Rajeshwar Singh Raju
Prof. Lalit Magotra is a well-known Dogri, Hindi and English writer. He was awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011 for his collection of memoirs CHETEN DIYAN GALIYAN. For his collection of short stories ZAMEEN and HELLO MAYA, he has been awarded with best book award by J & K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages in 2000 and 2011 respectively. He is also the recipient of State Award by J & K Government and senior fellowship in literature from Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India. He is a role model for many not as a celebrated short story writer, critic and poet only but as an organizer also. The way he has performed as President Dogri Sanstha Jammu for more than 24 years now, proves his organizational skills. He believes in accomplishing every task with conviction and has helped the organization to emerge as a strong voice for mother tongue Dogri and cultural heritage of Duggar Pradesh. It will be appropriate to add here that we come across only a few people in life from whose company we get positive vibes. He is one among them and is always full of positivity. I think his background as a scientist might help him in becoming a more practical person, who knows the basic truth that only work speaks in the long run. Recently he has been conferred with Padmashri, fourth highest civilian award of Republic of India. Here is an excerpt of his candid interview with Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’.
Rajeshwar: Congrats Sir for the great honour. It’s in fact an honour for mother tongue Dogri and entire Duggar Pradesh. How do you feel when others comment that it’s a welcome step by Government of India, but taken a little bit late.
Lalit Magotra: Thank You Rajeshwar Raju. I also feel that the honour that I have received is by virtue of my being a Dogri writer, hence definitely Padmashri is the honor of my mother tongue Dogri and I feel fortunate to have been born a Dogra. I have absolutely no regret that I have received this honor late in life. On the contrary I think of much more senior and deserving dogri writers who did not receive this honour like VedRahi, Dinu Bhai Pant, Kehri Singh Madhukar, Ved Pal Deep and many others. Hence I have no justification for feeling regret for the honour coming merely late to me.
Rajeshwar: Padmashri is a prestigious award. As you are a strong voice for mother tongue Dogri and cultural traditions of the region, such an honour brings even more expectations from the language lovers.
Lalit Magotra: Of course, it does. The award has been conferred on me by Government of India and I take the Government as representative of the society. In that sense I consider this award as the expression of the appreciation of the society for the work I have done and am doing.If the society has appreciated my work and honored me for that, certainly I will not disappoint my society. I will continue working with the same vigour and enthusiasm and will try to do even better.
Rajeshwar: When it comes to use a platform to propagate your view point and raise a concern for own existence as a proud Dogra, you need to have that extra skill and courage as an orator with intellectual mindset. You have been proving the same for the last so many years now. Do you foresee any emerging voice as a substitute so that the torch you carry will move forward by the future generation with the same instinct?
Lalit Magotra: Thank you Rajeshwar for your appreciative words. My hope for future emanates from the abundant talent and potential that I see in the generation younger to me. It is a fact of history that situations and circumstances have always thrown up new leaders which have proved to be better than the previous ones. Without naming any particular individual, I do see many younger colleagues who have immense potential.
Rajeshwar: You are regarded as one of the celebrated short story writers in Dogri language and have carved a niche with colossal contributions in this particular genre. As you hail from a scientific background, your stories have a connect of the same which is rarely found in others’ works in Dogri language. But for the last so many years now, you seem to be in love with poetry and the basic instinct for short story writing seems to have fallen apart for the time being. Jokes apart, any significant reason for your growing affection for poetry?
Lalit Magotra: Rajeshwar, Thank you for asking me this question. A turn from short story writing to poetry in the graph of writing has many time made me to introspect on this phenomenon. By the way, I have not abandoned writing short stories, I have recently written a couple of them. But Yes, I, certainly am more attracted to writing poetry recently. After pondering on this issue I feel it is because short stories provide details whereas poetry provides the essence. I also feel that with the advancement of age you are more fascinated with the essence than the details, it could possibly be the reason for the change. But surely, I love writing poetry.
Rajeshwar: If I have the liberty of using a word which could be synonymous with your name backed by your tireless commitment and passion for mother tongue, then the obvious choice would be Dogri Sanstha. You seem to complement each other and are in fact synonym to each other as well. Your take on my input.
