"Rendezvous with Antarang"-Dr.Sujata Mahajan

"Rendezvous with Antarang"

Dr.Sujata Mahajan

Introduction

I am a writer, but the most difficult thing is writing about yourself especially when you have not thought over it. I work in South Asian Languages and Civilizations department at University of Chicago as an Asst. Instructional Professor of Marathi language. I did my masters in Marathi and Linguistics and I got doctorate in Linguistics. I wrote four novels (one for the children,) three poetry collections, two short stories’ collections, one translated biography, two criticism books and one Marathi Grammar for non-native speakers. Among these 13 books ,8 are published and 5 are yet to published. Some of my poems are translated in English, Hindi, Oriya, Telugu. I am awarded by 4 awards for poetry including Maharshtara Sahitya Parishad and Maharashtra state award. My poems are included in three National Anthologies of poetry. I was invited to Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal as Marathi story writer and to the several programs arranged by Sahitya Akademi, as a writer. I am teaching Marathi Language to non-native speakers since last 12 years. My poems, short stories, articles are published in most of important magazines such as Satyakatha, Pratishthan, Stri, Hans, Anushtubh, Kavita-rati and Saptahik Sakal, Kesari, Lokmat, Tarun Bharat, Maharashtra Times. I was on the board of Language advisory committee of Maharashtra State Government, also I worked as a member of Editorial committee of Maharashtra State’s Textbook production I was a co-editor of Eng-Eng-Marathi Dictionary Project by CIIL, Mysore and Orient Longman. I am a member of Editorial Committee of Marathi Encyclopedia (For Linguistics).


This is what I have done so far. There is a lot to do. It’s a big journey. No one is there to guide you. You must find your way through. Life was and still is hard, but you should not stop because not a goal but the journey towards the goal makes you what you are.


However, all these things did not happen overnight. There was a struggle to find the correct path. Only thing you got with you is to Be alive! Come what may! There were friends to discuss with, family members to discuss with, there was faith in God’s Grace and love, there was unconditional love for mankind and the nature. There was no ambition to be a great person, but was the dream of being a good person and big motivation for this journey was the quest of knowledge of language and being truthful, sincere to what is in your hand and get something marvelous out of it. I did only that.

Antarang Team has interviewed Sujata and here is the summery 

What makes you smile the most?

When I remember my granddaughter.


What music makes you cry?

Hindi and Marathi sad songs especially the songs connected to childhood memories


What little thing makes you the most grateful to be alive?-

Thousands of things! When you meet your family after long time, when you meet you friends, when you laugh a lot, when you see morning sunrays on your walls, when you feel morning breeze, when you see people are doing good things for others, when you see children playing, when you see people helping each other in hard life, when you see people shading tears for each other, I feel grateful to be alive.


On hard days, what motivates you to get up and start your day? –

Yoga and Pranayam in the morning and thinking about language and Linguistics


How do you find strength when you are going through hardships?

You can work only on yourself! You cannot change the situation and you cannot change the other people. If someone hurts, you just think about how I can take it positively, I need to work on myself. No one can hurt me if I could make myself strong and think about it in a different way. Tell yourself this is the area I need to work on.


What family member do you call when you have good news to share?

My husband and children


Who inspires you to live your best life?

My children


When you have to confront someone do you choose to stand strong, or to not say anything at all?

Most of the times I say nothing and try to understand other person’s point of view


What person made you believe in love?

No one made me believe in love. I have a great faith in love.


Do you believe in fate and that everything happens for a reason?

I am not sure about the fate, but I believe, everything happens for a reason


When you got your heartbroken for the first time, what got you through it? –

Good words from the friends and the Time!


What makes you most proud of yourself? –

I don’t feel proud about myself but if I did good to anybody, I feel good about myself. If I do write a story, a poem I feel good about myself. If I could find secrets of the language, I feel good about myself


When in a crisis, do you act calmly, or do you automatically freak out? –

When it is about relations, I stay calm, but if it is something like accidents, sudden deaths, physical fighting ete, I cannot handle it.


What keeps you up at night? –

Generally, I can sleep well because I do Yoga every day.


If there was one charity you could donate to, which would you choose?

To get food for every child.


On your best days, who do you want standing next to you? –

My family.


On your hardest days, who do you want standing next to you? –

My family.


What is the one word that perfectly explains who you are?

A Writer.


Where do you envision yourself in five years? –

Marathi Linguist, Writer, Poet, language teacher.

Team Anatarang