Critical History of Garhwali, Himalayan literature

Nityanand Maithani as a Garhwali Language Poet
Bhishma Kukreti

Nityanand Maithani is a prominent figure in Garhwali literature for his contribution in Radio plays, Radio essays , dramas, translations . Apart from writing novel in Garhwali, Nityanand Maithani wrote poetries in Garhwali language too. His poetries deal with different subjects related to rural Garhwal and emigrant Garhwalis scattered across India. Nityanand Maithani is famous for avoiding Hindi words in his Garhwali language poetries and he got appreciation for his describing nature, season, day to day life of Garhwal in his poetries.

Nityanand Maithani was born on 10th November, 1934 in Shrinagar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. His inclination towards music brought him to All India radio and he served in various centers of All India Radio. His transfer to Naziabad center of All India Radio became blessing for Garhwali language . Nityanand Maithani started many programs in Garhwali language from All India Radio Nazibabad relay centre.
Nityanand Maithani wrote tens of poems in Garhwali. Latu Gunduru, Ramdei, Ko chu Bal Va’, Mayedi aj Des Vikral are his famous and well heard Garhwali language poems. Using metaphors , memoir , pure Garhwali words , describing the contemporary life style of Garhwal and comparing with the past , personification of animals and plants are some specific specialty of Maithani . The poems are melodious and seemed to be not written by an intellectual but by a common man . Nityanand Maithani is popular poet of Kavi Sammelan too because of his simple wordings, perfect and understandable figure of speech, common symbols and imagery wordings in his poems.
Chhota ma dekhi chhau twai he ramdei
Ab ni chhai kakh chai batau he ramdei

Dhoti theglya chirin angadi tutin dhagula
Thainch bujnani khosi-mausi chhai ramdei

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India.2009.