Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 Sep: The Doon Library & Research Centre organised a book launch and literary interaction this evening to mark the release of ‘Aanchal Mein Aansoo’, a Hindi short-story collection by senior litterateur and storyteller Indra Singh Bisht ‘Pratap’.
The programme aimed to bring literature rooted in the social and cultural milieu of Uttarakhand, along with writers closely connected to the realities of society, to readers and to provide an opportunity to engage with their literary experiences.
The programme was presided over by senior litterateur and social worker Somwari Lal Uniyal ‘Pradeep’. Senior litterateur and social worker Dr Jiten Thakur attended as the Chief Guest, while Mukesh Nautiyal, educationist and senior litterateur, was the Special Guest.
Senior litterateur and educationist Rajendra Nirmal, litterateur and senior litterateur Dr Harsh Mani Bhatt, and senior litterateur and journalist Shishpal Gusain shared their views on the book and the author’s creative contribution. The programme was conducted by Dr Avnish Uniyal, litterateur and educationist.
The speakers said that the stories of Indra Singh Bisht ‘Pratap’ portray several layers of the social life of the hills, family relationships, the pain and experiences of women, changing social values, superstition, mythology, tradition, spirituality, science and rural life. The stories do not merely present a sequence of events; rather, they raise important social and human questions. The simplicity of the language and sensitivity of the narrative bring the stories closer to the reader.
The speakers made special mention of the much-discussed story ‘Aanchal Mein Aansoo’, observing that it effectively portrays the pain and emotional experiences of women. Other stories in the collection also depict diverse experiences of social life, family relationships and the challenges emerging from changing times. Drawing upon his long social experience, the author has expressed various aspects of life through his stories, giving his writing a strong sense of lived reality.
While discussing the literary contribution of storyteller Indra Singh Bisht ‘Pratap’, the speakers observed that story collections such as Aanchal Mein Aansoo bring to the forefront experiences and emotions that often remain unnoticed amid the rush of everyday life.
Presiding over the programme, Somwari Lal Uniyal ‘Pradeep’ recalled his long-standing literary and social association with the author and spoke about his literary development. He noted that Indra Singh Bisht began publishing the weekly ‘Uttaranchal’ in 1970 and, through its literature, art and culture platform, made efforts to bring together writers and poets associated with different literary forms. He observed that social concerns have remained closely connected with literature throughout Bisht’s creative journey.
At the beginning of the programme, the guests and participating writers were welcomed by the organisers.
Indra Singh Bisht ‘Pratap’ was born on 12 January 1955 in the Jaddhar village area of Tehri Garhwal. He holds a Master’s degree in Hindi and retired from the Rural Development Department as an Accountant. His Hindi and Garhwali stories and poems have been broadcast by All India Radio, Najibabad, and All India Radio, Dehradun. His stories, poems and articles have also appeared in numerous newspapers and literary magazines. He has continued to write in both Hindi and Garhwali.
Those present at the programme described the book as significant for understanding the social life and human sensitivities of Uttarakhand. The participating litterateurs observed that in an era of increasing influence of digital media, literary programmes of this nature play an important role in maintaining a living relationship between readers and books.
Members of the audience and literature enthusiasts also interacted with the author and asked questions related to his creative journey, the process of story writing and the themes explored in the book.
Chandrashekhar Tewari, Programme Officer, Doon Library & Research Centre; Bharti Pandey, Sunder Singh Bisht, Kalpana Bahuguna, Devendra Kandpal, Dr VK Dobhal, Jagdish Babla, along with writers, researchers, litterateurs, literature enthusiasts, readers and other distinguished members of the community, were present at the programme and participated in the discussion on the story collection and its creative and social concerns.
