Sanjeev Gupta
The glimpses of the contents of the Book “Bhet bharochey geet raseeley” authored by Dr. Neelam Sachdev Sareen.
Jammu, the land of the Dogras also called as Duggar is rich in it’s heritage in terms of it’s unique culture comprising of the various components from the time immemorial. the Duggar is not only world famous for the matchless bravery, boldness and valour of it’s people but also for it’s historical and uninterrupted cultural flow exposed in the firm of the folklores, rituals, customs, lifestyle, folk arts, folk dances and folk -literature transmitted orally from one generation to the next. all these represent the glimpses of the enrichment of the Duggar culture, civilization and it’s ethnic identity.
To highlight the invaluable treasure of the Dogra’s folk literature, I have tried to sum up the cultural heritage of Duggar into seven parts in the book “Bhet Bharochey Geet Raseeley” as under:
Introduction
Folk literature is the ancient most literature of the world without beginning, eternal and unlimited and the Dogra folk literature is also as ancient as Duggar itself. The Dogri folk songs as one of the components of the folk literature, sung by the people on various occasions such as rituals, fairs and festivals, congregations, functions, day to day activities and nature etc. have been classified briefly in this part.
The folksong related to the prevalent rites in Duggar
The fact that the Duggar society is almost ritualistic and that it has absorbed a number of contents related with culture from time to time, has been discussed with reference to the different customs, rituals beliefs connected with birth of a child, marriage, marriage related customs as well as rituals related with death of an individual in the form of Dogri folksongs.
The tradition of the singing of folksongs related / associated with the customs, rituals and beliefs of the Duggar society has been given an adequate space in the 2nd part of the book by the Author.
The folksongs depicting the religious sentiments of the Duggar society
In the part third the social behaviour or the life style of the Dogras pertaining to the religious beliefs and rituals has been elaborately described. There has always remained an emotional attachment with the religion among the Dogras and a tradition of singing folksongs related with a belief, a family deity, philosophical thought, saint or supreme soul etc. How the fasts, fairs and festivals fill the pleasure and splendour in the lives of Dogras and these are just like the blossoming flowers in the life full of difficulties, troubles and challenges among Dogras, has been explained with suitable examples in the form of religious songs such as Bishanpate, Bhajans, Karkans etc. prevalent in the Duggar clearly by the Author.
The folksongs related to the
seasons and nature
The establishment or the presence of the adjustment and co-ordination with the nature and it’s components in the Dogri folk songs such as clouds, winds, thunder, seasons etc. has been picturised by the author in the part fourth of the book with reference to the state of emotions of the women folk such as the mixture of compassion, pity and adornment, separation and union in the natural and psychological manners. Various aspects of the Duggar folk life in terms of fasting, taking religious oath row, fairs and festivals, faiths and beliefs prevalent has been described beautifully in the par fourth. Various customs and traditions as the symbol of enthusiasm, zeal and happiness collectively in the Duggar folk songs and the information related to the traditional Dogra recipies and puddies has been discussed in detail in this part.
The folksongs depicting the work culture in Duggar
The different patterns / aspects of the social affairs, work culture, social dealings and behaviour prevalent in the Duggar region from the time immemorial has been elaborately discussed with reference to the folksongs of Duggar in the part fifth of the book . The part also throws light on the social relations and social engineering among the Duggar folks based on idealism, psychology and naturalism. The concepts and proceedings of the basic religious beliefs, rituals, customs and traditions representing the trade picture of the Duggar folk life and it’s day to day activities have been testified in the part fifth of the book by the Author. the food-habits with the names of famous Duggar recipies, their timing, occasion of preparation may add adequate knowledge about such aspect of the Duggar culture. The classification of folksongs under title ‘Hardwork’ into ‘Female’ and ‘Male’ category, during the day to day activities has been beautifully explained as the means or instruments or medium of expressing the sorrows, hardships, joy and the suppressed or unexpressed emotions by the Duggar folks.
The musical instruments
used in Dogri folksongs
A variety of musical instruments prevalent in the Duggar from the ancient to the present period along with their significance, timing and occasion(s) has been beautifully discussed in part sixth of the book. The classification of the folk musical instruments into blowing, membrane (skin), string and rhythmic instruments with examples and the reason of introduction and development or improvement of the musical instruments has been interpreted in detail in this part of the book by the author. The Rhythm is as much important in music as the grammar in any language.
The emotional and artistic
aspect of the Dogri folksongs
It is rightly said that he folksongs are the oceans of emotions and feelings. In fact, the folk literature in terms of folklores, folksongs etc. is the expression or life of a society in whose absence, a society forgets it’s past or cuts itself from it’s past. The author has justified the emotional and artistic aspects of the Dogri folksongs elaborately by explaining the presence of emotions like pleasure, a affection, kindness, motherhood, adornment, painness and humour at various occasions in a very pious and pure manner. The strength of the relation of the folksongs and human emotions has been justified by the author by interpreting that the folksongs come into existence according to the emotions of the mankind. The provision and use of ornamental vocabulary or words, chhandasin the Dogri folk literature has been discussed in detail in this part of the book with reference to the various examples.
The book “Bhet bharochey Geet raseeley” is a step towards the bright future of the Dogri literature. It is a successful attempt helpful in providing a solid and authentic material which will definetely embody the new researchers and scholars with the invaluable knowledge, opening the new doors for the research point of view.
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