Department of Creative Writing and Publications
INTRODUCTION
The Department of Creative Writing & Publications is actively involved in promoting and disseminating the creative writing in Hindi for general public. It presents a perspective, through competitive schemes in collaboration with local & foreign writers. It also contributes to maintain the dynamism of both writing & reading in Hindi. ‘Vasant’ & ‘Rimjhim’ are two Hindi magazines published by the Department of Creative Writing & Publications of the MGI. The aim is to promote creative writing in relation to the new literary trends in the Hindi world. It has provided a forum to poets, writers and readers to maintain communication with each other through the magazine. Papers of international standard, research work, literary articles, short stories, plays, poems, letters of appreciations, cross-word, travelogue & interviews of local-foreign writers are published in these magazines. It has brought many writers together to foster the spirit of friendship and harmony.
OBJECTIVE
The Department of Creative Writing & Publications represents a perspective.
- In the anthologies and magazines produced
- In the promotion of publication through competitive schemes
- In the promotion of translation for the important work of comparative Mauritian Literature
PUBLICATION
‘’Vasant’
‘Vasant’ is a quarterly literary magazine of International repute. First published on 12 March 1978, it was launched by Shri Atal Beeharry Vajpayee, the then Minister of External Affairs (India) in the presence of Director of MGI, Dr. K. Hazareesingh, Mr Abhimanyu Unnuth, was then the Editor. Local and foreign Hindi Writers and academics from Fiji, Surinam, Trinidad, Holland, South Africa, UK, USA, Russia and India are the contributors. ‘Vasant’ is mailed to eighty Universities around the world where Hindi is taught. In exchange of our gesture, MGI receives various Hindi magazines from foreign countries including the Indian Diaspora. On various occasions special bumper issues are also published.
‘Rimjhim’
‘Rimjhim’ is a children’s magazine published on a bi-monthly basis since April. 1994. ‘Rimjhim’ is given at a concessional rate in upper primary and lower secondary schools. As a supplementary Hindi reading material, ‘Rimjhim’ is widely appreciated by students and teachers. Children are even encouraged to write and get their articles published in ‘Rimjhim’. The magazine serves to keep readers in touch with the new trends in modern writing.
The contents of ‘Rimjhim’ also include literary competitions, such as Crossword, Quiz, Puzzles, etc… Every year prizes are awarded in terms of books, certificates, shield and cash to the prize winners.
MODE OF DISTRIBUTION/MARKETING
- The magazines are sent to the subscribers by outgoing mail.
- Distribution of the magazines in primary & secondary schools on consignment.
- Selling of magazines to people who come to buy them at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.
- One copy is given freely to the authors contributing in the magazine.
PRIZE GIVING CEREMONY
A prize giving ceremony is an annual feature of the department. Prizes are given to the winners of different literary competitions. School teachers and writers are compensated for their contribution in both ‘Vasant’ and ‘Rimjhim’ magazines.
MISSION
Both magazines are designed to be easily readable, with informative, research and historical datas, providing a friendly background to Hindi readers locally and abroad. Hindi has been at the centre of all Literary and Socio-ethnic development. The aim of ‘Vasant’ and ‘Rimjhim’ is to contribute further for the betterment of the society and above all to promote Hindi language.
The Mahatma Gandhi Sansthan Apravasi Hindi Sahitya Srijan Samman
In line with the mission of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute to play a leading role in promoting creative writing in Asian Languages in Mauritius and in Indian Diaspora countries, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute has instituted ‘The Mahatma Gandhi Sansthan Appravasi Hindi Sahitya Srijan Samman’ on a biennial basis as announced by the Honourable Mrs Leela Devi Dookhun – Luchoomun, Minister of Education & Human Resources, Tertiary Education & Scientific Research, in the 10th World Hindi Conference held in Bhopal in 2015. The aim of this Award is to sustain creative writing and to give birth to a fresh generation of writers, especially in Hindi.
The first edition of the ‘The Mahatma Gandhi Sansthan Appravasi Hindi Sahitya Srijan Samman’ was launched in 2016. The second, third and fourth edition was advertised in 2018, 2019 and 2021 respectively.
Head of Department & Chief Editors
- Mr Abhimanyu Unnuth – From 1975 to 1997
- Dr B Jagasingh – From 1997 to 2006
- Mr G Rashpasing – From 2006 to 2008
- Dr H Soonder – From 2008 to 2012
- Dr C Rughoonundun – From 2013 to 2015
- Dr M Ramdharee – From 2015 to 2017
- Dr R Gobin – From 2017 to 2018
- Dr A Dunputh – From 2018 to 2020
- Dr K K Jha – From 2020 to 2022
- Dr L Jhummun – From 2022 to 2024