#### National Seminar Explores National Consciousness in Literature

Udaipur. The two-day national seminar on the theme “National Consciousness in Hindi Literature” commenced on Monday at the Golden Jubilee Guest House of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur. The event was organized by the Department of Hindi in collaboration with Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, Udaipur, and Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi.

Chief Guest Prof. Nandkishor Pandey, Vice Chancellor of Haridev Joshi Journalism University, Jaipur, highlighted the intrinsic relationship between literature and the nation. He stated that poets have played a more effective role than rulers in shaping the idea of the Indian nation. Citing Jaishankar Prasad’s poem “Beeti Vibhavari Jaag Re”, he explained how literature awakened the suppressed national consciousness during the colonial period. Interpreting Tulsidas’s concept of Ramrajya, he described it as a symbol of scientific awareness, purity, and duty-centric governance.

Prof. Pandey emphasized that Hindi literature has always given voice to the soul of the nation—from the freedom movement to present-day social transformations—by carrying national consciousness to the masses. He added that in contemporary times, both literature and media share the responsibility of linking national identity with human values.

In his presidential address, Prof. B. P. Saraswat, Vice Chancellor of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, said that the tradition of Hindi literature represents harmony between nation, society, and the individual. He noted that the seminar’s theme is highly relevant in the current context and will inspire meaningful intellectual discourse.

Delivering the keynote address, senior litterateur and State President of the Parishad, Prof. Annaram Sharma, challenged Western narratives that portray India as a fragmented nation. He asserted that while the Western concept of nationhood is political, India’s concept is fundamentally cultural. He described medieval saints as not merely religious figures but national guardians who preserved the Indian psyche during periods of external aggression. He rejected claims that the nationalism of the Veer-Gatha era was narrow, instead recognizing it as a glorious link in the civilizational tradition.

Special Guest and senior writer Vishnu Sharma ‘Harihar’ reflected on the blows inflicted upon India’s knowledge traditions during the colonial period. He said that although foreign rulers distorted Indian history and education, writers preserved national sensitivity through literature. Recalling the sacrifices of the 1857 revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh, and Veer Savarkar, he described the works of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and Hazari Prasad Dwivedi as guiding forces of national consciousness. He also referred to novelist Mridula Garg’s characters—such as Mandodari—as inspirational role models for contemporary youth. The thematic introduction was presented by Seminar Convener Dr. Ashish Sisodia.

On this occasion, the 14th issue of the peer-reviewed biannual journal Nav Srijan, edited by Dr. Ashish Sisodia, was released by the dignitaries on stage.

Seminar Coordinator and President of the Udaipur unit of Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, Asha Pandey Ojha, informed that two sessions were conducted on the first day. The first session was chaired by Dr. Kunjana Acharya, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and State Media Head of the Parishad, with Dr. Naveen Nandwana as the keynote speaker and Dr. Ashok Pandya as the Chief Guest. The second session was chaired by Dr. Suresh Salvi, Head of the Department of Rajasthani. The speakers were Dr. Manish Saxena and Dr. Nita Trivedi, and the proceedings were conducted by Priyanka Rawal.

Under the two-day seminar, scholars from across the country will present research papers on diverse dimensions of national consciousness in Hindi literature—historical, cultural, social, and ideological—across various technical sessions.