Lalit Gupta
In a multi-lingual state like Jammu and Kashmir the cultural legacy boasts of languages with ancient, classical and medieval origins including regional languages like Ladakhi, Kashmir and Dogri. While Urdu has the status of being official language of the State, the Hindi with its trans Indian status and with coveted position in education, religious literature as well as every day business of life, enjoys a special place in the socio-cultural life of the people of the State.
It is in testimony to Hindi language as shared symbol of cultural identity of the country that in a non-Hindi region there has been long tradition of Hindi literature. With the result today in Jammu there are number of young talented writers and poets who are continuously involved in writing in Hindi language as medium of their creative expression.
These young voices due to sensitive reflections of immediate socio-political scenario have not only emerged as bold voice and conscience keepers of the society but also made mark on national Hindi literary scene for the sheer excellence of their creative output that is both local as well as universal in its expanse.
Some of these active young and not so young poets include Kamaljeet Choudhary, Kulvinder Singh ‘Meet’ (Nadi Roshni Ki), Sanjeev Bhasin, Arun Bazaz (Sach to Abhi Baki Hai), Sheikh Mohammad Kalyan (Sameya Ke Thage), Dr Shashvita, Amita Mehta, Manoj Sharma, (Beeta Laut,ta Hai), Aruna Sharma (Prithviyaan), Kunwar Shakti Singh, Sudhir Mahajan, Krishan Kumar Sharma, Kapil Anirudhha, Varun Suthra, Sunil Sharma (Prem Pavan Ki Pehli Thapki) and Abhimanyu Sharma. While some of the talented prose writers, comparatively less in number than the poets, are Yogita Yadav, Pawan Khajuria, Anila Singh Charak (Nange Paon Jindagi, Jo Ghar Phunke Apno)
Writing long and small poems, short stories, novels, essays, satires, these chroniclers of contemporary times showing a unique sensibility are raising a parade of issues by posing some hard and bold questions to deconstruct the myths of patriotism, sacrifice, immortality. They have also register notes of lamentation and concern about continuing curse of caste system, rapid urbanization, changing social cultural values, breakdown of family ties and above all the growing tendency to shun protest and accept every thing dished out to them.
The following lines by Dr Shashvita: ‘Mere Ghar ki Juthan Ghisti, teri hathaon ki Lakeeron ko, Dena Chahati Hoon, Mein, Vistaar–’, show her empathizing and wishing all a dignity to the so-called low caste women. While Sheikh Mohammad Kalyan draws attention to the loss of olden ways due to rapid urbanization in following verse:‘ Mein Chahta Hoon, Is Gaon Mein Jinda Rahe, Purkhon Ki Tamaam Galliyaan, Hukke Ki Gudak Jinda Rahe, Jinda Rahe, Talab utrate, Chand Ka Sawlapan’—.
Alarmed by growing cleavage between two regions of the State, Krishan Kumar Sharma longs for harmony: ‘Vitasta Ka Thanda Paani, Tawi Ke Garam Patheron Se Takraa Kar Ucchal Jaye—-‘Dal Ke Thehre Paani Main, Chenab Kaa Youvan Mil Jaye—–. Sanjev Bhasin paints the tragedy of Valley: ‘ Kitni Hi Baar Kshitiz Par Badla Manzar, Vaadiyon Nein Audhhi Barf Ke Chadar, Lekain Canvas Par, Lahu Ka Rang, Gehra Raha, Shehar Mein Sannaata Pasra Raha–. While Sudhir Mahajan in his poem supports contentment for the given in life: Yeh, Mein Bhi Janata Hoon, Ki, Banane Wale Nein Kami Na Ki Thi, Kintu, Mere Hisse Ki Dhoop Wahi Hai Jo Mere Aangan Mein Utarati Hai–.
The local young Hindi poets and writers are inheritors of the grand tradition of Hindi literature in Jammu that was nurtured by stalwarts who were part of pre and post Independence Hindi literary movement in Jammu. Some of the stalwarts were Ganga Dutt Shashtri ‘Vinod’, Bansi Lal Suri, Dharam Chand Prashant, Ram Nath Shashtri, Dinu Bhai Pant, Chandra Kant Joshi, Mansa Ram Sharma ‘Chanchal’, Shakuntala Seth, Raj Tuli Bhalla, and Shushila Tuli, Krishna Gupta, Subhash Bhardwaj, Shankar Sharma Pipaasu.
