Lalit Gupta
Book Title: Doyens of Dogri Literature
Author: O. P. Sharma
Pages: 195
Price: Rs 700/
Publisher: Star Syndicate Service, Janipur, Jammu
Written by veteran journalist and writer Om Prakash Sharma the book, ‘Doyens of Dogri Literature’ not only serves as a tribute to luminaries of modern Dogri literature but also highlights their pivotal role in bringing Dogri to the national forefront.
First of its kind, compilation of the author’s personal interviews with award-winning Dogri writers/poets from 1970 till 2023, the book offers a rich perspective on their lives and contribution to the development of modern Dogri and literature.
Dogri’s development as a modern language when Persian-laden Urdu was the official language of Jammu and Kashmir was initiated during the pre-independence fervour of nationalism by a group of young Dogras in 1944. The resolve of the determined group of Dogra writers and activists, beginning with figures like Ram Nath Shastri, D.C. Prashant, Sansar Chand Baru, Dinu Bhai Pant and others to revive and promote Dogri soon initiated a Renaissance movement. More and more Dogra writers writing in Urdu and Hindi shifted to writing in Dogri.
From 1944 to 1969 Dogri writers/poets/playwrights/scholars fashioned an impressive corpus of creative works in genres such as poems, songs, ghazal, epics, short stories, novels, essays, biographies, autobiographies/memoirs, dramas, satires, works of criticism. As a result, in 1969 the national body of literature, the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, recognized Dogri as one of the major languages of India. It was long before Dogri was recognized by the 92nd Amendment of the Constitution of India in 2003 and included in its Eighth Schedule.
Sahitya Akademi’s recognition opened the door for consideration for the works of Dogri literature for Sahitya Akademi’s Award, the literary honour in India which Sahitya Akademi annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages recognized by the Akademi.
From 1970 to 2023, 50 writers/poets have received Sahitya Akademi Awards. No award was given in 1973, 1993 and 1998. In 1985, eminent Dogri writer Desh Bandhu Nutan Dogra, awarded for his novel ‘Qaidi’, refused to accept the Sahitya Akademi award. Since the honour is bestowed upon the book, even if the author refuses the award (it has happened several times in the past) or returns it, the book that has been selected will, apparently, forever retain its honour. In a truly liberated sense, thus, the Sahitya Akademi awards honour the work of its author.
The anthology of interviews based on 50 articles on Sahitya Akademi Awardees in Dogri, reveals interesting information about the ‘genre’ of the awarded books. The distribution of 50 awards falls into: Poetry/Epic-24, Short Story-11, Novel-7, Play/Drama-5, Essays- 3 and Travelogue-1.
The above data on literary genres reveals that major trends in modern Dogri literature initially reflect the deep influence of age-old narrative traditions. It was to these folk traditions that the first generation of Dogra literary luminaries looked up for inspiration. As a result, early works of modern Dogri works reflected upon social reality with folklore as the source of their writing. They derived unique inspiration from oral literature, myth, folk belief and customs, which find expression in their writings; thus establishing an organic relationship between oral and written literature. At the same, the awarded works of recent decades reveal the writer’s willingness to experiment with new styles and genres.
The book significantly offers a laconic overview of the evolution of modern Dogri through the lives and creative works of 50 luminaries who played a critical role in shaping the literary landscape of the Dogri language. These include Narendra Khajuria, the first Sahitya Akademi award winner for his short stories collection ‘Nila Amber Kale Badal’, Dogri’s poet laureate Padma Sachdev for ‘Meri Kavita Mere Geet’, Dogri’s first novelist Srivats Vikal for Phull Bina Dali, followed by stalwarts Madan Mohan Sharma, Krishan Smailpuri, Ram Nath Shastri, Kehri Singh Madhukar, Narshingh Jamwal, O.P. Sharma Sarthi, Kunwar Jogi, Jatendra Udhampuri, Deshbandhu Dogra Nutan, Ved Rahi, Shiv Ram Deep, Dinoo Bhai Pant, Om Goswami, Prakash Premi and all other Sahitya Akademi awardees till 2023, including among these is the Mohan Singh who at the age of 23 years got the national honour for book of plays Apni Dafli Apna Rag,.
The salient features of the book include its thoughtful layout that speaks of the author’s artistic interventions. The gutter space after every article instead of being left blank, is filled up with photographs Jammu’s historical and modern monuments symbolizing the region’s cultural and developmental progress.
The reader-friendly aspect of the book is the year-wise list of all Sahitya Akademi Awardees along with their photographs. The book also features ‘messages’ from prominent citizens, adding a layer of gravitas and appreciation of author’s work. These include Dr Karan Singh, Prof Umesh Rai, VC, University of Jammu, Dr Sudhir Bloeria, (IAS Retd), K.B. Jandiyal, Former Member J&K Public Service Commission, Dr Kasturi Lal, Ex-Principal, Govt. Medical College Jammu, Neeraj Rometra, Executive Editor, Daily Excelsior, Prof. Rajni Kant, Vice Chancellor, Tagore University, Bhopal, and many other well-known literary personalities.
The book not only highlights the literary achievements of Dogri writers, language and literature but also serves as a testament to O.P. Sharma’s deep association with the cultural developments of Jammu. Ultimately, ‘Doyens of Dogri Literature’ is an essential read for those interested in the development of Dogri as a modern language and its literary traditions. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of writers and the language they championed.
The post A Reader’s Guide to Sahitya Akademi Awardees in Dogri appeared first on Daily Excelsior.