Padma Shri Mohan Singh, a lifetime devoted to Dogri – The Dispatch

Mohan Singh introduced pleasure to the whole Jammu and Kashmir when the Authorities of India conferred upon this celebrated Dogri author Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Mohan was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution within the area of Literature and Training within the record of awardees introduced on Wednesday night. As the whole area is celebrating his success, listed below are the primary excerpts from an interview with Mohan Singh, The Dispatch did, approach again in 2016:

Whereas now we have seen many shifting from villages to cities looking for a greater life and luxury, it is rather uncommon to return throughout somebody doing the alternative. When The Dispatch got here to learn about Mohan Singh, a nationwide award winner author and artist, the curiosity in his persona grew a number of folds. And he didn’t disappoint. This celebrated author of Dogri intrigues everybody, a no brainer. The Dispatch went to satisfy him in a secluded small world of his personal, close to Gurah Salathian in Samba to know his story.

Having born in a middle-class household in Udh Mandi, Gurah Salathian, Mohan had a really humble however disciplined upbringing, hailing from a spot recognized for its warriors. Mohan’s journey to the place he stands as we speak, has reasonably very attention-grabbing turns. He explains, “Like different children of my age, I didn’t like to review a lot and had my curiosity in appearing as an alternative. My father received posted in Jammu, and town life opened a brand new door of alternatives for me, as I noticed and met many well-known native artists, finally appearing at a few of the largest levels of Jammu, like Ghulab Bhawan, Abhinav Theater and varied Ramleela acts.”

He reveals that it was throughout a Ramleela act that he determined to start out writing. “Throughout one in every of such acts, a man recited a ‘Nazm’ which influenced me loads. I went to him and requested if he has written it himself. When he answered sure— which I later discovered was a lie, I informed myself that if he can, even I can write like him. It was then that I began writing.”

Mohan considers himself lucky to have discovered from Dogri legends like Kehri Singh `Madhukar’ within the early levels of his writing profession. “Since we each had been from similar village natively, I had a bit ease of entry. That he accepted me as his pupil is one thing, I’ll all the time be thankful for. I learnt many main and minor points of writing below him,” he speaks.

As he began writing poetry, Mohan additionally began working in Irrigation division, together with studying his work on Radio, in 1974. His journey with Radio Kashmir Jammu has continued for many years, the place he additionally received chosen as a Drama artist and have written over 60 performs, appearing in over 100 of them.

In 1978, Mohan’s first e book got here within the type of poetry assortment. The e book named ‘Uss Lok’ was welcomed with open arms by the language lovers everywhere in the state, establishing Mohan because the recent new face of Dogri literature. As he obtained appreciation, the zeal to place in additional elevated which led to ‘Kala Sooraj’ coming to actuality. A Dogri play, portraying the rot which has set in on a regular basis life by highlighting oppression and exploitation unleashed by nepotism, wickedness and selfishness, prevailing in up to date society, the e book tasted success that only some did within the state, making Mohan an in a single day star. The e book received state academy award in 1984 and went on to change into a grand success.  What speaks concerning the reputation of the e book is the truth that it has the excellence of being translated after which broadcasted nationwide by All India Radio. Later, the e book was translated into Hindi by none aside from Padma Sachdev.

Mohan has, to his credit score, 15 books, together with half a dozen translations, biographies and different publications. The extra widespread amongst them are ‘Hirakh Saugata’, ‘Eh Din’, ‘Panch Parpanch’,  ‘Dogri Rangmanch’, ‘ Neete Diya Neikhra’, ‘Nyaya’ and ‘Mashere’. The Kohinoor in his diamond studded hat is, nevertheless, ‘Apni Daphli Apna Raag’, a e book that got here out in 1990 and received him Nationwide award for Greatest e book from Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. The e book introduced Mohan among the many elitists of the fraternity and one of many best ever to rise from the land.

Mohan’s life, although, is just not restricted to books solely. He’s keen on Appearing as a lot as writing. Being an energetic a part of theater, he has written, directed and acted in lots of performs throughout the nation. He has written in addition to acted in over 12 serials for Doordarshan, together with over 50 documentaries. He has additionally performed roles on Nationwide tv in serials like ‘Ye Rishta kya Kehlata Hai’ on Star Plus, ‘Doli Armaano Ki’ on Zee TV, ‘CID’ on Sony Television and lots of extra.

Not solely this, Mohan  can be a well-recognized face on the silver display screen, having performed totally different characters in Dogri movies like ‘Maa Ni Mildi’, ‘Guggi Maar Udaari’,  ‘Geetiyan’ and lots of others. His newest look on huge display screen got here in March, earlier this yr in ‘Superior Mausam’, a bollywood film.

For his works, he has been honoured by many organizations, on the state in addition to nationwide degree. Along with Greatest e book awards by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Artwork and Tradition and Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, Mohan can be the recipient of Greatest Translated E-book award by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi for ‘Mashere’, translation of Malayali e book ‘Chamen’ by T. Shivshanker Pillae, in 2002, together with innumerable awards from a number of different literary organizations. His work is being taught to Publish Graduate college students of Dogri in Jammu College. In Civil Companies examination, many questions from his e book ‘Nyaya’ have been requested, again and again.

So, what’s it that makes Mohan totally different from different writers?

“A Author is part of the image and never simply an outdoor commentator. Our job is just not restricted to placing gentle on the problems that concern our society. It goes past that. None should overlook that we’re part of the society ourselves and if the necessity arises; we should be the primary one to take part. Lighting lamp is one factor, however to make it possible for it retains giving gentle and that it reaches everybody, is as necessary a job,” feels Mohan and he has truly meant his phrases.

Moreover being a author, Mohan can be thought of to be among the many best servants of the Dogri language as he has labored in the direction of larger recognition of the language in any respect fronts, with success. He fashioned a corporation in 1976 by the identify ‘Duggar Manch’ which has contributed tremendously within the propagation of the language throughout the area, utilizing ‘Nukkad Natak’ because the software. He has additionally performed an necessary position within the battle for introducing Dogri as a topic to be taught to college students in class.

However his most vital contribution must be the inclusion of Dogri within the 8^th schedule of the Structure of India, a battle which Mohan initiated along with his emotional speech after receiving nationwide award from Sahitya Akademi New Delhi after which spearheaded, because the convener of Dogri Sangarsh Morcha, to the success.

“It was heart-breaking that despite the fact that we had been getting nationwide awards for literature in Dogri, however our language was not acknowledged by the structure of India. Our battle, after formation of Dogri Sangarsh Morcha, continued for 12 years however ultimately, we reached the place we began out for. It was nice to see each political celebration, each commoner, each group coming collectively for the trigger, leaving their private variations apart. For the primary time within the historical past, whole Jammu area noticed an entire shutdown, with out anybody forcing, only for the sake of their language. Issues like these make one very pleased with our individuals, and the very language that binds us all collectively,” Mohan recollects the occasions that led to inclusion of Dogri in 8^th schedule of the Structure of India.

Mohan can be dedicated in the direction of the preservation of Dogri which is on the verge of extinction from our households. He has been engaged on making ready quite a lot of songs to be performed in marriages, as he feels it will go a great distance in his mission. He’s additionally engaged on quite a lot of new books, a few that are anticipated to return out in subsequent 3 months, apart from a full-fledged industrial function movie in Dogri.