Lalit Magotra: This is also a very interesting question. I came in contact with Dogri Sanstha in the early nineteen seventies. Today, when I think back, I feel that it was the love at the first sight. Sanstha to me is an embodiment of an Idea and I love that “Idea”. Those who wish to know what that idea is, should go through the ‘Aims of Sanstha’ enlisted in the constitution of Dogri Sanstha. It is the openness, vast expanse of various aspects of creativity and intense love for this land, its people and in their way of life that is enshrined in the ‘Aims of Sanstha’,which made me fall in love with this organization. And the stalwarts who were at the helm of affairs in Sanstha, in whose close contact I came in to, inspired me immensely to carry forward heritage and traditions they had created by their honest and dedicated efforts. In nutshell, this is what I feel about Sanstha and I have strived to keep the spirit of ‘Aims of Sanstha’ alive.
Rajeshwar: Dogri Sanstha is a pioneer literary organization and you have managed to take it to new heights with your organizational skills. Do you ever regret that the time you have devoted to the organization, if used for your writing pursuits would have helped you to explore even more as a writer thus quenching your thirst for penning down more short stories, poetry, research papers, plays, memoirs and travelogues? I am sure, you have many ideas and concepts struggling hard to get to words. How you cope up with this creative drive emerging from within?
Lalit Magotra: As a matter of fact when I entered the field of Dogri, my only aim was my own creative writing. But over the period I discovered that for a young literary language like Dogri, it was equally important to provide platforms to writers for dissemination of their works, make plans to meet literary and linguistic requirements of Dogri and consolidation of literary works. I also realized that Dogri Sanstha is the only organization which has engaged in such activities as far as Dogri was concerned. Although I had to maintain balance between my urge to write and need to manage. Had I devoted my time only to individual writing, I could have written much more. But I have no regrets when I look at the total scenario. Perhaps, this is the one reason that I turned to writing poetry, as it is less time consuming. And I have yet to see a person who has achieved all in life which he wanted to.
Rajeshwar: You always work with a well-planned strategy. Whatever endeavor you step in, you make it a point to accomplish it in a systematic manner. Is your academic profession responsible for your disciplined life?
Lalit Magotra: For development of particular attitudes and habits there are many factors in life which play direct or indirect part. I feel that mainly it is training in the field of science which inculcated the habit of doing a job in a planned and systematic manner. Also I happen to come in close contact with some exceptional individuals, who are very meticulous in performing their duties. They must have influenced me.
Rajeshwar: A feel that I do experience and others also admit that whoever comes in contact with you gets positive vibes. One gets inspired with your aura. In whose company, you experience the same feel?
Lalit Magotra: You will be surprised to know that I get positive vibes and inspirational waves from many young people, young members of Sanstha and many of students I come across. The youthfulness of a person is always inspiring to me, whether the person is old or young.
Rajeshwar: What are the basic problems faced today by a language which has been recognized by Sahitya Academy New Delhi way back in 1970, included in 8th schedule of Indian Constitution in 2003 and is one of the five official Languages of UT of J &K?
Lalit Magotra: This question has a very long answer but I will concentrate on a couple of issues which are crucial. The main problem is the widening gap between younger generation and Dogri. In this context, I could elaborate on many aspects but let me talk of two points. The Government has issued numerous orders for introducing Dogri at the primary level of school education. Without casting any aspersion on the intentions of Government, I can say with full confidence that no practical plan has been made, as to how to implement this important decision, which is also mandated by NEP(New Education Policy). The other point is the declaration of Dogri as official language of J & K. This order has remained on papers and in files only. Nothing whatsoever has been done to seriously implement this order. To my mind,if these two decisions of Government are seriously implemented, most of Dogri’s miseries will vanish.
Rajeshwar: The so called think tank seems worried about future of Dogri without putting in their efforts. They dictate at the stake of silent devotees working for a noble cause. What on ground is the need of hour to preserve and promote mother tongue Dogri?
Lalit Magotra: Such people have always existed, who make much noise but practically do nothing. They believe that by shouting, the problems will be solved or at least they will get public attention, which is their primary aim. I have partly answered your question in the above answer but we have to realize that unless Dogras themselves respect their mother tongue and love it from their heart, no outside agency including Government can make Dogri flourish. Every Dogra, be him a writer, politician, businessman, employee, teacher, student or a common man has to prove his respect and love for his mother tongue by speaking it with others, with his children and encourage them to speak Dogri, by convincing their wards to opt for Dogri subject at School and College level and give place to Dogri books in their homes. If that is done, there will be no danger to Dogri.
Rajeshwar: Thanks for valuable additions and inspiring as well as thought provoking words, you are well known to add whenever in conversation. It’s always an honour to interact with you. Congrats once again.
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