Garhwali, Kumaoni, Himalayan Literature

Vishalmani Upadhyaya ‘ Sharma’ : A Religious Garhwali Playwright and Publisher
Bhishma Kukreti

Vishalmani Upadhyaya ‘ Sharma’ will always be remembered for publishing his eighteen books and other twenty eight books of other writers related to Garhwal, Uttarakhand , Himalayas from his publishing house ‘ Vishal karyalaya‘. In Garhwali literature, Garhwalis remember him for his religious drama and essays.
Vishalmani Upadhyaya was born in a remote Himalayan village Ghagora, patti- Kalifat of Chamoli Garhwal in 1896. Vitamin Upadhyaya established a publishing house in Narayankoti, near Guptkashi of Himalayan region. He published forty one books related to Garhwal, Himalayas from his publishing house and ‘ Kanakvansh MahaKavyam ‘ of Achaarya bal Krishna Bhatt and ‘ Uttarakhand Yatra Darshan ‘ by profound historian Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral are famous and well read books of this publishing house.
Vishalmani Upadhyaya ‘ Sharma’ wrote and published two Garhwali language plays - ‘ Shrikrishna ‘ and Bhakta Dhruva Balak’ in 1955. Both the religious dramas are of great importance for advancing the growth of Garhwali prose art . The dialogues are having the influence of “Jagar’ style that is lyrical effects on the dialogues in both the dramas.

Vishalmani Upadhyaya Sharma died on 31 st January 1976 in Narayankoti

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India 2009