Garhwali, Kumaoni, Himalayan Literature

Glimpse of History of Modern Garhwali Poetry in Shailvani Part --III
Bhishma Kukreti

Collection and Publishing of Garhwali Oral Poetries
Bahuguna (1981) writes in Shailvani that Garhwal is fortunate to have all types of folk literature specially in poetry. ‘Daint Sanhar’ is available and there may be possible of many such manuscripts of oral literature. There are tens of ballads in Garhwali and those ballads started from Mahabharata time. Bahuguna provides the proof that there are chivalry, love and pathos raptures in Garhwali ballads as in Mahabharata. It is important to mention about proverbs and sayings . Pundit Tara Datt Gairola published ‘ Himalayan Folklores’ in English and included a few sayings/proverbs. Shiv Narayan Singh Bisht published the list of Garhwali proverbs/sayings/legendary stories in ‘Gadh Sumyal’ in Garhwali language in 1929. Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna published some part of famous folklores as Jeetu Bagdwal, Hari Hindwan, Ranu Jhanku, in Dhunyal, in 1954. Bhajan Singh ‘Singh’ published ‘the folklore ‘ Surj Kaunl’. Moahan Babulkar published the analysis of Garhwali folk poetries in Garhwali Lok Geeton Ka Vivechanatmak Adhyayan’. Dr Chatak also published Garhwali Folklores. Dr Haridatt Bhatt Shailesh included above folklores and more folk poetries in Garhwali Bhasha aur uska Sahitya ‘ in 1976.
Poetries of Mangal (auspicious folk lyrics ) are the symbols of agriculture culture of any area. Girija Datt Naithani published many lyrics of Magal in 1908. Tara Datt Gairola published poetries of Mangal in transformed form as ‘ Meri Ladli’ and ‘Fyunli Rauteli’. Bhajan Singh ‘Singh’ included folk poetries as ‘ Govind Fulari’ , ‘Raghuvanshi Ghodi’ etc along with other modern poetries in ’Singh Nad’. Chakradhar Bahuguna mentioned the old Garhwali poetry ‘ Paxi Samhar’ created by Pundit Jaidev Bahuguna around 1750 . Dr Hari Datt Bhatt ‘Shailesh’ published Garhwali folk poetries as Dyul, Nagelo, Garudasan, Nirankar, Uma Maheshwar, Gauri Shankar Leela, Ram Leela, Krishna Leela, Kunti Mata, Moti Dhango, Ram Gaindi (Chetak) in his famous book ‘ Garhwali Bhasha aur Uska Sahitya’.
Continued ……..

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India, 2009