By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 24 Nov: The Dehradun Library and Research Centre organized the launch of Bharti Pandey’s Khanda Kavya, ‘Mayatanaya’, followed by a discussion. The programme was chaired by Dr Sudha Rani Pandey, former Vice-Chancellor of Sanskrit University. MLA Savita Kapoor and litterateurs Dr Kamla Pant and Beena Benjwal were present as guest speakers.
The programme began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the guests, followed by Saraswati Vandana and a welcome song presented by DAV students.
Speakers said that ‘Mayatanaya’, a Khanda Kavya centered on Ravana’s wife, is in a way the first poetic work in Hindi literature. The book ‘Mayatanaya’ not only presents many mythological episodes of life’s story in the turmoil of worldly inner conflicts of memories, but also presents the significance of women’s lives along with the remembrance of great women of Kali Yuga.
Bharti Pandey has dared to put the emotions of women of ancient times on the stage through ‘Mayatanaya’. Through this Khanda Kavya, she has tried to present the untold stories of women’s lives, their struggles, and their significance.
Dr Kamla Pant, in her address, said that ‘Mayatanaya’ is actually a reflection of one’s inner world. That inner world which transcends the limits of the body and attains infinite expansion. This Khanda Kavya, composed in the style of dialogue and Mukta Chhand, is entirely suitable for staging and opens the doors to a new genre in the literary world.
Chairperson Dr Sudha Rani Pandey, while introducing ‘Mayatanaya’, said that the book presents the story of women’s lives, from the Vedic era to the present day, in a powerful and expressive language.
At the beginning of the programme, Chandrashekhar Tiwari, the Programme Associate of Dehradun Library and Research Centre, welcomed the guests and all the people present. The programme was anchored by writer and poet Beena Benjwal.
On this occasion, Nandkishor Hatwal, Dr Devendra Singh, Gananath Manordi, Shoorveer Singh Rawat, Girish Pandey, Mahesh Pandey, Dolly Dabral, Sunder Singh Bisht, Kiran Joshi, Meenakshi Lohani, Gobind Pandey, Ram Vinay Singh, Rajneesh Trivedi, Shobha Pandey, Gyanendra Kumar, Dr Lalita Lohani, Pushpa Lohani, Santosh Joshi, SS Kothiyal, Baijnath, Sumit Pandey, Madan Singh Vishth, and many other writers, litterateurs, journalists, and readers of the Dehradun Library were also present.
