Literary Fest on Regional Languages held at Doon Varsity

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 3 May: Doon University’s the Literary Society Elysian organised a week-long event titled “Page and Stage: Literary Fest (2nd Edition)”. On 2 May, a session titled “The World of Regional Languages: History, Identity, and Contemporary Context” was held in the university’s Senate Hall.
The panel discussion featured noted Garhwali literary figures including Madan Duklan, Beena Benzwal, Girish Sundariyal, Devesh Joshi, and Ashish Sundariyal. The session began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Surekha Dangwal, inaugurated the event and appreciated the initiative of the English Department. She encouraged students to not only study English literature but also familiarise themselves with the history, distinct identity, and contemporary creative expressions of regional languages of the state. She also mentioned that, in line with the National Education Policy 2020, the university has introduced an option for students proficient in regional languages to undertake English translations of regional literary works as an elective paper or project. She highlighted the creative achievements of the panellists and encouraged students to prepare notes on the current status of the Garhwali language based on the discussion. The Vice-Chancellor also presented mementos to the panellists.
The session was moderated by Madan Duklan, who is also the editor of the popular Garhwali magazine, Chitthi-Patri, as well as an actor and theatre practitioner. He introduced the panellists in detail and praised the university’s initiative and the Vice-Chancellor’s personal interest in promoting regional languages.
Speaking on the history of the language, Girish Sundariyal explained that the earliest written form of Garhwali dates back to the 15th century, while its oral traditions go back nearly a thousand years in the form of folk ballads. The first poetic composition in Garhwali is considered to be “Buro Sang” by Harshpuri Gusain, written around 1850, later set to music by the renowned folk singer Narendra Singh Negi. The first Garhwali short story, “Garhwali Thaat”, by Sadanand Kukreti, was published in 1913. He also noted that Garhwali has begun to be introduced in school education in Pauri district, and efforts have been made by SCERT, though full implementation is still pending.
Discussing the standardisation of Garhwali, Devesh Joshi referred to linguist George Abraham Grierson, who classified Garhwali into eight dialects in his work Linguistic Survey of India (1894–1928). Due to the lack of roads and connectivity in earlier times, these dialects varied significantly. With the advent of printing presses and publications, the need for standardisation became evident. He emphasised that standardisation is a natural and necessary stage in the development of any language, and Garhwali has now developed a broadly accepted, region-neutral standard form. On the question of including Garhwali in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, he stated that along with political and social efforts, a rich and extensive literary corpus is also essential. He asserted that Garhwali is no less deserving than languages like Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, or Nepali.
Beena Benzwal spoke about the role of magazines in promoting language and literature, noting that Chitthi-Patri and Dhaad hold a position in Garhwali similar to that of Saraswati magazine in Hindi. She compared their editorial contributions to that of Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi. On women’s contributions to Garhwali literature, she mentioned that Vidyavati Dobhal was the first female writer in Garhwali, active in the early 20th century. Today, more than a hundred women are actively contributing to Garhwali literature, indicating both gender inclusivity and a promising future.
Speaking on research and critical studies in Garhwali, Ashish Sundariyal remarked that the current state is not entirely satisfactory. Few researchers take risks on original and unexplored topics, and there is a lack of visionary mentors. One of the biggest challenges is the scarcity of reference materials. However, works like those of Saket Bahuguna offer hope. He also pointed out that the absence of linguistics as a subject in Uttarakhand universities has limited comparative language studies, and shared his research experiences from Garhwal University.
The session was effectively presented by Anurag and Sanchita, while the organisational responsibilities were managed by Shreya, Komal Preet, Navni, and Akshat.
The discussion highlighted that such creative initiatives by Doon University will undoubtedly draw national and international attention to the richness and potential of Garhwali language and literature. Concluding the session, the Head of the English Department and Dean, Prof Chetna Pokhariyal, described the discussion as insightful and fruitful. She expressed satisfaction that the students present not only listened attentively but also asked thoughtful, precise, and thought-provoking questions.