A serious breach

 

So, Norwegian writer Jon Fosse is awarded the Nobel prize in literature. I look forward to these awards since these give reference to best in literature across the world. Not that the awards are only reference for perceptive writings. Over the years I found much quality in these writers hence became definitive reference for sophisticated literature and nuanced ideas and expressions herein. I do buy atleast one book of these writers to get the reference. And of all the Nobel laureate writers if I had to choose influence, I would pick Samuel Beckett’s fiction for stark relentless stare into human condition, Camus for his nonfiction writings of immense insight, Naipaul for skill with language and observation, and ofcourse Szymborska for poetry. I do have list of others too including those not awarded so on. Must add that in recent times I have shifted to nonfiction, reality has become too stark -luxury of long fiction is getting limited to few people. But I do keep an eye on literature since these are defining expressions. So, with much excitement of finding a new writer searched net (placed order online for the book ‘Morning and Evening’). I found a short story -that is removed from paywall for this occasion, and some interviews conducted few years back (https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-second-silent-language-a-conversation-with-jon-fosse/). I am quite concerned. Ofcourse Fosse is a prominent writer but what is disturbing is his coopting to be part of dehumanizing system. For a perceptive empathy driven human being to make such a choice -however personal maybe, is truly distressing in the context of times we live in. This is a serious breach. Is it because of lack of biodiversity in Scandinavian region (unlike say India) that they are stuck in human created systems for redemption?

Fosse says in an interview “When I manage to write well, there is a second, silent language. This silent language says what it is all about. It’s not the story, but you can hear something behind it -a silent voice speaking”. I am really concerned about this silent voice -implication of Fosse, his ideas and expressions. He says “In my teens, I was a kind of stupid Marxist and atheist -it was the normal thing to be in those days for young, aspiring intellectuals. But in the process of writing, there was something I couldn’t quite understand, some mystery: where does it come from?” There is nothing really stupid about Marxism it has provided insight into society and is an abiding reference into understanding human condition. Ofcourse it is flawed but NOT stupid. Marxism is as flawed as capitalism in its practice, and is a necessary corollary to exploitation. Socialism has much influence from Marxism and communist thinkers, and democracy takes root and thrive with socialist values. Any perceptive human being will realize how much capitalism as a system -essentially controlled and defined by few, created the havoc that the future generation will heavily pay for. Much of nature works on mutualism, the myth of competition is outcome of this control unleashed by psychopaths with wanton greed and insatiable consumption onto hapless people. Church as “anti-capitalist theology” is more of wishful thinking, and doesn't pass historical scrutiny. Religion has always been in conduit with power (right from colonialism, slave trade and other horrendous past, also don’t forget church’s role during holocaust or recent revelation of child abuse), ossified in certainties, relegating humanity from humans. Even the idea of capitalism can be traced largely to Church -protestant ethics, so on. Those who are attempting to assign respectability to ridiculous are suspect. Take the example of Kerala -where I am located, church played a significant role in undermining initiatives to protect western ghats. They side with exploiters and normalize patriarchy. To assign religious systems some benign divine attribute, indeed spiritual, will be resisted. These don’t pass the basic scrutiny of realities of the world we live and the challenges we face. And yes, in the contemporary context atheism is a natural extension of humanism. This cannot be emphasized more. Humanism is an enlightened expression of what is to be a human that has long tradition across the world and has enthralled best of minds across centuries who made invaluable contribution in the progress of humanity. Humanism is necessarily being part of nature. Humans as free souls jiggling in collective euphoria of living. 

Fosse elaborates on his believes “In the mid-1980s, I went to a mass in a Catholic church…and I liked it, to the point that I even started to attend a course to become a Catholic…I decided to convert to the Catholic Church”. He mentions his encounter with near death experience, and how it became an influence. Well, I too had near death experience, and not once but few -and yes for people existing in congested hellholes of Delhi every day is skirting between death and living. As a human being how do you factor in these experiences defines you. For me it helped to work on the priorities, and in an overwhelmingly mediocrity thriving crass society it gave necessary perspective. This fact of living with constant awareness of absurd. Most become fatalist, but then most are unthinking herd incapacitated by powerful systems and easy options, they really don’t have choices nor the capacity to use their faculties to understand their condition. Indeed, if they are able to use their intellect to understand their condition isn’t fatalism better than hopelessness? There is lots of suffering in this world. And there are controlling systems that seeks to trap human being into its fold. Foss says that “I call myself a Christian, but it’s very hard for me. It’s so reductionist. In a way, I am a minimalist, of course, and in another way, I am a postmodernist — I was influenced by Jacques Derrida”. There is lot to untie here. Ofcourse to claim to be a Christian is to claim to be part of system based on miracles -of Jesus and holy book. It also means to be responsible for the misery that such dehumanizing systems spreads. To choose such a response to one’s tribulation is reflection of moral weakness and a deeply flawed understanding of human condition. A skilled writer placed in such dehumanizing value system and anachronistic narrations may impress but doesn’t really pass the scrutiny of being a human. The tribulations of the protagonist will be necessarily limited by restricted world view of writer. It’s a loss to humanity. 

Now, take the instance of Fosse’s remarkable short story ‘Dreamed in stone’, I like the style of writing here. It reminds of Beckett’s iconic ‘Waiting for Godot’. Read these concluding lines of the story.   

