CM urges need for good quality literature

Nashik, Feb 16 (UNI) Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today stressed the need for creation of good quality literature which will track the past happenings of the OBC movement as well as look into the future.

''The 52 per cent OBCs should have 52 per cent contribution in literature. Literature which can introduce a social revolution in the OBC community and which tracks the social and political history of the community should be created,'' the Chief Minister said in his inaugural address at the second All India OBC Literary Meet here today.

There are many upcoming litterateurs in the community and they should be given an opportunity to introduce themselves to the world and, with the efforts of these litterateurs, creation of good quality literature is necessary, he added.

Mr Desmukh, while tracing the journey of the OBC literary movement, said the OBC literature is not based on fantasy but on real experiences and, so, it is the real literature. It depicts the anguish, kindness, sympathy and problems of the common man.

It is a literature with many facets, Mr Deshmukh said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister was honoured with the first ''OBC Mitra'' award. ''Jagar'', a special booklet, was also released on the occasion. Mr Deshmukh donated a sum of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's fund to the OBC Literary Meet.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University vice chancellor Dr Nagnath Kotapalle, who is the president of the literary meet, took over the charge from Sudhakar Gangane.

Earlier, a ''Granthdindi (Books procession) was taken out from the Gadge Maharaj square here and concluded at the Mahakavi Kalidas Kalamandir, the venue of the literary meet. Around 2,500 school students participated in the procession. At the head of the procession was a palanquin that carried a copy of the Constitution, the Sant Tukaram Gatha ''Bhakticha Sohla'', and the literary treasures of Mahatma Phule and Dr Ambedkar.

UNI GB MAZ SKB1543