Garhwali, Kumaoni, Himalayan Literature

Lokesh Navani : The Father of Kavita Andolan - Poetry Movement in Rural Garhwal
Bhishma Kukreti

Lokesh Navani is with versatile personality. Navani is a poet, a critical commentator of Garhwali literature, have been editor of Dhad a Garhwali literature magazine but his contribution is more sought for his Garhwali Kavita Andolan or Garhwali Poetry Movement in rural Garhwal though social activities.
Lokesh Navani was born in 1956 in a Himalayan village Gavani, Kimgadigadh, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. After getting graduation , Lokesh joined Rehabilation Centre for Visionary Handicaps Delhi and then was transferred to Dehradun
In Delhi he published his Garhwali poetry collection book ’ Fanchi’in 1977
. The poems of Lokesh are in Geet form and hos old friends say that those gett were always, in demand in Kavisammelan because of narration of Garhwali life, perfect uses of figure of speech, uses of Garhwali symbols to explain the life of Garhwal and the poems being melodious. In many poems the poet criticized the old customs irrelevant to the modern society. The readers attached easily with the poems of Lokesh because of tenderness of the poems.
Buransa bagwan ma , ganga ka guthya re
Paita myara saunjad yo voon dandyun ka dhwar re
Raunteli kanthyun ma ganga gaddesh ma
Basidin dev jakh manikhun ka besh ma
Vakh jhangora kauni ki chhan sar re
Lokesh Navani became a prominent figure among Garhwali literary field of Delhi and became active in organizing conferences , small discussion meets among Garhwali intellectuals interested in literature.
After shifting to Dehradun, Lokesh Navani became involved in publishing Dhad a monthly magazine from Dehradun. Dhad has provide us many Garhwali creators because Navani inspired tens of youth to take creating Garhwali language literature. However, due to financial problem, Lokesh had to stop publishing the respected magazine .
Garhwali people appreciate Lokesh Navani for his Poetry and Plays Movement through social works. Lokesh is of opinion that just by reading the poetry , people will not be interested in Garhwali poems but the creative should involve themselves with them in uplifting their standard of living . Dhad a brain child of Lokesh Navani has branches at most of the places in Garhwal. Social organization Dhad take social acts in hand and side by side arranges Kavisammelan to popularize Garhwali literature at grass root level in rural Garhwal.
Dhad has been a front figure in publishing dozen of books on Garhwali language and subjects of related to Uttarakhand . Without mentioning Dhad no one can complete the journey of Garhwali literature .
Lokesh will always appreciated for his collection of poetries Funchi and for Garhwali Poetry Movement in rural Garhwal and being godfather of tens of Garhwali poets.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India, 2009