It is also a fact that several of the notable post-Partition Hindi writers like Dharam Chand Prashant, Ram Nath Shashtri, Dinu Bhai Pant, in a quest for regional \ individual identity later on shifted to writing in mother tongue Dogri and became instrumental in ushering the development of Dogri as a modern language.
The issues dealt by these inspired writers and poets included love for language and country, women upliftment, social progress, morality and views about religion and spiritualism and were more or less followed the tones set by Chhayavadi poets.
During the decades of late 1950’s and 60’s, Desh Bandhu ‘Nutan’ Dogra, Prof Sat Pal Srivats, Dr O P Gupt, Ved Rahi, Kehri Singh Madhukar, Ved Pal Deep, Padma Sachdev, Yash Sharma and others emerged as established writers. The main themes in post 1960 poetry revolved around nationalism, progressive thinking and realism but afterwards trends to catch the emotive tones and technique of new poetry surfaced.
The band of Hindi writer\activists who appeared on the scene from late 1960’s like Ramesh Mehta, Dr Ashok Jerath, Chanchal Dogra, Kiran Bakshi, Sutikshan Kumar Anandam, Nirmal Vinod, were instrumental in forming literary bodies like Hindi Yuva Lekhak Sangh and the revival of Hindi Sahitya Mandal. In the field of prose, especially in short story, the dominant voice was that of realism. The leading short story writers were Ved Rahi, Om Goswami, Usha Vyas ‘Cchavi’, Durga Das Shashtri, Narinder Khajuria (Raaste Kante Aur Haath). Other well-known short story writers and critics are Dr Adarsh, Didar Singh, Neeru Sharma, Kiran Bakshi, Dr Raj Kumar, O P Sharma Vidyarathi. J&K Cultural Academy’s literary journal Sheeraja played a seminal role in the development of Hindi literature in the State. It had achieved a national standing during the editorship of Ramesh Mehta.
After 1990 when majority of the migrant community of Kashmiri Pandits took shelter in Jammu, the Hindi writers from Valley came out with what is being labeled as literature of exile. Which reflected the feeling of loss of home and hearth, identity, moorings as well as longing for the lost roots. Some of the prominent Kashmir Pandit writers and poets are Rattan Lal Shant, Agnishekhar (Jawahar Tunnel), Kshma Koul (Dardpur), M K Santoshi (Hamare Ishwar Ko Tairana Nahin Aata), Sanjana Koul (Paashan Yug, Kaath Ki Machhliyaan), Satish Vimal, Shaym Bihari (Mein Samudar Ho Sakta Tha). Moti Lal Keemu by writing number of dramas has done significant contribution as a Hindi playwright.
It is now an acknowledged fact that Jammu’s cultural scene is far more active than any other city of north India. Ironically out of different arts, theatre followed by visual arts hogs more lime light through frequent reporting in the local press, where as literary achievements and contributions of writers and poets of different languages of the state in general and those of Hindi language in particular are yet to receive due social appreciation and recognition.
With regards to the prospect of Hindi literature in Jammu, Manoj Sharma, the poet, critic and columnist, said that the future any literature is directly connected with the place of a language in the society.
He said all arts are under transformation in this age of materialism and technology. Theatre is pandering to commercial interests, there is re-mixing and fusion in music, people are finding blogs, facebook an alternate mode of communication.
But on the other hand in today’s Hindi literature along with excellent quality of poetry, short stories and novels, there is also an emergent trend of popular ‘thought books’, the best book sellers in Hindi like ‘Kaise Khush Rahein’, etc being written by literary personalities.
But unfortunately there is hardly any dedicated place in city of temples where latest Hindi books and magazines are available for the citizens. Even organizations like J&K Cultural Academy have also failed in creating an exclusive library of contemporary Hindi literature. Yak Book Center in Jammu is one of the few places where one can find books of Hindi and Rashtriya Bhasha Prachar Samiti is running one library in Nanaknagar.
Despite the so-called lackluster local response, Jammu young poets and writers are being noticed at the national level for the maturity and sensitivity while commenting upon the ugly face of religious fundamentalism that has lead to bloody conflict in the region, the growing effect of materialism on human relationships and nature of politics as well as politics of nature, the basic notion of man and destiny and the meaning of life especially in the contemporary context.
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