Indian writers have become conscience of nation: NZ writer

New Zealand born author Witi Ihimaera feels the real role of a writer is to become the conscience of the nation and that Indian writers have set a "fantastic example" by using literature to address issues concerning the mankind.
"To me, the most important role of a writer is to be the conscience of the nation and I am really moved that your writers are doing that. They are writing about climate change like Amitav Ghosh.
Ihimaera recently purchased a copy of Ghosh's latest book on climate change, "The Great Derangement."
"They are going into non-fiction and becoming leaders; articulating concerns on behalf of the Indian people. They are taking up the original role of the writer which is to stand beside the government and become their conscience. Arundhati Roy is another such writer," he says.

Ihimaera became the first Maori writer to be published with his debut book "Tangi" that came out in 1973 and has since then penned 14 novels and 7 collections of short stories including "Yellow Brick Road", "Pounamu" and "The Whale Rider" which was also adapted into a film of the same name.
According to the 72-year-old writer who has also worked as a diplomat at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, literature must not be used only to draw attention towards issues of environmental collapse but also other concerns like gender discrimination, immigration etc."

While Indian writers have already began the drill here, he says he is attempting to do the same in New Zealand.

"I am modelling my own attempt to become the conscience of my nation on the fantastic example of Indian writers. The conscience must not only be in terms of environmental collapse but also in terms of the relationship between men and women, immigration issues and other global issues.
"Your writers have always had a history of doing that, in not just non-fiction but also in what they say in their speeches. I am attempting to do that in New Zealand," he says.
Among his efforts in this context is a new cookbook that he is curating with New Zealand based chef Robert Oliver. The book will advocate not just a healthy lifestyle but also draw attention to the burning issue of climate change.

"Climate change because people living in New Zealand have always thought of the Pacific as a food basket and so if we do not watch out we won't have a source to eat from.
Both his novels and short stories pre-dominantly revolve
around the Maori culture, people and situations, often shedding light on the problems within contemporary Maori society.
"Because I am a maori, I do not write about anybody else. All my works are about maori people and maori situations, both historically and contemporary. I feel it is my responsibility to tell the story of Maoris to not just New Zealand but also to the rest of the world," he says.

But becoming a writer, and that too the first of one's clan comes with a conspicuous struggle and Ihimaera too faced a backlash not just from the colonial authorities in New Zealand but also from members of his own community.
When his book 'The Whale Rider' was being adapted into a film, many of his Maori friends warned him against depicting a powerful female character - one who is a Captain, who efficiently uses weapons and is at par with men.
"When you are articulating your culture to a different one, there are things that the old culture does not want to be told. But, I went ahead and filmed all of it because if we stay with the status quo then nothing changes and I do not believe any culture is static," he says.

From the Europeans, the initial resistance came because he was not writing "the sort of story that they wanted."
Ihimaera, who was on his first visit to India also participated at the recently concluded Mountain Echoes Literary festival in Bhutan where he visited the Royal Thimphu College and interacted with the young students there.
"I feel it is very important to transfer some of the knowledge that I have about the world to the younger generation because they all need to have the capability to grow up as leaders.
"They all need to grow up understanding how to negotiate problems and be in a position to save the planet because they might have to."

He also deliberated on topics of 'identity issues' and the 'art of good writing' at the three-day festival.