Word Masala tells London mayoral candidates to give a voice to expat literature

March 18, 2012 - PRLog -- ‘My specific and leading question was why the poetry published on the London Underground doesn’t represent the spectrum of cultures enriching London,’ says Yogesh Patel, writer and poet, running the Word Masala project which enjoys the patronage of Lord Dholakia, Lord Parekh and the poet Dr Debjani Chatterjee, MBE. Word Masala pointed out that as a symbol of a typical apathy to the expat literary voices in London, Mayor seems to be complacent regarding the selection committee’s weird choices showing no connection to the plethora of cultures and colourful voices the wide ranging communities bring to the metropolis. Poets from international scene visiting Word Masala Books have often expressed their doubts about what these selections of poetry published on the underground really achieve regarding diverse cultural voices in London. The programme was the idea of American writer Judith Chernaik, who selects them with the help of poets Cicely Herbert and Gerard Benson. And yet the voice of minorities is surprisingly lost here.

‘Undoubtedly Londoners are the majority who use the London Underground everyday. But clearly, in spite of them filling London Underground’s coffers, their own diversity is somehow remarkably ignored, even though the LT along with ACE funds the project, and the Mayor’s office has a strategic leverage on it. In the view of Word Masala all parties have dismally failed Londoners in this respect. The Mayor seems to not care about the selection of poems by not exacting the leverage and the influence of his office. The wider issue this represents really is about the expat literary voices ignored by the people who run the institutions in the UK. I wanted the view of the candidates before the election, as to what their approach will be to remedy these Ivory Tower attitudes ignoring the expat art and literature,’ says Yogesh Patel.

Ken Livingstone’s response and personal assurance showed the knowledge of the situation which Boris Johnson arrogantly lacked. Mr Livingston acknowledged very quickly, ‘I entirely agree that the arts and culture in London do not reflect the full diversity and talents of London's population. I have always been committed to diversifying the Boards of arts and cultural institutions in London, by including more women, people from different educational and working backgrounds, different ethnicities and ages.’ According to him, between 2000 and 2008 when he was Mayor he put this pledge into action where he had powers to appoint to such Boards. He confirmed that he refused to accept proposed nominations that did not contribute to diversifying these Boards and used his direct nominations to the same end. He confirms also he ran and funded a programme (called GAIN) to help support and train people from different backgrounds to take up places on such Boards. ‘That in my view is displays the desire to do better. On the contrary, In spite of one month’s battle to get the reply out Boris Johnson, he despicably ignored the issue, and seemed pathetically distant to any understanding of the subject, and even when a third party (!) produced a response on his behalf, it read like a marketing leaflet!’ Adds Yogesh.

Siobhan Benita, the real underdog of the campaign, and understandably has no first hand experience of the matter, still took time out to responded personally to reflect on my concerns very quickly. Her comment was, ‘Thank you for your question about poems on the tube.  I am using my campaign to celebrate London’s diversity as much as possible so I share your sentiments about the desirability of having a more representative selection of art and literature across the City. I would certainly look to adopt a much more inclusive approach to our creative arts in general when I become Mayor.’ With her Anglo-Indian background, one obviously accepts her genuine desire in the matter.

Compare it with the Boris team messing me about and making only to come up with ‘what did other candidates have to say?’ , so that they can react to discredit them! However, focused Boris Johnson campaign maybe on a negative campaign, the display of such apathy to expat literature and concerns only adds to this negative image.  A great pity because he has come up with some fresh ideas during his term as a Mayor on other matters.

Word Masala believes reforms are necessary from whoever gets elected as a Mayor.

Like Siobhan Benita, Ken Livingstone obviously scored best with his pledge, ’I am absolutely committed to continuing such a process if I am elected on 3rd May. I would work with the Boards of Poetry/Art on the Underground to ensure that promoting art and poetry from diverse backgrounds is a priority goal for their programme and to extend the range of work that appears.’ Both candidates showed humility which Boris Johnson has failed to display.


The question is why is Boris Johnson so pathetic, arrogant, irresponsible, disinterested and ignorant of the issues at stake?

‘Let me tell you how expats are engaging. I recently blogged at a major expat site about literature. Within two days I had more than 500 hits with writers and readers responding with extraordinary enthusiasm. It is unfortunate that Boris Johnson has no time available to come up with any comment for such an engaging and interesting crowd of expat voters!’ adds Yogesh.

A deeper problem is that his apathy only reveals the broader aspects of continued lack of support for improving the prospect for arts and literature of the expat Londoners filling up London’s coffers. Word Masala only hopes that the expat voice is not continuously strangled by such reviling attitudes after the election is over.