Garhwali, Kumaoni, Himalayan Literature

Sher Singh ‘Gadhdeshi’ : A Garhwali Poet and Playwright
Bhishma Kukreti

Sher Singh ‘Gadhdeshi’ published hundred of Garhwali poems in regional periodicals. Sher Singh Gadhdeshi is known for his poetries about relationship between males and females of rural Garhwal, the changes happening in Garhwal and required changes in Garhwal, unemployment, migration from Garhwal and its pain for all . His language is simple and delighting too. Creation of Pathos in poems is specialty of Gadhdeshi.
Sher Singh was born on 31st December, 1934 in a Himalayan village Shrikot, Katalsyun of Pauri Garhwal , Himalaya .
After High Schooling, Sher Singh became electro-technician and made this profession as earning source for his family.
Sher Singh Gadhdeshi published hundred of poems in Garhwali language in various regional periodicals.
The poems of Sher Singh deal with various subjects related to the life in rural Garhwal and emigrant Garhwalis . As a poet , Sher Singh Gadhdeshi is successful in portraying -the life in rural Garhwal, the flora and fauna of Garhwal, the political and humanly happenings in society , the conflicts, confrontations and love/friendship about the relationship between males and females , the pain of migration from own motherland to foreign places, social evils found in the modern Garhwal, escaping mentality and non-enthusiasm among youth grown because of unemployment and no direction for the future.
Sher Singh Gadhdeshi created poems on conventional structure and style. Gadhdeshi avoided experimenting with new form and style in his poems.
Sher Singh Gadhdeshi used common symbols and imagery to create impact on the readers and create affectivity in his poems . The figure of speech used by Sher Singh make his poems delightful. Many times, Sher Singh sends direct messages to the readers what to do and what not to do.
Sher Singh Gadhdeshi wrote plays in Garhwali language too. Critics appreciate his three plays - Panch Parmeshwar, Akhar and Chhuwachhut . The plays of Sher Singh are written for offering messages directly and not as hidden agenda of a the playwright. Due to agenda of offering direct messages to the audience, the dialogues and the effect of plas are as if a teacher is preaching to his students.
The language and words of Sher Singh are pure Garhwali and he successfully avoided Hindi words as much as possible both in poems and plays too.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India, 2009