Tarun Tejpal
(India, 1963) in 2009 was elected by Business Week one of the fifty most influential men of India. He owes that to his pioneering work as an investigative journalist. In 2000 Tejpal started the webzine Tehelka which became the watchdog of Indian media. in 2001 Tehelka's inquiries led to the resignation of the Minister of Defence. Meanwhile Tehelka ('sensation' in Hindi) has developed into a leading weekly magazine-cum-news site with a staff of more than 100. In his spare time Tejpal found time to write two novels: The Alchemy of Desire (2005), and The Story of my Assassins (2009). Both novels portray the complexities of Indian society, but in his debut passion and a longing for love play a central role. V.S. Naipaul called Tejpal's debut 'brilliant'.
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Winternachten Lecture
With: Alexander Rinnooy Kan, Antjie Krog, Fouad Laroui, Mehmet Polat, Tarun Tejpal, Xue Xinran
The question seemed as simple as far-reaching: if you were to rewrite the rules of the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights, from a South African perspective, would the result resemble the original? Or would something completely different emerge?
The South African writer Antjie Krog took up the gauntlet and presents the result at the annual Winternachten Lecture. In her lecture it is clear from the outset that in the new text the original rules of the declaration are not quite recognizable. Indeed, no rules have been included at all. Why? Because, according to Krog, the Third World never comes up with rules. Rules are something for the First World. The Third World comes forward with suggestions. Or it burns. Because the First World always listens to fire.
For Krog suggestions suffice. Her declaration has two titles: The Universal Declaration of Interconnectedness and Universal Suggestions for Tolerance. Her lecture ends in two fundamental questions on tolerance and intolerance. The Indian writer Tarun Tejpal and the Chinese writer Xue Xinran try to answer from the perspective of their countries of origin. Both Tejpal and Xinran not only write fiction, but as journalists they contribute to the public debate in their country.Writer Fouad Laroui hosts the evening. The audience will be given the opportunity to react to both Krog and Xinran and Tejpal.
The lecture is in English. The Dutch translation is projected simultaneously. Visitors of the lecture will receive the full text in Dutch and English. -
In search of the Golden Rule II
Is there such a thing a A Golden Social Rule to connect people of different cultures? Indian writer Tarun Tejpal and Dutch writer Bas Heijne try to find it. Which rules have become obsolete because of the worldwide economic crisis and the change of the power-balance in the world? What kind of rules were they? And what should take their place. Maybe it is impossible to create shared rules for a world that is changing so fast. Or isn't it? What kind of rules would they be? How would they come into being in the dazzling mix of religions and social diversity in India, Tejpals fatherland? Tarun Tejpal does not only write novels, but, like Bas Heijne, publishes articles and essays in newspapers and magazines. Host: Markha Valenta. In English
