Impact of Hindi on Dogri

O.P. Sharma
Parakh Aur Mulyankan (Observations and Evaluations) is a book in Hindi by Dr. Satyapal Shrivatas which sheds new light on the influence and impact of the Hindi and Dogri languages. Many of the prominent Dogri writers and canvas of their works have been discussed in details. This is a scholarly work which looks back at the Dogri literature taking up some of the eminent Dogri-Hindi writers like Kidar Nath Shastri, Ramnath Shastri, Ganga Dutt Shastri Vinod, Prof. Chander Kant Joshi, Dr. Om Goswami and few others. The author has also made a detailed study of the popular Hindi writer, Munshi Premchand. This 256-page book contains 23 chapters detailing different aspects of Dogri-Hindi literature, its eminent authors and also a study of Hindi’s nourishment in this non-Hindi speaking Jammu and Kashmir. Dr.Srivatas is himself a scholar of Sanskrit, Hindi and Dogri. He has had a career of teaching in a college and authored a number of books.
Detailed Study
Some of the starwarts like Lala Mulkh Raj Saraf, a pioneer newspaperman, who started J&K State’s first regular Urdu weekly, Ranbir in the year 1924 has been taken up. He has also devoted his assessment and evaluation of literary persons like Jitendra Udampuri; Pt. Kaka Ram Shastri; Pt. Shambu Dutt ‘Sherawalan’; Dr. Ved Kumari Ghai, Vishwanath Khajuria, Inderjeet Kesar, Narendra Khajuria, Moti Lal Kenu, Krishna Prem and few others. Satyapal Shrivatas has devoted a chapter on humour and satire in the Dogri literature. Though he has brought out some instances of sense of humour but it is generally felt that more and more writers should take up the lighter side of human life so that stress and tension in the present social set up is reduced in the readers. Certainly, the Dogri literature needs more humour picked up from the daily life and provide much needed entertainment element in the reading material.
Rich Contribution
In this book, Dr. Shrivatas has written about growth and development of Dogri as also Hindi journalism in Jammu region. He has also taken up the subject of poetry before 1947 and its subsequent march forward.
Dr. Om Goswami, in the Foreword of this title, has opined “the subject matter of the book is of critical importance for the readership. With lot of vital information Parakh Aur Mulyankan is a useful literary creation, a step taken in right direction in reflecting our proud literary and cultural heritage.”
Useful Literary Work
Born on June 11, 1932 in a tiny village in Bilawar tehsile , he did Ph.D in Sanskrit and after a retirement from a Degree College, he has devoted all his time and energies to literary work. In Hindi he has authored books like Meetha Bole, Tehka Swar (poetry), Vichar aur Vishlashan, Sanskriti ke Vivid Ayaam and this title under review. His Dogri books are : Soach Srijana, Bol Te Tol and monographs on Prof. Shakti Sharma and Sham Lal Sharma. He has also written a book in English “Glimpses of our Cultural Heritage” a detailed study on the folk culture of Duggar region. In addition, he has also done some translation works. Dr. Srivatas has bagged a number of awards and honours for his contributions.
But the present book under review is a valuable addition to the literature. Dr. Srivatas, at 83 is still active and devoted to writing pursuits and some more publications are expected from him.
The printing and overall production of the book is of good quality. The Classic Printers who have done the printing work also deserve a good word. Though it has been priced at a bit higher side.
But the literary merit will make this book essential reading material for the Dogri and Hindi literature, their relationships and overall impact. Dr. Satyapal Shrivatas has carved out a niche in the literary circles and still striving for making much more rich contribution to both language and literature. It is expected that Parakh Aur Mulyankan will be certainly read by large number of people and also adorn it in their book shelves
(Starline Syndicate Service)

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