Mumbai, April 9
A thought-provoking literary evening unfolded at Mira Road as SwarSangam Foundation hosted a distinguished gathering, with acclaimed storyteller and novelist S.R. Harnot presenting a reading of his much-discussed long story Fly Killer.
The narrative, deeply layered and evocative, explores the emotional turbulence and social alienation faced by a retired individual navigating the complexities of post-retirement life. Through sharp storytelling, Harnot weaves in references to contemporary socio-political developments such as demonetisation and the ‘Romeo Squad’, highlighting their psychological and social impact on the elderly protagonist.
A striking metaphor of a pine tree and a bench forms the symbolic core of the story, creating a near-epic visual landscape that held the audience captivated throughout the session.
The programme commenced with moderator Raman Mishra introducing Harnot’s literary journey and contributions. This was followed by a poetic rendition by Dr. Hoobnath Pandey, who reflected on the writer’s deep-rooted connection with the hills.
The post-reading discussion saw active participation from noted literary figures including Vinod Gupta Shalabh, Prof. Shyam Diwakar, Shailesh Singh, Julmiram Singh, Rita Das Ram, Dinesh Shakul and Hridayesh Mayank. The speakers described Fly Killer as a significant contemporary work, engaging with themes of ageing, dignity and symbolic resistance.
The session was chaired by eminent poet and writer Anoop Sethi, who lauded Harnot’s narrative style, marked by its earthy realism and strong dramatic potential.
In a gesture of appreciation, artist Vinita Verma presented Harnot with a specially curated ‘literary jhola’ and a poetry poster. The event witnessed the presence of several prominent literary enthusiasts and members of the intellectual community.
