi SF writing into English and vice versa.
(2) Arrangements be made to broadcast and telecast SF.
(3) Serials on SF Like ‘Star Trek’ be telecast and broadcast.
(4) Blogs and websites be created to promote SF.
(5) Boards of Secondary Education and Universities be approached to include SF in the curriculum.
(6) Effective Teaching Strategies be evolved to teach SF in the classrooms so that its readership can be increased.
The Benaras Document in its present form is just preliminary. Comments and suggestions are invited from other participants of the national discussion and general audience to make the Document more meaningful, action and result oriented. Panelist- Chairman-Dr.Manoj Patairiya Modeartor-Dr.Arvind Mishra Raporteaur-Dr.Geetha B Presentations- Air Vice Marshal(retd.) V.M.Tiwari Dr.R.R.Upadhyaya Ms.Reema Sarwal Dr.Taralika Trivedi Dr.Afrina Rizvi Ms.Meenu Khare Mr.K.Mohan Mr.Vishnu Prasad Chaturvedi
