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University Daily Kansan Thursday, March 30, 1961
Indian Prof. Tells Life of Pasternak
By Barbara Howell
"He was able to translate life into meaning in spite of tragedy."
These were the words of Amiry Chakravarty, former visiting professor of humanities at KU. The professor of comparative oriental relations of literature at Boston University spoke at a University Lecture yesterday on "The World of Boris Pasternak."
"Pasternak led a hard life full of inner struggle, but what kept him together as a man were the simple things. He enjoyed nature, for here he could find a sense of design or pattern," the Indian scholar-poet said.
Often it is hard for people to understand why he continued to live in Russia. But here was a man rooted so deeply into his country that he could not leave, he said.
"He loved the people and the country, and he felt strongly that someone should bear witness to the events of history. He lived among the people and saw all the simple things of life."
Also Pasternak saw the terrible things that were happening to his people, Prof. Chakravarty said. "Some of the graphically descriptive
passages in his novel, 'Dr. Zhivago', are called insane by critics. But when I asked Pasternak about this he said that writing as a reflection of the times must have a trace of insanity because it is the way of life in Russia."
Prof. Chakravarty said that the Russians tried for a long time to make Pasternak a Communist. Pasternak, however, has been quoted many times as saying, "They can tear me limb from limb but they will never make me a Communist. They might as well give up."
Many great scholars, Prof. Chakravarty said, hail Pasternak as the greatest translator of Shakespeare into any of the European languages. This was a particularly great accomplishment because of the dissimilarity with his own time, he added.
Prof. Chakravarty depicted Pasternak as an unusually sensitive and understanding man. He said that Pasternak felt a sense of sacredness in his vocation as an artist.
"In order to fight evil you must understand human nature as Pasternak does," Prof. Chakravarty concluded.
Harper's Editor Relates Author-Publisher Clash
Russell Lynes, managing editor of Harper's, discussed the different viewpoints of author and publisher at the Faculty Forum yesterday.
"All authors believe the publisher is getting rich off their work," Mr. Lynes said.
They also believe, he said, that a publisher can make any book a success if he puts his enthusiasm and pocketbook behind it.
Shifting to the publisher's viewpoint. Mr. Lynes said:
"Deeper than any of these convictions, is the author's belief in his own work," he said. "If it doesn't sell, blames the publisher."
Mr. Lynes said the designing of book jackets also created difficulties for him.
"What most people in a publishing house want the author to do besides not laying an egg is to go bother someone else."
"You would think the designing of a book jacket is very simple. It is. It's the re-designing that's hard."
Returning to authors, he said that every author wants to be different.
"If you don't believe this, look at the biography on a jacket. If the book is humorous, the publisher stresses the solemn background of the author."
Mr. Lynes said there is a popular
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"The skeletons in the publisher's closet are not those of authors who starved to death but those of authors who should have starved to death," Mr. Lynes said.
image of talented authors starving to death from lack of recognition. The publishers maintain that a good writer will always find a publisher.
He said the top best sellers are non-fiction.
He said Harper's published seven times more non-fiction than fiction. It publishes text books, Bibles, trade books and how-to-do-it books as well as fiction.
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William V. E. Doering, professor of organic chemistry at Yale University, will give the 13th annual Frank Burnett Dains Memorial Lecture at 4 p.m. tomorrow in Room 233, Malott Hall. His topic is, "Some Non-Benzenoid Possibly Aromatic Hydrocarbons."
Chemistry Lecture In Malott Tomorrow
U. Va. Voluntary Class-Going Fails
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—(UPI) —The University of Virginia's system of "permissive attendance" at class is flanking out.
Dean William L. Duren of the college of arts and sciences said Tuesday the university must revert to the old system of compulsory class attendance in freshman and sophomore years because 123 of the 671 first-year students now are on academic probation.
"It is evident," Dean Duren wrote in the student newspaper, "that many college students are either so immature or so lacking in real desire for a college education that they cannot make responsible decisions on when it is necessary to go to class and do all the assignments and when they can afford to omit some of the classes and exercises."
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Duren said he was "keenly disappointed" because he believed firmly that college students should not be required to attend all classes.
Design Club Shows Work at Union
Plans for the Allen Crafton Scholarship Fund have recently been made by KU alumni and friends of the founder of the University Theatre and first chairman of the department of Speech and Drama.
The fund will be in honor of Prof. Crafton's retirement this June.
Fund to Honor Allen Crafton
A BOARD OF directors has been formed to lead a drive for donations to the Fund. The announcement committee for the board is composed of five Lawrence residents. They are Rachel Bushong Calvin, Harold Harvey, Sally Six Hersh, Dolph Simons and Charles Stough. The committee describes the formation of the Fund as "the one way we can perpetuate the kind of help and spirit which Prof Crafton has furnished for so many years to so many of us."
KU Sociologist Gives Paper in Chicago
Charles K. Warriner, associate professor of sociology, will present a paper to the Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies today in Chicago. The paper entitled, "The Maratabat of the Maranao" is based on a study of the Maranaa, one of the Moro groups of the Philippines.
Prof. Warriner studied the Maranao while on a Fulbright Research Grant to the Philippines during 1958-59.
Why Not?
Contributions are to be sent to the Allen Crafton Scholarship Fund, 356 Murphy Hall. Results of this spring's drive, plus details of using the proceeds to aid KU students in the speech and dramatic arts, will be revealed on May 3, at the time of the Annual Honors Banquet of the Department of Speech and Drama.
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LOWESTOFT. England —(UPI)
—Two councillors named Davy and Jones belong to a committee to investigate damage done to Lowestoft's sea wall by high seas.
Creative work done by members of the Interior Design Club will be on display in the south lounge of the Kansas Union until Saturday.
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The exhibit contains examples of ceramics, silversmithing and architectural design, in addition to original interior design work. Student director of the exhibit is Jack Moulder, Warrenton, Mo., junior.
Qpen 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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