Dr Govind Chatak: The Father of Researches on Garhwali Folk Literature

Critical and Chronological History of Modern Garhwali (Asian) Poetry –-59

                    Literature Historian:  Bhishma Kukreti

  Garhwali folk songs cannot be described in literature without the reference of Dr Govind Chatak. Chatak initiated Garhwali Folk Songs collection; he analyzed Garhwali Folk Songs and classified Garhwali folk Songs. Chatak is called father of researches on Garhwali folk literature specially Garhwali Folk Songs

     The real name of Govind Chatak is Govind Singh Kandari. He was born on 13^th December, 1933 in village Sarasin, Lastu of Tihri Garhwal. His mother’s name was Chandra Devi and father’s name was Dham Singh Kandari. He completed his primary schooling from Anchharikhut Tihri, Intermediate from Mussorie Dehradun, and Graduation from Allahabad University. He passed M A from Agra University. He got PhD in perusing research on “Garhwali ki Upboli va Uske Lok Geet’ from Agra University. He got D.Lit in folk literature.

       He is regarded the father of Garhwali folk literature. After serving All India radio as producer he joined Rajdhani College Delhi as professor of Hindi and retired from there. His contribution in Garhwali folk literature is of manifolds. He collected Garhwali folk songs and classified them more logically than Abodh Bandhu Augean . His book is ‘Garhwali lok geet’ was published in 1956 from Jugal Kishor and sons Dehradun and Garhwal ki Lok Gathayen (1958) from Mohni Book Stores Dehradun .both books are Mecca of Garhwali Folk Song researches. He classified Garhwali folk Songs into following types: Classification of Folk Songs by Dr Govind Chatak: Dr Shivanand Nautiyal appreciated the initiation of Dr Govind Chatak for his collection , classification and popularizing Garhwal Folk Songs among Garhwalis and non-Garhwali literate intellectuals and regional language experts.

     Dr Chatak also collected the Folk stories of Garhwal and published the book, which later on was also re-published in series, by weekly Garhjagar from Dehradun.

Govind Chatak is also remembered for his researches on the philological aspects of Garhwali language and he scientifically proved that Garhwali is derived from Shaurseni of Rajasthan. His book ‘Madhya Pahari Ki Bhashik Parampara Aur Hindi‘is a famous reference book for linguistic science researches.

His books on Garhwali folk literature are-

1-Garhwali Lok Kathayen (1956)

2-Garhwali Lok Git Vividha (1955, 2000)

3-Garhwali Lok geet-ek Sanskritik Adhyayan

4-Uttarakhand ki Lok Kathayen

6- Akash pani de Pani

7- Bhartiya Lok Sanskriti ka Sandarbh- Madhya Himalaya

 In Garhwali prose, his essays are marvelous and timeless

 

Dr Chatak is not only a famous name in Garhwali Folk literature world but he is a legendary name in critics of Hindi drama and he also wrote many dramas in Hindi as:

1-Kekade

2-Andheri Ratka safar

3-Dur Ka Akas

4-Bansuri Bajati Rahi: Though the base of story is of folk story of Gujrat

but Govind Chatak used Garhwali villages, tone, symbols, imagery and folks songs of Garhwal in this drama. The fist staging of play of this drama was held in Uttarkashi

His critics on Hindi drama are appraised in Hindi literature world and his following work is acclaimed as intellectual critics of Hindi drama:

1-Prasad ke Natak : Swarup aur Rachana

2-Prasad ke Natak : sarjanatmak Sanrachna aur Bhashik Chetna

3-Adhunik Hindi Natak Ka Masiha: Mohan rakesh

4-Natakar jagdish Chandra Mathur

5-Natya Bhasha

6- Adhunik Natak: Bhashik aur Sanvedeey Snrachan

And other nine books

His works is translated in many languages

He received many appreciations from government institutions and social organizations. The following awards are enough to show his contribution for Garhwali Folk literature and Hindi literature as well:

1- Dr Peetamber datt barthwal puruskar

2-Jai shri samman

3-Bhartendu Puruskar

4-Ram Naresh Tripathi Puruskar

                  Govind Chatak s a Garhwali Poet

    Dr Chatak was very talented poet and lyric too. Chatak published his poems in many magazines and poetry collections. Symbolism and love was his forte.

