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| Kathmandu Wednesday March 20, 2002 Chaitra 07, 2058. |
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Banal treatment
Perhaps blinded by hero-worship and the aura of
the Nobel prize, Basanta Lohani equates Naipaul’s boorish behaviour with honesty
before loudly commending him for it (March 17, 2002, TKP). Following this warped logic,
Naipaul’s rant against the supposedly banal issues of colonialism, gender and
oppression is lauded to the skies. But what is so banal about discussing topics that have
caused, and is still causing, suffering to untold millions? Also, as far as I know, people
attend conferences to argue and share ideas, and while rants make for good entertainment,
they do not generate ideas or understanding; in that regard, they are utterly banal. So by
saluting Naipaul’s boorish behaviour, the essay, in effect, promotes what it purports
to be preaching against.
For a manifesto against banality and mediocrity,
it is ironic that it suffers from bad writing, which no display of ostentatious erudition
can disguise. For instance, sentences like the following are pervasive: "It is a
difficult time now because human beings are gradually degenerating to become vegetables
due to pervasive banality triggering a competition not to excel but to degenerate
further". Also, one would at least expect an original, thought-provoking conclusion
from a piece castigating banality. Before setting out to judge the world, a pint of
self-criticism and humility might have served the essayist well.
Ratna Maharjan
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