Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’
Book Name: DHARA DE KINGRE
Genre: Short Stories
Writer: Raj Rahi
Language:Dogri
Year of Publication: 2023
Cost:Rs 500
Publisher: Sarv Bhasha Trust, J-49, Street No.38, Rajapuri,Main Road, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi-110059.
Dogri short story is at par with the short stories being written in other languages and it has been critically proved by the critics even. The written Dogri literature is almost 80 years old now with Bhagwat Prasad Sathe having the privilege of becoming first short story writer with PEHLA PHULL, a collection of short stories published in 1947. But thereafter an addition to dogri short stories became a regular feature with Narender Khajuria, Ram Nath Shastri, Madan Mohan Sharma, Ved Rahi, Bandhu Sharma and others taking to the center stage. In the start of 21st century, a short story writer emerged on the scene thus marking a distinct position for him in literary arena. He is Raj Rahi.
About Author:
Raj Rahi is the pen name of Raj Kumar Sharma. He was born on February 7th’ 1959 in the family of Soma Devi and Dhani Ram Sharma at Reasi. He is a well-known dogri short story writer, known for his own style of knitting the plots into thought provoking stories. Although he started writing at a very early age buthis first collection of short stories entitled ‘JEENDA SHAHEED’ had created waves in literary circles particularly with the title story. Thereafter he came up with ASLI WAARIS, BOUNSRI DI TAAN, NAME TUNNEL all collections of short stories that helped him to carve a niche in dogri literature. In addition to these publications he has also written some plays like MADARI, BHAGYA VIDHATA, BOOND-BOOND PANIand have several articles and short stories published in different magazines like SHEERAJA Dogri, NAMI CHETNA, DOGRI TIMES, JAMMU PRABHAT etc. His stories have been translated in many languages like English, Hindi and Punjabi. For his collection of short stories NAME TUNNEL, he bagged prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2021 by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. DHARA DE KINGRE is his 5th collection of short stories.
About Book:
DHARA DE KINGRE is a collection of 18 short stories. Each story is different from other and takes the readers to a joyful journey but at the same time these stories force us to think over our responsibilities towards mankind. We may boast of our’Character’ but to what extent we come up to the expectations always remains a concern. The titles of stories are quite interesting and truly justify the contents therein.
The first story of the book PARANE JHAKHMEN DI PEER is a well knitted plot around those characters who exploited the poor masses in the past and ironically the corruption and child labour still persists although the characters might have changed, LAWARIS LAASH is a fine example of craft for which Raj Rahi is well known. It exposes the relations during corona virus epidemic when even family members were scared of the victims of the deadly disease and the warmth of closely associated ones took no time to fade away. DHARA DE KINGRE, the title story is a perfect symbol of love,very skillfully compared to nature thus exposing manipulation of fair sex by the wicked minds whereas KIDNAPPER is another interesting plot woven around the fast emerging distrust among human beings. How are we concerned for each other and how long the warmth of relations survives is ably interpreted through LOCKDOWN.
Raj Rahi is known for calling a spade a spade and is never scared of giving words to harsh realities of life. PHANGHE DE KABOOTAR is such a story that exposes the mindset of our society that the emotions shared with female gender has only sex angle whereas it’s more than the mere physical attraction.KAALKA DI SHILLI, another beautifully knitted concept is about the trap one may get in to knowingly or unknowingly, OH KOI AUR HI is about the everlasting love and DASMAN DARWAJA is a thought provoking story with certain questions being raised on our beliefs and Karma theory.
It is pertinent to add here that Raj Rahi knows the art of holding the nerves thus creating interest for the readers and the stories like BAKHRE-BAKHRE BHAGWAN with back drop of corona virus, DEVAK giving an account of hastily taken decisions, KHEERLA BARKA having plight of being caught in between Life & Death with emotions flowing at peak and PHATTE DE SIR AAHLA about the infamous riots in 1984 prove his skillas a celebrated story teller. He knows the art of leading his readers alongwith his created characters so that they should enjoy a ride together in amazing world of storytelling. Therest of the stories of the book like KUDE MILAK NEHI PEDI, EYE GHAR AE, KYA AE SACH AE, ALISHA DI NISHA and ZAROOR AUNG LAWARIS LAASH, DHARA DE KINGRE, KIDNAPPER, LOCKDOWN, PHANGHE DE KABOOTAR, KAALKA DI SHILLI, OH KOI AUR HI, DASMAN DARWAJA, BAKHRE-BAKHRE BHAGWAN, DEVAK, KHEERLA BARKA, PHATTE DE SIR AAHLA, KUDE MILAK NEHI PEDI, EYE GHAR AE, KYA AE SACH AE, ALISHA DI NISHA and ZAROOR AUNGalso come up to the expectations of readers as well as critics for their unique concepts and treatment.
Raj Rahi knows the nerve of the readers and does not confuse them with excessive usage of symbols and images. Rather he holds their hands and takes them on a journey wherein they themselves undergo the ups and downs thus experiencing the ecstasy and plight of the characters. His stories flow smoothly in simple language while touching the innermost of the reader directly or indirectly thus building up a strange connection. His stories arouse curiosity which is the success of any story. If a reader starts reading his story book, then he or she is forced to go through it in one go which shows that writer has succeeded in connecting with the reader.The writer has dedicated this book in the memory of his mother. He says that although she has left for heavenly abode but is still in his memories and will live forever as an inspiration and a guide. The book has strange but an appropriate preface in just 7 words that instigate the readers saying “why not to read the stories and make the forewords themselves”. The cover page of the book is very attractive and symbolic. Those who wish to read good stories and enjoy the creative journey with familiar characters in familiar environment, then this book is highly recommended.
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