Dickens turns 200 amid celebrations

Had Charles Dickens - the greatest novelist of Victorian period- been alive, he would have celebrated his 200th birth anniversary on Tuesday.

Even though Dickens is not alive, he continues to live in the hearts of zillions of people whom he inspire through his ever-so-great and iconic literary masterpieces. His interesting characters never cease to amuse people of all age and across the world.

While children are mesmerized by the likes of Oliver Twist and David Copperfield, the grown up feel the same about Hard Times, Great Expectations and A Tale of two Cities etc. Dickens, somehow, has some thing or the other to offer to everyone.

Amalgamation of realism, fantasy, comedy, mastery of prose, unique personalities and concern for social reform, his works have found their way into academic curriculum apart from being adapted into various films and television series.

Born Landport, in Portsea, his father was a clerk in the Navy Pay-office and he was second of eight children, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. Faced with immense financial crisis, he spent his childhood outdoors but read avidly as well. He was fond of the picaresque novels of Tobias Smollett and Henry Fielding.

From 'The Pickwick Papers'- his first full novel- to 'A Christmas Carol' and 'A Tale of Two Cities', Dickens have proved his mettle in all sorts of genres and styles. It is very unlikely that the world, at large, will ever get to see an author so prolific and yet so real.

To mark the 200th birthday of this beacon of literature, celebrations and festivities all across the world has been planned.

A wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens will take place in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey on Tuesday besides the visit by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to the Charles Dickens museum.

An international celebration of life and works of Dickens called 'Dickens 2012' is also being organized. It will comprise of institutions and organizations from all over the world as partners of Dickens 2012 and work together to deliver a programme of events and activities to commemorate this very special anniversary.

At the same time, British Council's 24 hour 'Global Dickens Read-a-thon' will take place in 24 countries from Albania to Zimbabwe. It is likely to begin in Australia with a reading from 'Dombey and Son'.

The week will also see an innovative cross-platform project titled 'Dickens in London' being aired on Radio 4 and online apart from the three new short films from London film-makers and commissioned by Film London that will also be screen at the event hosted by the BFI's 'Dickens on Screen' co-curator Adrian Wotton.

A special newspaper called Dickens Newspaper will also be launched as a part of the celebrations. The content of the newspaper will largely be based on the works by the author; however, it will also explore his impact in changing the reading patterns of the public during his time.

A Bicentenary Dinner at Mansion House will include will include Dickensian entertainment including readings by Sir Patrick Stewart (A Christmas Carol) and musical performances by West End Kids.

Penguins Classics, an acclaimed publishing organization, will declare the result of its competition to find the nation's favourite Dickens character - Miss Havisham or the Artful Dodger.

Special celebrations at his Celebrations at his birthplace in the city will include a special ceremony, a thanksgiving service at St Mary's Church with readings from Simon Callow and Sheila Hancock and a Victorian street market.

Not only in Britian, but celebrations will take place all over the world including Miriam Margolyes's performance of her acclaimed 'Dickens' Women' show at the Glen Street Theatre in Sydney as part of the show's Australian tour, 'The Mysteries of Charles Dickens' exhibition at Museum Strauhof in Zurich, Switzerland and the 'Charles Dickens at 200' runs until 12 Feb at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York among others.

Even a special Google doodle has been created to mark this special day. The Doodle displays characters from the author's Victorian era novels including the acclaimed Scrooge from 'A Christmas Carol', and Pip from 'Great Expectations'. Clicking on the Doodle leads to a Google Books search results page listing Dickens´ works.

Dickens will continue to live thousands of years and many generations to come will continue to sing the praises of this great man.

(Writing by Vatsal Verma)