Haryanvi folklore not explored yet: DIG

By Sushil Manav Tribune News Service
Fatehabad, March 21

The Haryanvi culture is rich with folklores and folk literature but it has not been explored deeply by any scholar as yet. Rajbir Deswal, DIG, CID, Haryana, and a noted writer said this in the Sahityakar Samman Samaroh organised by the Haryana Kala Sanskriti Manch in the local Manohar Memorial College of Education here yesterday to honour scholars of the Haryanvi literature.
Deswal said those who say that agriculture was the only culture in Haryana tend to ignore that the state had its own folklores and folk songs for all occasions.
“Haryanavi swang (dance drama) is another folk theatre that has been very popular in the state in which religious and folk tales are narrated by artists,” he added.
He, however, regretted that very little efforts had been made to go deep into the Haryanvi literature by scholars.
Deswal said he was in the process of translating a few swangs into English and had started with “Hoor Menaka” by noted Haryanvi Ragini singer Dada Lakhmi Chand.
He said it was ironical that Haryana, where “Hoor Maneka” could not be staged for long due to repulsion over the scenes of a father leaving his small daughter in jungles, was witnessing a skewed sex ratio today. This, he said, was a pointer towards the degradation of our social values.
Babu Ram, a teacher in the Hindi Department of Kurukshetra University, and Ram Phal Chahal, a programme director of the All India Radio, were honoured for their contribution towards the Haryanvi literature. Earlier, in a short story-telling session, Roop Devgan, SS Bhandari and Pooran Mudgil narrated their stories.
Dev Raj Batra, president, MM College Management Society; Subhash Sharma, director, of the college; and OP Kadiyan, president of the Manch; were among those who were present. Deswal also released a poetry book called “Roshni Dhoondne Nikla Hun” by Parveen Kamboj on the occasion.