Says Gumani Book by - Charu Chandra Pande
Lok Nath or Lok Ratna Pant 'Gumani' (1791 to 1846 is undoubtedly the most outstanding and prolific Kumaoni poet of the Nineteenth Century. Indeed, one must hasten to add, categorising him as a KUmoani poet would be doing him an injustice- he wrote with equal ease and dexterity in kumaoni, nepali, sanskrati and Hindi. By now it has been proved beyond doubt that he was among the first Hindi poet to use 'Khariboli' in verse- writing, as did, almost half a century before the better known Bharatendu Harishchandra, who has born four years after his death, Gumani was contemporary of Mola Ram (1743-1833), the great poet, painter and historian of Uttarakhand.
Another interesting fact is that Gumani had witnessed of three set of rulers - the Gorkhas, the British and the Tehri King. We find graphic description of the condition during their rule in Gumani's witty and, often sarcastic poem. Moreover, he paints interesting and vivid pictures about life in the hills during good times and during famine, the plight of widows, the flora and universal truths associated with human nature in his works.
'Says Gumani' is PAHAR's first publication in English, which deals with a literary personality and his times. It is in the fitness of things that this maiden venture should deal with a man of Gumani's stature.
The booklet is written by one of the best known kumoani poet of our time Shri Charu Pande (born in kasun village of Almora in 1923, who is well versed in the rhythms of Kumoani poetry. An innovative teacher, musician and student of comparative literature, Shri Pande is a rare combination of many qualities. His book on the famous nationalist poet Gaurda is well known and the collection of his Kumaoni poem 'Angwal was well received by Kumaoni speaking people.
PAHAR wishes him a long creative life.
