Thanks for clarifying your stand on this post. I could never imagine that you would actually say, “Mizo literature will vanish one day,” as you were quoted by Penny MacRae at the Daily Times (Pakistan) newspaper. And your reply is negative too.

Therefore, I wonder when this book ‘English Threatens Indian Literary Heritage’ by Penny MacRae is released if your quote will remain as it is. I’m sorry to suggest that a better quotation could have been constructed by Penny.

As far as the post title is concerned, we are simply highlighting what was posted and said in the Pakistan Daily Times newspaper so that it is brought to the attention of the concerned people.

Thanks for your comment here, I visited your lovely blog and find it very informative. Happy blogging!

I would just like to explain the circumstances leading to the particular discussion that has been highlighted here. I feel my comments may have been taken out of context. Although I’m sure no serious harm has been done, I’d just like to make certain things clear.
I met Penny at the Jaipur Literary Festival in Jan 2008, and although we became well-acquainted, at no time did I give her an interview, so I was little surprised to see myself being quoted. I don’t recall “predicting” that Mizo literature would “vanish”; however, I do stand by my opnions which I had expressed, along with other Indian scholars, that many Indian languages (especially those like Mizo, which is not used by other communities) are being sidelined, and that there is very little incentive, financial or otherwise for writers to continue writing in the vernacular, and that is where the necessity of good translations into languages that are more “mainstream” comes in. The more good translators there are, the wider the reach of these writers who write in the vernacular, and the better the chances of preserving and enriching that literature.

That sir, was simply what I was trying to express, and since the forum was one that focussed on Translation, the emphasis was laid on the urgent need for good translators and translations; it was not my intention to make any predictions of any sort, though I believe you’d agree with me that I do have a right to voice my concerns and fears for our literature. As I’m sure you know, this quotation is part of an article entitled ‘English Threatens Indian Literary Heritage’ by Penny MacRae, so it was little unsettling to find the big headline, ‘Literature lecturer at Mizoram University, Ms Cherrie Chhangte has predicted that Mizo literature will vanish one day’ and I felt I should write in just to let you know that.

Thank you for updating us on what is happening in and around the Mizo world. Wishing you all the best,

C.L.Chhangte.