रूप कैको  (डा चातक की स्मरणीय कविता ) 

-

आज अंख्यों मा रूप कैको जोन्याळी सी छाये ,

फेर बाडळी बणीक कुई आज मैं मू -सी आये। 

ऐंन आँसुन भीजीं कैकी द्वी आंखी वो गीली ,

फ्यूंळी की पाँखुड़ी सी , मुखड़ी स्या कैकी पीली। 

फफरांदा होंठ ऐन वो लाज से जना झुक्यां ,

प्यार का वो बोल ऐन मुख मा ही रुक्यां। 

सुखी गाड -सी मेरी जळी जिकुड़ी ऐंच ,

सौंण की रोंदेड़ कुयेड़ी या कैन बुलाये ?

डूबी गैन अँध्यारा मा डांडी-काँठी भरेण लैगे उदासी ,

मेरी ही तरौं लटकिगे पीठ फेरीक सूरज सो प्रवासी। 

फूलूं की पंखुड्यों की सेज मा देख बथौं यो ओंगण लैगे ,निराशेक कैकी जाग मा थकीक विचारी जोन स्यैगे। 

सुपिनों मा खोयेगी जिकुड़ी स्यां स्यां कर्दी गाड की ,

अगास की अंग्वाळ मा सर्किगे धरती ब्यौली सी लाड की। 

जिंदगी छळेन्दी औणी छ जनो ओडार को -सी घाम।,

मैं कू तेरी याद लीक कनी या अँध्यारी रात आये।

He expired in June 2007 leaving his four married children

Dr Govind Chatak will always be remembered as father of researches on Garhwali folk songs, folklore and folk stories and Hindi literature will never forget his innovative contribution for creating marvelous dramas and writing intellectual, logical commentary on Hindi dramas

 

-

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai; 2016

Critical and Chronological History of Asian  Modern Garhwali Folk Songs ; Critical and Chronological History of Modern Garhwali Folk Verses; Critical and Chronological History of Asian Modern Poetries; Poems Contemporary Poetries; Contemporary folk Poetries from Garhwal; Development of Modern Garhwali Folk Songs; Poems; Critical and Chronological History of South Asian    Modern Garhwali Folk Verses; Modern Poetries; Contemporary Poetries; Contemporary folk Poetries Poems  from Pauri Garhwal; Modern Garhwali Folk Songs; Modern Garhwali Folk Verses; Poems ; Modern Poetries; Contemporary Poetries; Contemporary folk Poetries from Chamoli Garhwal; Critical and Chronological History of Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Songs; Modern Garhwali Folk Verses; Poems; Critical and Chronological History of Asian  Modern Poetries; Contemporary Poetries, Poems folk Poetries from Rudraprayag Garhwal Asia; Modern Garhwali Folk Songs; ; Critical and Chronological History of Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Verses; Modern Poetries; Contemporary Poetries; Contemporary folk Poetries from Tehri Garhwal; Asia ; Poems;  Inspirational and Modern Garhwali Folk Songs; Asian Modern Garhwali Folk Verses; Modern Poetries; Contemporary Poetries; Contemporary Folk Poetries from Uttarkashi Garhwal;  Modern Garhwali Folk Songs; Modern Garhwali Folk Verses; Poems; Asian Modern Poetries; Critical and Chronological History of Asian Poems; Asian Contemporary Poetries; Contemporary folk Poetries Poems from Dehradun Garhwal; Famous Asian Poets; Famous South Asian Poet ; Famous SAARC Countries Poet ;Critical and Chronological History of Famous Asian Poets of Modern Time;