Great Garhwali Personality
Daya Shankar Bhatt :Analyzer and Writer of Musical Script of Garhwali Folk Songs
Bhishma Kukreti
There are few great personalities who silently work for the whole nation but get lesser credit than what they deserve . Daya Shankar Bhatt is such personality whose contribution is incredible , whose work is amazing and worthier than donation of billions . A couple of young Garhwalis will know his contribution but persons as late Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal, late Bhakt Darshan (ex- central minister ) late Arjun Singh Gusain, Dr Hari Datt Bhatt Shailesh or Professor Radha Ballabh Dobhal always applauded about his contribution to Garhwali folk music. Till the sun shines, Garhwalis always remember the name of Daya Shankar Bhatt for his immense service in Garhwali folk literature
Daya Shankar Bhatt was born on 14th October 1905 in village Falswadi, Patti-Sitaunsyun, Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand . He completed his initial study in Pauri and then in Dehradun
From Dehradun, Daya Shankar shifted to Lahor and taught there Hindi in many schools. He had more interest in poems and music. He used to publish his poetries by the name of ‘Bandi’
In Lahor, Bhatt came in contact with many revolutionary personalities and became dedicated freedom fighter.
From 1938-1947 he worked in Garhwal for freedom movement and was jailed for many times by British ruler .
After independence , Daya Shankar Bhatt became teacher in Dehradun and became dedicated social worker of Dehradun
Daya Shankar Bhatt wrote following books
1- Ahon men
2-Agyat sainik
3-Gaon ki or
4- Gadh chunar
5- Spandan
6- Divy sangeet
Unfortunately, Bhatt could not publish his books
From Garhwali folk literature point of view, his contribution is amazing that Bhatt wrote the Musical Script of Garhwali Folk songs as he was expert of classical music too. Daya Shankar wrote Musical Script for almost all the available folk songs (Divy Sangeet) as following folk songs are a few examples to mention:
A- mangal geet (ban deen dain) - Ken hoi ken hoi Dhauli kaujyal
B- Gaura devi Nayan Baithin ch
C= Jando ni chhaun pachhyandio ni chhaun (dhuli arg geet)
D- Ko chhe tu Chaurade Sukilo (Chaunfala geet)
E-nandu Tyaru dadu ka Jayun ch (Chaunfala geet)
F-Meri Devi Jwalpa (Chaufla )
G-Talya syara Simi Syara malya syar gijar (mela nrity geet)
H-Badiyon ki bhumyadey (samuhik Chetana ka geet)
Daya Shankar bhatt and keshav Anuragi are the only two great personalities who worked to initiate the research on finding the classical music tone in Garhwali folk songs They both worked for many years in Dehradun on folk music of Garhwal.
Unfortunately, both could not publish their works on book forms
Daya Shankar Bhatt expired on 3rd March 1982 in Dehradun
Whenever, there will be talk and research for folk songs of Garhwal, people will always remember Daya Shankar Bhatt along with Keshav Anuragi
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti bckukreti@gmail.com