Release of the Children’s Literature Special

Release of the Children’s Literature Special

 On 11 January, under the banner of the newly registered Mukt Swar Sahitya Samiti, a programme was organised at Geeta Bhavan, Brajmandal, Sector-6, Bhilai, which included the release of the Children’s Literature Special Issue published by the committee and a Poets’ Meet (Kavi Sammelan).

The programme was presided over by renowned poet and litterateur and President of Mukt Swar Sahitya Samiti, Govind Pal. The chief guest on the occasion was Shivnath Shukla, Bureau Chief of Tarun Chhattisgarh and a well-known children’s storyteller. Other distinguished guests included Rajnikant Srivastava, Chief Patron and former President of Mukt kanth Sahitya Samiti, Visiting Professor and Patron of Mukt Swar Dr. Suchitra Sharma, and noted writer Neha Varshney.

The programme was conducted by Vice-President of the committee Shishlata Shalu, who began the event with worship and lighting of the lamp before Goddess Saraswati. Treasurer Santosh Jatav Jalauni melodiously presented Saraswati Vandana composed by Govind Pal.

Chief guest Shivnath Shukla was honoured with a shawl, coconut, memento and bouquet by the committee members. Other guests were also welcomed in the same manner. After the felicitation, Co-Editor Dayalan Madhavan Unni formally released the national-level Children’s Literature Special Issue through the dignitaries on stage.

In his address, Shivnath Shukla appreciated the publication and explained with examples why children’s literary magazines are important for the all-round development of children in today’s digital era. Presiding over the programme, Govind Pal said that very little work has been done on children’s literature in Chhattisgarh. He mentioned that late Indra daman Sahu earlier published Bal Mitan magazine for ten years, but comprehensive work on children’s literature remained limited. He further added that after editing “21 Best Children’s Stories – Chhattisgarh” for Diamond Pocket Books, New Delhi, the present publication by Mukt Swar Sahitya Samiti is another major step, featuring poems, stories, articles, plays and one-act dramas by reputed and emerging children’s writers from across the country.

Other guests also expressed their appreciation for the initiative. Treasurer Santosh Jatav, Vice-President Manoj Shukla, Joint Secretary Shankar Bhattacharya, and Convener Vasudev Bhattacharya encouraged poets and writers to take membership of the committee. Many participants filled the membership forms and received copies of the Children’s Literature Special Issue. Special guest Johan Bhargava from Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, expressed his wish to become a life member and praised the work being done by the committee.

After that, poets presented their works. Prominent among them were Shankar Bhattacharya, Manoj Kumar Shukla, Vasudev Bhattacharya, Santosh Jatav ‘Jalauni’, Vipul Sen, Shishlata Shalu, Johan Bhargava, Ismail Azad, Shamsheer Shivani, Neha Varshney, Rajnikant Srivastava, Riyaz Gauhar Khan, Dayalan Madhavan Unni, Dr. Neelkanth Devangan, Mohammad Hussain, Yashwant Yash Suryavanshi, Akanksha Tiwari, and others. Ranjeet Mandal also entertained the audience with melodious film songs.

Among those present in the audience were Suraj Mangla (General Secretary, Brajmandal), Advocate Satyavati Shukla, social worker Viman Bhattacharya, Dhruv Mazumdar, Publicity Secretary Arjun Mandal, R. N. Sungariya, artist D. M. Vidyarthi, K. C. Rai, Dr. Amar Nath Sharma, V. Nath, Alka, T. R. Shakya, Omkar Bhushan Verma, Ramanand Prasad, and many other dignitaries.

Before the conclusion, two minutes of silence was observed to pay tribute to renowned litterateurs Gyanpith Awardee Vinod Kumar Shukla and former editor of Vasudha, Gyanranjan Ji. Finally, Joint Secretary Shankar Bhattacharya expressed gratitude to all present.

Govind Pal

President

Mukt Swar Sahitya Samiti