Garhwali Poetry tour through Dhanga se Sakshatkar
Critical and Chronological History of Modern Garhwali (Asian) Poetry – 112 B
(Forwarding note from Rajendra Dhashmana on a poetry collection by Netra Singh Aswal)
Translation: Bhishma Kukreti
( Dhanga se sakshatkar a Garhwali language poetry collection of Netra Singh Aswal is one of the mile stones in Garhwali poetry world . The author wanted to write review on this poetry collection and when he read the commentary of Rajendra Dhashmana, the translator felt that it is the best for Garhwali language that the author (translator) translates the review of Rajendra Dhashmana. This author never saw such intelligent and precise commentary in Garhwali language as Rajendra Dhashmana did. When this author met Rajendra Dhashmana in Mumbai, he told Rajendra Dhashmana that social works of Dhashmana snatched a remarkable creative and critic from Garhwali language. You will also vouch the author that had Rajendra been in Garhwali literature than social works he would have given marvelous literature to Garhwali language)
Garhwalis started creating modern poetry from around 1850.Inspired by Hindi movement, the Garhwali creative writers created poetries on the line of Hindi poetries. The Garhwali poets used all the poetic styles and figure of speech of Sanskrit and Hindi. Usually, Garhwali verse creator who worked more on the form of poetry was called great poet of his time.
The above situation remains for many decades. It is also found that barring a couple of Garhwali words, the words were of Hindi. This situation of copying style, form, wordings, figure of speeches from Hindi and Sanskrit was never found in Garhwali folk songs or lore or rarely established. Garhwali folk songs and lore were original in form, style and subject. Copying form, style, poetic styles from outside, the Garhwali poems could not get originality nor could attract the readers due to lacking of Garhwalism or Garhwali taste.
As said before, Garhwali poets started trying creating Garhwali poetry in vese form from 1850, we may enjoy the verses of Chandramohan Raturi in his collections of poetry “Devva’ and ‘Virah vasant Vilap” published in the beginning of twentieth century. Taradutt Gairola says that Raturi is Keats of Garhwali poetry .
(However, here, Bhishma Kukreti blames Chandra Mohan Raturi for diluting Garhwali language by Hindi words and making Garhwali literature the slave of Hindi and Sanskrit. The titles of His poetry collection Devvan and Virah Vasant Vilap are no where of Garhwali words.) . Pundit Satysharan Raturi and Atmaran Gairola were also top most Garhwali poets of that time. These poets criticized unwanted social customs , selfishness, and poverty. Poems as ‘Suryodya’, ‘Betuli’, and Panchhi -Panchak’ of Atmaram Gairola were very popular poems of his time. Since, these versifiers were well acquainted with Sanskrit , English and Hindi, their way of versification was same as the poets of these languages.
However, the subject of struggle in life of common man is missing in the poems of this era. Read the examples of a couple of poems of that initial time of modern Garhwali poetry:
Savinay ‘gadhwali’ ya chh vinti hamari
Nij nij tum apno swarth yaro sambhalo
Vipul dhan kamala pas dig run ka leva
Unnati tab chha sara desh ki hun wali
---Atmaram Gairola
Swadesh ka hetu videsh java
Vidya nayi jo sabi seekhi ava
--------------Devendra Dutt Raturi
Let us pay attention on the verses of Gairola
Naunyal pyara chhan jo tumara
Sada vichara ar murkh bhair
Bhuka pyasa maila kuchaila
Kulli! Pahadi !firdan desu
The poet was more bothered about knowledge gaining for English and earning money. For that matter, if people go foreign country , the poet does not have any opposition.
No poets of that era did not think about the medium of education and earning should be in rural Garhwal.
