A tribute to a legendary litterateur — Thakur Molu Ram

Thakur Molu Ram was a divine soul. He was a noble man par-excellence. With the passing away of this marvellous poet, writer and author of about 15 books, the HP circle of dominating personalities of literary field felt orphaned. It is a tragic loss to all of us. Pahari culture and pahari language became immortal due to his inventional thinking and imagination. 

His contribution to the invention/ creation of ‘Pahaari Bhaasha’ will immortalise him in the history of Himachal Pradesh for the time to come. 

He achieved greatness by hard labour. He was born in a poverty stricken, humble rural family and entered government service in a ministerial (clerical) cadre and retired as Deputy Director, Department of Languages and Culture, Shimla, HP. He got diplomas in Chinese and Tibbetan Languages. He possessed a multi-faceted personality and was very close to Dr Parmar and Lal Chand Prarathi. ‘Kulut-Desh Ki Kahani’ was in fact penned by him though it was shown as written by Late Lal Chand Prarthi, ex-Cabinet minister of HP and second to former CM Dr Parmar. He was a known voice to his listeners at AIR, Shimla, and he was instrumental in shaping the image of new Himachal in the country and abroad. He was virtually a renowned personality, who contributed a lot in popularising the pahaari culture of the hilly states and India throughout the world. 

His preface to my Hindi poetry book ‘Shatdha’, and ‘Dev-Vaani’ — a pahaari poetry, as well as collection of Kulvi Folk Songs, Folk-Tales in Kulvi-Dialect, earned me a status of an author and poet. He left for heavenly abode at the ripe age of 91. May his soul rest in peace!

KK Sharma ‘Vidrohi’, Kullu