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Sikkh Matt - An Outstanding Contribution To Children Literature

By Surinder Sagar. Dated: 7/15/2018 11:15:47 AM

Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’ does not need any introduction as for as art arena or Dogri literature is concerned. He, being an author of 2 short story books in Dogri language, 10 stage plays in Hindi and Dogri languages, with more than 30 plays in Hindi and Dogri languages broadcast by AIR Jammu, more than 30 serials and plays, numerous documentaries in Dogri and Hindi being telecast from DD Kashir, DDK Srinagar, DDK Jammu, more than 80 short stories in English, Hindi and Dogri languages published in different magazines and newspapers, regular art critic and columnist for different newspapers, magazines for the last 27 years now, is a familiar face in literary and cultural circles of state.
He has been writing in mother tongue Dogri language for so many years now. No wonder, he has successfully carved a distinct niche in Dogri literary circles initially with write ups in Dogri newspaper and then short stories being published in JKAACL magazine ‘Shiraza’ and Dogri newspapers being published from temple city in addition to his contribution to All India Radio Jammu as a Dogri short story writer and playwright with several of Doordarshan’s plays and serials to his credit.
Recently his book “Sikkh Matt”, a collection of children short stories in Dogri language was released in an impressive function held at Abhinav Theatre Jammu.
“Sikkh Matt” is the third book written by prolific writer Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’. Prior to it, he has two more short story books to his credit viz., “Kho’udhal’ and “Adh Majhtai” published in 2013 and 2015 respectively that were widely appreciated in literary circles. Even critics also appreciated these books for their literary values and freshness as these books carried stories that were close to reality rather focussing on mere fiction. The first book ‘Khou’dhal” won Prof. Ram Nath Shastri Award in 2014.
After having written, what may be addressed as “serious literature” with stories covering all aspects of human life and even abstract ideas, his decision to pen down a book for children has been not only an appreciable step but will be a leap towards inspiring others also to enrich Dogri literature with children literature. This is imperative for any language to flourish and Dogri language needs it desperately to strengthen its claim among developed and progressive languages.
“Sikkh Matt” carries 17 stories. All stories have been woven around beautiful plots that are loveable, create an interest for the readers and mark their point. Each story seems to create a world of its own.
The language is simple, the plots are interesting and the technique adopted is unique that makes this book easily identifiable by every family, with its stories imbuing ‘a very familiar’ touch.
Rajeshwar has used his own children Cherry and Rijul as two very important characters in each story. They are fond of listening to stories as the writer has developed among them a fondness for story listening and he himself enjoys story telling. But at first an atmosphere is created to start with some interesting conversation between the three and sometimes writer’s wife also joins the trio to further interest and then the discussion leads to storytelling – this is also one of the USP of this book. Very intelligently, the writer tells a story and the children, themselves, are compelled to think about the lesson conveyed through it (story) or ask, what the underlying thought behind that story was.
Instead of offering the readers merely a story, Rajeshwar has very cleverly used the familiar characters at home like father, mother and their kids and their daily talks to convey moral values that are a part and parcel of children literature but none of the lesson has been forced upon. Rather the kids themselves travel through these stories and extract the thought behind each story as these are quite simple keeping in mind the kids’ psychology. All successful efforts have been made to make it simple, interesting so that kids should relate with the stories and the characters used therein.
Rajeshwar has used all tools very skillfully to maintain the interest of readers. The interest created for story listening before going to bed is not limited to home only, even if they go for outing kids force father for story-telling and father while talking to them develops the thought an amusing one to satisfy their thirst, just like an addiction, for stories. Rajeshwar deserves all appreciation that each of stories of “Sikh
Matt” ultimately conveys a very vital message that may be perceived ‘sugar coated tablets.’ But the kids enjoy seeking that lesson. The ‘bickering’ between two kids, “Nonk Jhonk” between Cherry, elder daughter and Rijul, the younger son add smiles as they talk like kids at your home and each story makes the reader as it is his or her own experience or family. The font size used in the book, the cover page design, the size of book, the print quality of this 128 page book makes it a very high standard publication at par with the children literature being published across the country. The contents therein make this book an outstanding contribution to children literature not only in Dogri language but also guarantee a larger scope to get translated in other languages as it is an ideal children book from all aspects. Just a cursory glance at the stories then, GOLU MOLU, revolves around toys which talk to each other and are not happy with their owner Baby Kannu devoting much time to new doll Golu Molu, KOSHISH tells us the story of a king Rudra Pratap Singh, who remains angry but controls his anger reflecting on his forehead by asking for fulfillment of wish from a shooting star as suggested by a young man, KANOON DA PALAN is the story reflecting on maltreatment with animals but Pappu frees the snakes from snake charmers’ baskets to save them from slavery and parents advise him that law should not be taken into hands, CHANGI SANGAT revolves around a princess Mrinalini who becomes arrogant in the company of wrong friend and ultimately realizes her mistake, ZIDDI MUNNA is the story of an obstinate kid who creates all problems wherever he goes, TITLI RANI speaks about the beautiful creature
called butterfly who should not be touched but watched only, MANSARI TOTA is the story of a bigheaded parrot who gets caught by hunter and when released realizes his bad habit, BHED BHAV tells us about the different response to well off family kids by tutors although the story is in the back drop of ancient era but has contemporary relevance too, REMOTE CAR tells us that overconfidence is not a good habit, GUDDI, a story about kites and the interest of kids for same tells us that arrogance leads to disaster, SAAF SAFAI tells about the importance of cleanliness that has been a slogan of government as well as society, SAMBH SAMBHAL is about conservation of nature, PAANI ANMOL is about the importance of saving water which has been a global issue these days, WAQT BALWAN story tells us about the importance of time as when time is not given due importance one has to suffer like Anshu who misses playing cricket match for his habit of reaching late everywhere, TALMEL is a story about balance to be maintained between study and games to explore the talent in real terms, ATI is a story about excessive use of mobiles which is dangerous for development of child and has been a burning issue these days, FARAZ is quite an emotional but a very vital message conveying story that as kids get full attention by parents during their childhood, the parents also need care during last stage of their lives, While reading these stories, it is quite evident that due atmosphere is created and very cleverly and skillfully that atmosphere leads to a story and connects the kids which is the plus point of this book. The sketches made by Raju and his daughter Mrinalini are very attractive and appropriate that add flavor to this beautiful book. Interestingly the cover page shows the kids in royal getup as - A prince and A princess, which is adorable as kids are really royal and appreciably Raju has opted for this cover page instead of sticking to monotonous images that speak about misery in the name of culture. World has changed and so have changed Dogras too. Traditions, culture are prizeless but they cannot be used unnecessarily to project helplessness all painted on faces. Royal cover look imbues freshness.
While winding up, I will like to add that Rajeshwar needs all appreciation for such a wonderful work on children literature and this work needs to reach to other languages. Such an interesting work needs to be introduced in schools also.