However, today’s poets are more vociferous and effective for the same matter:
Mi vides jan de tu
Chain gaffa kahn de tu
Kuchh kamai lhan de tu
Fir Jhumailo jaj
Logun ka bhand mathaili
Par lagal jel jaili
Thokryon man din bitaili
Tu vides ni ja
Raunla raunla dagdi raunla
Rukho sukho jan bhi kahunla
Jhumka todla geet gaula
-----------Kankal from Phur Ghindudi
Iyun dandyun bati/gaul gauli
Baug/baugi saub undu janu chha
Tai roka
Na ho tab/kai din
Ham sab gaul jan /ham bi baug jan
-------------Lalit Keshwan
Up to, certain extent, most of the poets of older generation (before independence) performed their role as “Master Ji ‘(preacher or teacher). These poets took the responsibilities for teaching/preaching -“what to do, when to do, what not to do, how to become gentleman , what are better things, , how to create poetry ….”. These teacher a could not recognize the reality of their time. Atmaram Gairola commented adversely on freedom movement thinking that the rule of Tihri Maharaj is as Swaraj :
Swaraj vasta chhan jan mal
Nyochhawar karna roana chillana
Kapali fodna pai ni sakana
Syo raj hamku chha milun milayun
Let be there attention on Gairola ji’s these lines, wherein he praises English Raj:
Garhwal ka tu hitkarni chai
Teri kripa se such chain sabku
Leeladutt Kotnala wrote a poem praising Lord Ripen :
Bharat ka tol sab bharat ka tol
He lat ripan tero raige bol
Bharat badhai sab bharat badhai
Jab bati ai sab gharu gharu gyai
The poets of Tihri Raj-Bhakt or devoted to British rule wrote the chivalry poems praising soldiers not for the benefits of Garhwal, Garhwali or Garhwalism but with an intention that Garhwalis would choose British armed forces.
From this point, the poems of next generation were more sophisticated and with fantasy. The poems ‘Sadei’ of Tardutt Gairola, ‘Paun Tu’ of Yogendra Puri, ‘Dundo’ of Chakradhar Bahuguna and Beera of Jeetsingh Negi are the heritage of Garhwali poetry.
The poems ‘kakh holi meri dnadi va kanthi’of Shridhar dobhal and ‘Rami Baurani’ of Baldev Prasad bamsu’Deen’ became very popular.
Bhajan Singh ‘Singh’ is important signature in Garhwali poetry world but he never could digest the change in structural forms happening Garhwali poetry. No doubt, Bhajan Singh ‘Singh’ played a great role in cultural awrness in Garhwali society. Though, his couplets (Doha) are of old style and form but they prooved to be very sharp in criticizing ‘poverty’, ‘bad customs’, and bias. Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna also has same capacity and style as of Bhajan Singh ‘Singh’ (This is written about earlier work of Bahuguna) .
From late eighties and early nineties , many poetry collections were published but there have not been any significant evolution in Garhwali poetry. Definitely, a couple of poets tries to connect their verses with the time. There is satire and strength from language angle in the poems of Kanhaya Lal Dandariyal but he lacks strong identity because of his using dual language (Hindi and Garhwali)
Vinod Uniyal and Netra Singh Aswal are trying to pay attention on temperament and disposition in the poems than the structure and form or decorative poetry creation. In past, there have been many trials for changing the for and style.
