** A literary celebration: Profaner Ananda by Sami Tchak and Annie Ferret **
In his new work, “Profaner Ananda”, the Franco-Togolese novelist Sami Tchak, in collaboration with Annie Ferret, offers an intimate and reflexive exploration of the work of the Mauritian writer Ananda Devi. If the choice of title can arouse questions, in particular on the idea of desecration, Tchak and Ferret are in reality in a process of celebration and re -evaluation of the literary immensity of Ananda Devi.
The concept of “desecration” is debated by Tchak himself, who insists that to desecrate, we must first recognize the sacred character of the author. Thus, this term raises reflections on the very nature of respect and admiration that can be brought to a leading literary figure. It is an act which, far from reducing the value of the work, seeks to explore its contours, make it accessible and discuss its depth. The book is therefore part of a critical dialogue which questions the impact of Ananda Devi’s work, in turn in the construction of a respectful and fundamental literary myth.
The idea of this project, which turned into a four -handed story, found its origin in a call from an American university review. What started as an academic initiative has gradually enriched mutual reflections from two writers who share a deep admiration for the work of Devi. By testifying to their literary complicity, Tchak and Ferret underline the interactions that exist between their respective productions, insisting on the importance of creative exchanges. This relationship expands, deepens and engages both a reading and a reinterpretation of Ananda Devi’s texts.
Sami Tchak tells how he discovered Ananda Devi’s literature, having read his novel “Me, the prohibition” over twenty years ago. This initial meeting with his work marked the beginning of a broader approach, where reading has become a quest to deepen feelings and emotions conveyed by Devi. Through this perspective, Tchak affirms that he finds in the writing of Devi a source of inspiration and an invitation to a permanent dialogue, a quest for friendship and sorority which transcends the simple academic framework.
This literary friendship, according to Tchak, is installed in a space where the exchange of manuscripts and discussions on literature create a fertile environment for creativity. Moreover, this idea of friendship, which feeds on a complicity in writing, can be understood as a reflection of the notions of solidarity and sharing present within the African and diaspric literary environment. By supporting each other, writers like Tchak and Devi contribute to the enrichment of their works while promoting literature as a vector of cultural exchange.
The book “Profaner Ananda” aims not only to highlight Devi’s work, but also to explore the social and existential themes that animate its stories. This then raises essential questions on the ability of literature to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, while initiating a collective reflection on identity, memory and spirituality.
Thus, by approaching this literary dynamic with three voices, Tchak and Ferret invite readers to a rereading of the work of Ananda Devi, allowing them to explore often forgotten dimensions. Their exchanges are then intended to reconnect with a literary tradition while brushing a resolutely modern portrait of the Mauritian writer.
In conclusion, “Profaner Ananda” presents itself as a rich work which, beyond its provocative title, is part of a process of literary devotion, where respect and criticism combine to offer a nuanced and deep vision of the writer and his work. This is a call for reconnection with voices which, although sometimes on the fringes of dominant discourses, have an essential scale and power to understanding the current literary world.