I go in, in behind the stones, and I sit down. I sit and look at the stones. I see that it’s me. I am the stones: it’s not like me, but like what is I in me. I go out between the stones and take my place, I stand there with outstretched hands, like a cross. I see a cross. I look down. I look up. I sit down. I look at the stones, so beautifully laid, stone on stone, in a wall. I get up. I stand.

And then you hold my hand. And the stones say that love exists, love is.

Weren’t you scared?

No, never.

But you almost died.

I wasn’t afraid to die.

I am not afraid to die either.

No.

 

Clearly the implication here is of dying moment of the protagonist. There is a reference of cross, and holding of hand -essentially God -in the context of cross it has to be interpreted as Jesus, and Christian preaching of love, so on. A writer not restricted by religion would have worked to elevate into spiritual experience of universalistic timeless value resonating with eternal longing of reader hence leaving an abiding impression. The above, although extremely skilled, doesn’t resonate with me, nor with anyone who is not a practicing christian -to moved by this you need to be a devotee -a follower. The reason why Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot’ -located in time and space without any social or geographical reference is still brutally social and political rooted in every time and every space of human life, has such everlasting connection of emptiness and existential absurdity. 

Let me take another example that could be much relevant to context of Christianity. Raymond Carver was a brilliant writer. There is a short story titled ‘Cathedral’ -and those who have read it will never forget, it’s a deeply moving story that brings in the same framework of Christianity through the sacred building -cathedral, but swiftly move into realm of everlasting beauty of universalism of human angst and yearning. The sheer beauty of this story elevates much beyond restrictive views of religion into ephemeral moment of connection. This is how the story ends, and those who haven’t read it I am spoiling it, the condescending man is trying to show the blind man what a cathedral looks like by drawing it with both holding the pen. What happens is entirely unexpected…It takes a blind man to make this connection; to see beyond human eyes. 

 

“Keep them that way,” he said. He said, “Don’t stop now. Draw.”

So we kept on with it. His fingers rode my fingers as my hand went over the paper. It was like nothing else in my life up to now.

Then he said, “I think that’s it. I think you got it,” he said.

“Take a look. What do you think?”

But I had my eyes closed. I thought I’d keep them that way for a little longer. I thought it was something I ought to do.

“Well?” he said. “Are you looking?”

My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything.

“It’s really something,” I said.

 

This story left me bleary eyed. This wouldn’t have happened if there were references of Cross or Christ or whichever God, I dare say ‘silent voices’, indeed there is not even cathedral. It’s an open space that connects humans to their primal bearing and longing. That is why this story has so much compassion and deep awareness of human condition. One can also see this in Dostoevsky, especially The Karamazov Brothers (and let us be clear his context was limited world of 19th century, unlike sinister context of religion now), even questioning Jesus like figure (the grand inquisition discourse is best of world literature), "You didn't do well, there is suffering". The idea of god unable to fulfill basic needs -of food, security, while propounding high sounding virtue and freedom. Indeed people are ready to give up freedom and don't have problem to follow or somebody to tell what to do. This is failure of god and miracles -why not bread from stone every time? The devil is able to do much better. People will barter freedom for happiness -to reduce suffering, and for security. Dostoevsky was able to see human mind and what makes totalitarian forces rise to undermine freedom. It cannot happen without consent of people. This is where he places the blame on God -Jesus, abstractness of faith moved away from realities of life. This is what is expected from best of literature. The reason why I had such a bad taste when I started with Indian literature -trapped in its own self referral loops of self obsessed grandeur. Where the writer is incapable to see waterfall as waterfall and verdant nature but dreadlocks of god and divine designs. Where human condition is joke of fate, blessing, entitled position as writer hence arbitrators of sacred narration to correct and guide fellow humans and hapless people, pedantic righteousness and festering sickness of mind. There are ofcourse rare occasions where the soul of the sensibilities channelized through centuries sprout out. Kolatkar's Jejuri is one such occasion. There is so much compassion and awareness of predicament of people that is rooted in the land that effortlessly uproots for universal acknowledgment of human condition. The irony of lives of suffering fatalistic people makes ridiculous a portal of deeper understanding."...he popped a stone/in his mouth/and spat out god/what is god/and what is stone/the dividing line/if it exists/is very thin/at jejuri...scratch a rock/and a legend springs". When I first read it I was blown away (and told as many people to read. Visited the site few times and even took pictures working on the references of poems. You may visit me at https://iseeebirds.blogspot.com/2013/09/rise-of-sparrow.html. I abandoned this blog about a decade back. I would like to correct few typos but forgot password/phone link hence no longer in my control). 

I am also upset since in the same line where Fosse claims to be christian (infact a “good christian”) he also identifies as post-modernist influenced by Derrida. O dear. How can a man -indeed a skilled writer, entrenched in primitive system claim to be postmodern? If there is no fixed meaning then how can there be a fixed system -that too hinged on ridiculous? There is an unbridgeable contradiction here. It’s insane. The fixed ideas of religions are persistent threat to humanity. 

Derrida had elemental influence on me, ofcourse I took it to extreme to work my context, indeed even my name. There was a time when I was really into Derrida, and took deconstruction as weapon of choice! What is neglected by systems and its dominance is where the worth is. There is a world beyond the neat solutions of religions. Nature thrives in chaos and entropy is the eternal reality. There is more to life in confused chaos than in clarity and quick fixes of religion. This attempt at using Derrida to create binary of respectability for religion is 20^th century. I seethe in anger at this breach.