Viyogi comes to life as ‘The Uncrowned Poet’
‘The Uncrowned Poet’, a dramatic portrayal of the events which transcribed in the life of Sahitya Akademi Awardee Randhir Singh Jamwal, creatively known as Kunwar Viyogi was staged today at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government P.G. College for Women Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. A collaborative venture of the college and Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust, the play highlights the personal trials and tribulations of an aspiring poet, a passionate lover, a benevolent brother and a loving son.
Directed by accomplished, young director Gauri Thakur who is also an Alumni of Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government P.G. College for Women Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, the play captures the life and works of celebrated Dogri writer Kunwar Viyogi, who is the embodiment of perseverance, highlighted by the enormity and inevitably of his journey from an ambitious poet who forsakes his creativity to serve his country as an Airforce Officer. The theatre adaptation of Kunwar Viyogi’s life was brought to life by noted script writer and theatre director Aarushi Thakur Rana who beautifully sketched Viyogi’s life and challenges. She transcends normality in Viyogi’s story and exemplifies the passion of an artist, the desire of a lover and the patriotism of a service man. “Much is to be learnt from Kunwar Viyogi’s journey and the man himself, a man of high morals, resiliency and self-worth. He was not only a great human being but an institution.” The Uncrowned Poet is a dedication to the creative genius of Kunwar Viyogi and a glimpse into the life of an unsung hero of the rich and beautiful history of Jammu and Kashmir.
The writer-director duo used Dogri couplets from Viyogi’s award winning book Ghar as an integral part of story narration and mesmerised the audience with Dogri songs like Rasam Riwaaz and Baabul also penned by the writer himself.
Prof. Minu Mahajan, Principal Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government P.G. College for Women Gandhi Nagar, Jammu graced the event as its chief guest and felicitated the cast and crew of Team Natrang. She appreciated the effort of all the artists and expressed her willingness to host many such cultural events in the college in the future.
Winners of Kunwar Viyogi Sonnet Recitation Competition in Dogri and Hondi were also honoured during the event by Prof Mahajan with medals, certificates of excellence and cash prize. In Dogri recitation, Sonam Devi Chib bagged the 1st prize, Renu Kotwal tood second and Shivanshi Saryara bagged the third prize. In English recitation, first prize was awarded to Ashpreet Kaur Sudan, second to Ojaswai Dubey and third prize was bagged by Haspreet Kaur.
In the coming days, a variety of events will be held as a part of 7th Annual Kunwar Viyogi Utsav 2022. With the Department of Dogri and English, University of Jammu, scholarships will be awarded to meritorious students during Ek Cheten Di Lari event. Gen. (R) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal will address the Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Lecture. He will speak on ‘Truth About Invasion Of The Valley and the Saviour of Kashmir’. General Jamwal will also be honoured with Kunwar Viyogi Shaurya Samaan at the event. Meanwhile, Kunwar Viyogi Sahitya Kala Samaan will be presented to Dogri Sanstha President Lalit Mangotra for his outstanding contribution in the preservation and popularization of Dogri language. This will be followed by honouring a young Dogri writer with Kunwar Viyogi Sahitya Puraskar, Kunwar Viyogi Innovation award and a performance by Celebrated Dogri singer Sonali Dogra.Moreover, the Trust;s Sonnet Project will be officially unveiled in London followed by an art exhibition in Delhi and London.
