Garhwali, Kumaoni, Himalayan literature

Keshvanand Kainthola: Creator of Chaunfula Ramayana
Bhishma Kukreti

Keshvanand Kainthola is famous for writing Garhwali poems in his youth, portraying the day to day life of rural Garhwali women , man-eater tiger’s terror in Garhwal, the chivalry of Garhwalis in first world war and in later stage of his life , writing Ramayana in Garhwali with touch of Garhwal for popularizing the ideal life of Rama.
Keshvanand Kainthola was born in 1887 in a Himalayan village Palkot, Mawalsyun Patti of British Garhwal ( Pauri Garhwal ).
Keshvanand Kainthola published his first poetry collection in 1928 naming ‘ Rang-Tarang’. The poems are written in his youth, hence, the poems are full of enthusiasm and portraying the life of Garhwali society especially Garhwali females, the daily life of a common farmer and his wife, the natural beauty of Garhwali village. Keshvanand Kainthola . Kainthola also wrote poetries on the chivalry of Garhwali soldiers in world war first who fought on behalf of British army. Keshvanand Kainthola used common Garhwali symbols in portraying Garhwali women and readers of modern time, still can enjoy the scenery of Garhwal in Kainthola’s poems because of his sensible uses of imagery in poems.
Jandi chhan ab pungudyun ma satyun godna
Kauni jhangora ku lageen chhan dhees teer chhodna
Kanthola’s poems were so lyrical that late Vishamber datt Kainthola used to sing this poem in Dehradun wherever possible and people used to enjoy the same :
Hans mor ghughti shuba gwathni kan basna chhan fazal
(As told by Mrs Shakti Naithani -daugher of Vishwamber Datt Kaithola
Keshvanand Kainthola used the form, style and mannerism of folk songs as baramasa style in his poems of his young age. Even, Kainthola did not leave the style and form of Garhwali folk song in creating Ramayana in Garhwali.
Keshvanand Kainthola published Chaufula Ramayan in 1935 from Dehra Dun Times , Dehradun .
Though, Keshvanand Kainthola created Ramayana on the basis of Ramcharitmanas of Tulsi Das but here also, he portrayed Garhwali life in various places in the story of Rama.

Keshvanand Kainthola expired in 1940 in Dehradun.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India, 2009