Littcrit Celebrates its Golden Jubilee

Littcrit is completing 50 years of its existence in 2025. When it was first launched in March 1975 with the title, ‘Onlooker’, edited by P. K. Rajan and printed at Samrdhi Printers owned by Sri. K. Narendran, the journal did not specifically state its aims and objectives though it was founded on certain firm convictions related to its role in the literary praxis of that period. The contents list of the first issue begins with a poem, ‘What is Poetry?’ by K. R. Sreenivasa Iyengar followed by articles by K. Ayyappa Panicker, K. S. Ramamurthi, S. Mokeshi Punecker and poems by Shiv K. Kumar. Many stalwarts including Terry Eagleton, Mulk Raj Anand, K.R. Sreenivasa Iyyengar, Geetha Hariharan, Malini Bhattacharya, Mihir Bhattacharya, M.K. Naik, Ayyappa Panikker, to mention a few published articles in this journal. Dr. Rajan, in the Editor’s note, surveys the growth of Littcrit during the 25 years in 2000. In his own words:

Littcrit completes twenty-five years in 2000. When it was launched in a modest way in Madurai in 1975, the situation –literary, cultural, and academic --was very different from what it is now. Much water has flowed under the bridge, and the journal has somehow managed to survive and play its role. The consolation is that, while a number of little magazines came up and disappeared in no time, Littcrit could remain in the field along with a few other pioneering periodicals. At its inception, when there was a lot of uncertainty, many distinguished writers came forward to co-operate with the venture by offering their contributions [. . . ] During this span of 25 years, Littcrit has sought to discover new talent among young scholars and present them to the world of scholarship [. . .] Journals of this orientation are faced with numerous problems in the present circumstances. Nevertheless, the Editorial Committee of Littcrit is making an effort to ensure that the journal continues to be published without interruption. With twenty-five years of experience, Littcrit will aim at greater achievements, both in its reach and its qualitative inputs. (Littcrit June, December 2000)

The publication of the 100th issue of Littcrit can be seen as a landmark in the context of the low life expectancy of literary journals of this sort published from India. So naturally this is an occasion to ponder over the beginning and growth of Littcrit and its relevance in the present context. It is important to identify the role of Littcrit along with other literary journals and celebrate the historic moment. During the past 50 years Littcrit tried to move ahead of the time and attempted to promote fresh ways of looking at the world. The interdisciplinary nature of the articles published in Littcrit reveals the journal’s journey towards a cultural understanding of literature. In fact, long before the popular assertion on the sociological and political nature of literary studies, Littcrit insisted on the study of the interrelationship between literature and social life. Littcrit is committed to “promote theoretical inquiries with a historical orientation relating to problems of literature and arts.” The vision and committed efforts of Prof. P.K. Rajan, the founder editor of the journal has been carried forward all through these years by the editorial board. Littcrit is planning to organise several programmes to commemorate the rare fete of completion of 50 years of excellence during 2024-2025. We are thankful to all those who supported us during moments of crisis and solicit the participation of all well-wishers in the various activities being organised as part of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Littcrit.