“Sethu represents a very meaningful metaphor in the treasure chest of India’s heritage. Even at the risk of sounding archival, I would like to share with you an adage in Sanskrit, which illumines the functional-teleological range and rationale of building Sethus: Sethubandhanam Sarvaranjanam; Sethubandhanam Margasadhanam; Sethubandhanam Snehakaranam; Sethubandhanam Vihita-taram; Sadabhavyam Sadadivyam; Sadasatyam Sanatanam (May bridges be built to secure welfare and happiness of all; to blaze new trails and facilitate passages; for the cause of affection among individuals and groups and for goodwill among nations and peoples; for salvaging that which matters; let this Sethu ever be magnificent and always graced by divine purpose; let it always represent the eternal truths enshrined in the enduring and universal vision of India.)”

Sadly, Dr Singhvi did not receive full recognition for his multifarious service to the nation. But that did not stop him from continuing to enrich our public life by serving the causes that he held dear, including some that would seem like lost causes. For instance, I cannot think of many persons of his eminence who would take an essentially honorary editorial position at a small-circulation Hindi literary journal as seriously as he did by writing, month after month, 5,000-word comments on issues that the mainstream ‘national media’ scarcely bothers about.

He wrote passionately about the need to introduce good Indian writing from one language to another through high-quality translation and publication. He poured out his anguish and anger at the falling reading habits among consumerism-obsessed middle and upper classes in Hindi-speaking states, even describing as “criminal” their slumber and passivity in preserving the literary heritage in their mother tongue.

... contd.