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STEPHEN GILL'S 1999 LITERARY TOUR TO INDIA

The Mawaheb International

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*Appeared in The Mawaheb International,

April 1999, p. 28

Stephen Gill, a Indo-Canadian human rights activist and writer, has just returned from India with a bag crammed with memories. One of those memories is about the award he received from Sahir Cultural Society in Ludhiana, Panjab. Gill was honoured in a fully packed historical hall named after Jowaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. The evening was dedicated to Indo-Pak friendship.

Stephen Gill was honoured with a shawl wrapped around his shoulders in a traditional Indian way, the presentations of a trophy and a citation that says "Stephen Gill, significantly symbolises the struggle of a modern man against odds. Gifted with patience and sincerity, he is committed to world-peace, better world order and universal love. It is as poet that he has established his place. He shares with Sahir his dreams as expressed in the classic Parchhaiyan," a book of poems by Sahir in Urdu in which he condemns war.

At an international seminar at Meerut University and at international conference at Himachel Pradesh University in Shimla, Stephen Gill presented papers on peace. His presentation at Himachel Pradesh University was chaired by Dr.Don Waterfalls, Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, and by Dr. Manorama Trikha, head Department of English at Meerut University.

At Meerut, he was honoured at a literary gathering at the house of Mahendra Rana and Dr. Rekha Rana. Mahendra Rana, a retired university librarian and Dr. Rekha Rana have written a critical profile on Stephen Gill for A Dictionary of Indian English Litterateurs (1794-1998), a critical source book. The gathering included Mr. Sharma, an octogenarian novelist who presented Stephen Gill with a set of his books.

Gill's other literary activities include interviews with publications and on radios, poetry presentations at colleges of Delhi University and other places, talks in religious institutions and meeting with writers like Sheila Gujral, wife of former prime minister of India, Inder Gujral, over tea at her residence; and Archbishop Alan de Lastic, a world famous human rights activist.

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He met famous Delit (untouchables or the low-caste, also called Schedule Castes, Shudras and Hari Jan) writers. The Delit Literature is emerging fast in India. Hitherto, most writings about the delits were by non-delits. Armed and enlightened with education, the delits are expressing themselves now in poetry, fiction and non-fiction works. Asking questions, they point out the sword of intolerance which they say has and is still destroying their lives. Stephen Gill had long and detailed discourses with some of these writers on several aspects of their writings. These writers include J.P. Kardam, Prof. Dr. Anil Gajbhaye, J.L. Arya (State Election Commission of Bihar), Chandra Bhan Prasad (president Dist. Shiksha Andolan), Prof. Dr. Sheoraj S. Bechain; Dr. Vimalkirti (Head, Dept. of Pol. & Prakrit at Nagpur University); Dr. Kusum Viyogi; Ramnika Gupta (former M.P.P. from Orissa and presently president of a national trade union) who herself is not a delit but writes about them.

Stephen Gill believes that tolerance for the faiths of others as well as for the cultures of others gives birth to a legitimate child of bliss. On the other hand, intolerance leads to a fearful circle of revenge, opening doors for anarchy that makes day-to-day life miserable. Like Canada, India should take minorities with her for the progress of the country. There should be laws to be strictly implemented to stop hate propaganda in any shape and form particularly against religions. He advocates that happy minorities contribute towards the building of the nation. Absence of security and harmony leads to econo/political disaster that endangers the stability of the majority. Protection of minorities is in the interest of the majority and the whole nation, even the world. That is why Mahatma Gandhi believed in safeguarding the rights of minorities. This was Dr. Stephen Gill's message in his poetry, talks and interviews in India.

The Mawaheb International has published Gill's writings with interest, and is looking forward to what more to come about Gill's trip to India, land of civilization and cultures. Dr. Gill was nominated by The Mawaheb International for Nobel Prize on December 1998. His books and writings are enough evidence for his dedication for peace and humanity. Dr. Gill deserves our full support to win the international recognition of Nobel.

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