Garhwali, Kumaoni, Himalayan Literature

Glimpse of History of Modern Garhwali Poetry in Shailvani ..Part--8
Bhishma Kukreti

Fourth Developmental Stage of Garhwali Poetry (1976-1981)
Literature is the mirror of society and Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna states that the changes in the society, the cultural and materialistic development in India also transformed the thinking of Garhwali poets and readers could witness the transformation in Garhwali poetry . Human sensuality, humanity, emotional values , national and international thinking came on the surface in the poems of this period (1976-1981). ‘Ghol’ poetry collection of Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna is an example of expression of experiences in Garhwali poetry world of this time. Garhwali Poets of new generation and old generation too realized that realism is the main path for creating poetry and thus realism began to be with Garhwali poetries.
Bahuguna states in Shailvani (pp26) tha the year 1977 is the year to celebrate for Garhwali poetic field. Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna published ‘Bhumyal’ the first ever epic in Garhwali language. The epic ‘Bhumyla shows the amalgam of scientific reality, great imagination in poem, expression of emotions, and with inspirational values.
Lokesh Navani brought his first poetry collection ‘Phanchi’ in 1977. Phanchi is about to show anger for non-economical growth in Garhwal and the poet is successful in showing gap between haves and haves not.
Bahuguna praises poetry collection of neo generation poet Deen Dayal Banduni for his collection ‘Himla Ko Desh’. Deen Dayal is successful in showing the hard works of farmers and their families and adverse conditions in Garhwal. Bhagwati Charan Nirmohi published new edition of ‘Hilans’ with adding a few more new poems in the old version.
Gokula nand Kimothi published his poetry collection ‘ Pitarun Tarpan’. The Ganga jamuna ka Mait bati (1977 a poetry collection)’ is dedicated to chipko movement .
Bhagwan Singh Rawat Akela published his second poetry collection Maya meludi ‘ in 1977.
This is the period when poets as Kanhaya Lal Dandriyal ( Anjwal, 1978) , Prem lal Bhatt (Umal, 1979) Jaggu Nautiyal (samlaun) published their poetry collection.
This is the period when the poetry collection of eight different poets in one volume ‘Dhai’ was also published .
The period of 1975-1981 is in real term the Golden era for Garhwali literature. This period witnessed the publications of many periodicals as Baduli edited by Govind Chatak, gadh Gaurav by Kunwar Singh Karmath, Maiti by Sateshwar sati, Hilans by Arjun Singh Gusain. ‘Shailvani is also published in this period.
This perod (1976-1980) saw many variation in the subjects and styles too. Poets showed their anger for lowering in political world, cutting of jungles and ecological downing in Garhwal, The Garhwali poems inspired people for supporting Chipko Andolan , Jevanand Shriyal and Ghanshyam Raturi are the poets of Chipko Andolan.
Bahuguna never fails to remind us that this period completed hundred years of modern Garhwali poetry or written form of Garhwali poetry. Garhwali poets came out with different subjects and different styles, contemporariness in their poems. Bahuguna stressed that in true sense, this period will be called Golden era for Garhwali Poetry.
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Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India, 2009