Let us talk on the poetry collection of Netra Singh Aswal:
Though, each person feels perplexed after many thoughts emerging in mind. However, there are few who can reach to the root cause of disorder or hassles. There are people could be counted on fingers who feel restlessness for the thought of worry . The poet is a gene who feels restlessness for mishappening and his emotions comes out from mind in the form of poetry. In fact, creation of poetry is fight against those powers who are busy in weakening the humanity. Those powers are trying to convert humanity into commodity for market or bazaar. Netra Singh tells about what is poem:
Hwa at in hwa -
Jyanl bagat pun par
Tudai saka-mankhya-bagha dant
Netra Singh becomes frustrated on coy cats who don’t find new ways or don’t fight for their rights:
Namesake un khuni
Ju vote denai chhan-deendai jana chhan
Phir kapali par hath lagai phatt phatt
Hyali gadi gadik
Loktantra khuni runa chhan
Aswal tries to change the path of Garhwali poetry in second part of this collection. In these poems his virility and splendor is clearly visible:
Hamari chari taraf
lagni rai aag
Ar ham tahin sunana rain-swala bhwada ka geet
Dhungla pakanau khikchat
Ham mundane raun
Ar hamar kandud putak kuchyana rain
Shudh hunai mantar
We may find sharp satire in his poems written on conventional style in first part of this collection. The style, subject and tone are capable to awaken the readers. ‘Nirgut chhaun’ chhwwara, ma, poems have dreadfully prickly lampoon. In my opinion the poem should be aimed on a conference than non-alignment principle of India because non-alignment is our foreign policy. No body criticized our foreign policy of non alignment . Jikudi ma jamghat is also very powerful poem of awakening the readers and disturbing them.
Gazals. from the point of views of vajan, kafia, radif are satisfactory but still, a few gazals are nearer to geet and najam . In Garhwali, we should call Gazal as Ganjeli ( pestle ) because Gazal also hit by last stanza as last part of pestle.
‘namesake‘, myara desai tasveer, govind hun chhaun, kranti ar ek dhanga se saxatkar poems are very sharp, capable of hitting the mischievousness.
These poems are attractive and enjoyable
Ek Dhanga Se Saxatkar
By
Netra Singh Aswal
Publisher:
Gadhbharti
New delhi
Year of publication-1988
Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, 2016
Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Songs, Modern Garhwali Folk Verses, Asian Modern Poetries, Poems Contemporary Poetries, Contemporary folk Poetries from Garhwal; Development of Modern Garhwali Folk Songs, Poems, South Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Verses, Modern Poetries, Contemporary Poetries, Contemporary folk Poetries Poems from Pauri Garhwal; Modern Garhwali Folk Songs, Modern Garhwali Folk Verses, Poems , Modern Poetries, Contemporary Poetries, Contemporary folk Poetries from Chamoli Garhwal; Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Songs, Modern Garhwali Folk Verses, Poems, Asian Modern Poetries, Contemporary Poetries, Poems folk Poetries from Rudraprayag Garhwal Asia; Modern Garhwali Folk Songs, , Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Verses, Modern Poetries, Contemporary Poetries, Contemporary folk Poetries from Tehri Garhwal, Asia ; Poems, Inspirational and Modern Garhwali Folk Songs, Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Verses, Modern Poetries, Contemporary Poetries, Contemporary Folk Poetries from Uttarkashi Garhwal; , Modern Garhwali Folk Songs, Modern Garhwali Folk Verses, Poems, Asian Modern Poetries, Asian Poems, Asian Contemporary Poetries, Contemporary folk Poetries Poems from Dehradun Garhwal; Famous Asian Poets, Famous South Asian Poet , Famous SAARC Countries Poet , Famous Asian Poets of Modern Time,
पौड़ी गढ़वाल, उत्तराखंड से गढ़वाली लोकगीत , कविता ; चमोली गढ़वाल, उत्तराखंड से गढ़वाली लोकगीत , कविता ; रुद्रप्रयाग गढ़वाल, उत्तराखंड से गढ़वाली लोकगीत , कविता ;टिहरी गढ़वाल, उत्तराखंड से गढ़वाली लोकगीत , कविता ;उत्तरकाशी गढ़वाल, उत्तराखंड से गढ़वाली लोकगीत , कविता ; देहरादून गढ़वाल, उत्तराखंड से गढ़वाली लोकगीत , कविता ; Asian Poems for ; South Asian Poems for ; Indian Poems for ; North Indian Poems for ; Himalayan Poems for
स्वच्छ भारत , सफल भारत , गढ़वाली भाषा युक्त गढ़वाल