|
Hindi review
Variety in verse
Shalini Rawat
Taaron ke Jungle
by Rajbir Deswal. Books For All. Pages 41. Rs 40.
 IF you thought that long years in the Indian Police Service dull one’s
sensibilities, the anthology by an IPS officer is an eye-opener.
Whereas, you have a short poem like Patthar, which humbles the
pithiest of haikus, there are others like Mera Aasmaan, Batwara
and Taare — the last probably one of his best works —
which validate the poet Neeraj’s quote, "Maanav hona bhagya,
Kavi hona saubhagya".
Although he walks on thin ice with poems
like Khwaab ki Dastak and Tang Galiyan, which could have
been omitted, a masterpiece of irony is his Cake Kaho to Kisne Khaya?
which not only has a sound rhyme scheme, but is also a wonderful satire
on the state of the nation.
While readers will find the book’s
colloquialism endearing, the poet’s oblique understanding of relations
and concepts as in Dhuan Aur Badal, is a collector’s gem.
The
design and publication of the book could do with a little touching up,
but what it lacks in presentation, it makes up in content.
Haryanvi humour
Latke Jhatke
by Rajbir Deswal. Books For All. Pages 148. Rs 60.
 A
dash of rustic humour to lighten up your day or a social commentary
on the lives and times of the people of rural Haryana — whatever you
may label it — the author laughs with Haryanvis and sometimes at them,
reinforcing most stereotypes and breaking some.
There is no subtle wit,
no stunning turn of phrase, no layers of learned reference, but the
author is our mischievous tour guide for the bizarre realm of Haryanavi
humour, where common sense becomes obsolete.
There is a variety of stock
characters like the farmer, the Jaat, the money lender, the fauji
and the village simpleton in some rather stock situations, like the
countless verbal duels that enliven the otherwise drab and routine
village life.
And then there are the ‘modern’ youth and people who
live on the margins, like the sadhus and their chelas or
the visiting city-dweller who make for interesting anecdotes. The use of
the Haryanvi dialect and earthy witticisms make the collection a
worthwhile effort.
|
