O.P. Sharma
‘Hashiye Par : For a Tree to Grow’ is translated and published in English by the Oxford University Press, world’s leading publishing House. The story of marginalized has now started flying at much higher horizons, and the voice of unheard echoing at louder frequency. This novel has touched the hearts of millions of people as the story being close to reality and the characters in the book represent the unpleasant social dynamics. ‘Hashiye Par : For a Tree to Grow’ is indeed a quantum jump towards valuable addition to the literature from Dogri to English readership and is expected to emerge as a best seller.
The book under review “Hashiye Par : For a Tree to grow” is a novel in English which include chapters like : “Winter and Sunshine; A House of Dreams; A Labour of No Love ; A Hope Defeated; Much Smoke and No Fire ; The Blackest is Grey; Bears and Honeybees; When Salt Loses its Taste; A Bonsai No More and The Making of a Tall Tree”. English Version
It is for the first time that a great maiden Dogri literary work of Shailender Singh and has found a well-deserved place in the global literature.
The book is very interesting and at the same time thought provoking. Like the ice cold waters of Chander-Bhaga in Kishtwar area the story starts with a cold note and emotions gush up and down like cascading Chenab and leaves open after hitting the climax and reader’s string of thought. This novel is compact and to the point. The beauty of the book is that much has been said in minimum words. This titled in English has enabled Dogri voice heard for the first time on the much wider stage and made Dogras proud for their mother-tongue now getting international recognition. Shailender Singh, the author and a young Police officer, has done full justice to the core subject of the novel having most befittingly dealt with the highly sensitive theme. It is a matter of pride for the Dogra community that this novel, has been picked up by the Oxford University Press for English version.
Unique Theme
The baseline of the novel is an inspiring story of struggle and ultimate breakthrough of a young man. The hardships faced by the people due to abject poverty, compounded further by inadequate delivery of benefits by the concerned agencies, of various socio-economic uplift schemes for the empowerment of people living on the margins and their aspirations to grow and progress like others, have been most sensitively portrayed. This makes the novel a class in itself. The moment one starts reading this literary creation then last word is the limit as curiosity increases page after page to know what next?
‘For a Tree to Grow’ provides a deep insight into sweet Dogri language, rich culture, unique lifestyle of Dogras and miseries of the masses.
The book narrates tales of a poor family belonging to marginalized strata of the society living on the banks of river Chenab in Jammu region. Due to the social structure, it was unthinkable for certain marginalized classes depicted in the novel to own house or farm land as they were generally performing menial odd jobs.
Towards Upliftment
The base-line story unfolds with Madan, the protagonist in the novel, who is a victim of social structure, insensitiveness and apathy of administrative mechanism and lives in a hamlet. Though dismally poor, he has dreams of a better life, a well- lit pukka house but at the same time nurtures dreams of a good education for his children adequate food, shelter and other amenities.
The author spent his childhood in Chambh (now in PoK), lived in refugee camps but faced life boldly.
He did his Civil Engineering degree and also completed P.G. Management course. Presently, he is Superintendent of Police in Jammu and Kashmir. He has to his credit two novels Hashiye Par and Sewadhani both in Dogri language.
Creative Translation
Since, Oxford University Press is a leading and world wide publication House, the production and contents quality is of high order. This English novel based on original Dogri book “Hashiye Par” authored by Shailender Singh , has already made high currents in the literary scenario. The creative translation of this Dogri book titled “Hashiye Par” done by Suman K. Sharma has added its unique literary merit.
This publication has opened a new window to the Dogri literature to the wider English readership across the globe. I earnestly feel that this book will be read with deep interest by all the people.
Everybody will go through it and keep it in their book shelves.
(Starline Syndicate Service)
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