Daring Deeds of Mian Dido recalled

O P Sharma
Name of the book : Dido Dogra, a novel in Dogri
Publisher : Highbrow publications Bari Brahmana, Jammu
Pages 188
Cost Rs 500
This 188-pages Dogri book entitled ” Dido Dogra” is by prominent writer Padam Shri Mohan Singh.
Mohan Singh is a popular playwright. He has sketched the life and daring deeds of the legendary Mian Didoo who always fought throughout his life fighting against injustice and stood solidly for the poor and depressed sections of the society. He was for supremacy of Dogra people and fought against the ” over-lordship” of the outsider elements.
Sustained Struggle
His entire life is a story of sustained struggle against the ruling Dogra rulers who were constantly under the “influence” of the then Sikh kingdom in Punjab as also the British hegemony who were then gaining strangle-hold in our country.
It is notable that Mohan Singh has recalled the yeoman’s service to the Dogra’s dignity and their sense of democratic rights and justice. He has a word of praise for the noted historians like Narsingh Dass Nargis and Kahan Singh Billoria who have extensively written about this “brave and bold struggle of Dido Dogra. He always came to the assistance of the poor,deprived sections like widows and orphan children in the rural hill areas of Jammu region and waged a relentless battle against the “local overlords” who exploited the poor people.. It may be mentioned that Mian Didoo’s statue has been installed in the main Amphalla Chowk on BC Road, Jammu to commemorate his service to the society.
Written in simple but stylish Dogri language, the dramatist Mohan Singh has made the entire narration both interesting and informative. The publisher Highbrow publications too deserve a good word for the fine and quality book which will be of interest for all the readership of Dogri language. Yet much more contribution is expected in time to come from this Dogri Sahitya Akademi awardee, Mohan Singh.