It’s a Hindi journal that’s all set to hit Parliament’s stands in February. What will lend the journal an unusual element is that Lok Sabha MPs will be among those penning articles for it. These articles will range from the literary and poetic to the more prosaic though important ones dealing with economic and social issues, MPs constituencies as also parliamentary traditions and procedures. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, a keen writer in Hindi herself, has promised two poems for the new journal, said LS secretariat sources. Having given the launch of the in-house journal christened Sansadiya Manjusha her backing, the Speaker who recently gave her nod to the formation of a Hindi advisory committee for the LS, is leading by example. Manjusha means a jewellery box and the aim is to make the journal a treasure trove of knowledge for its readers, sources added. Feverish work is on to put together the journal which will carry only original articles.
With the percentage of LS MPs speaking in Hindi in the House now having touched the 55 per cent mark — it has been below 50 per cent in the past — it’s hoped that the journal will create even greater interest in Hindi among them.
Well aware that it will be dealing with “articles written by VIPs”, those associated with the journal’s publication have been careful to draw up a detailed editorial policy so that there are no bruised egos or accusations of discrimination. So for instance, it says that the journal “will be impartial in its approach, rising above party politics and not adhering to any particular ideology”. Conceptualised some time ago, the half-yearly journal will be brought out by the Rajbhasha Prabhag of the Editorial and Translation Wing of the Lok Sabha secretariat and is being touted as “the first of its kind”. While the Madhya Pradesh assembly does have a Hindi journal called Vidhayani, Parliament hasn’t had such a journal in its history.
The response from MPs seeking their contributions for the 120-130 page journal to be printed on fine quality paper hasn’t been too encouraging so far. But those behind the journal aren’t losing heart as the project is in the initial stages and know well that it will take time for parliamentarians to evince greater interest in writing for it.
“There have been a lot of inquiries from MPs about the upcoming journal,” said sources. But only about half-a-dozen articles from MPs have been received so far. The response from the LS Secretariat staff who can also contribute articles was overwhelming.
Articles on topics such as parliamentary precedents, debates in the Constituent Assembly and the country’s laws are among other things that the journal will carry. The editorial policy is also clear that it doesn’t want articles that are either sexist or racist or cast aspersions on individuals, castes, regions and religions. Neither does it want writings that are “self-laudatory” or tend to defame or heap “unnecessary praise” on someone.