Dogri translation of Dido Jamwal

Dogri translation of 1934 Punjabi play ‘Dido Jamwal’ released

Lala Kirpa Sagar’s original Punajbi drama titled ‘Dido Jamwal’, written in 1934, appeared in its new avatar as ‘Mian Dido’, the Dogri translation by Yashpal Nirmal.

The play that paints the folk hero of Duggar in a new light was released in a function organised by Duggar Manch in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, at Abhinav Theatre, here today.

Mohan Singh, president, Duggar Manch, highlighted the historic importance of the work. He said that Kripa Sagar was a major figure of Punjabi literature in the late nineteenth century and the play ‘Dido Jamwal’ forms second part of the trilogy ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ that was written by Punjabi poet before he died in 1939 at Lahore.

Speaking on the occasion, the young translator, Yashpal Nirmal said that while he was working as a resource person in Dogri at Northern Regional Language Centre, Patiala and Mohan Singh during a lecture had mentioned about the rare Punjabi play on Mian Dido by Kirpa Sagar and the need to trace it. He said that after lot of research, a very fragile copy of the play was found and the present translation is finally in your hands.

N D Jamwal, chief guest of the function, reiterated that Mian Dido sacrificed his life for the freedom of his mother land. He warned about mixing the fiction with facts. He said there is a need to tread cautiously while considering the historic merit of literary works and the contemporary interpretation and representation of such facts for public consumption and reference.

Padamshree Jatinder Udhampuri, guest of honour, said that there is need to evaluate the play so as to sift the facts from the fiction. Savita Bakshi, Additional Secretary, Cultural Academy, earlier read the welcome addressd. The programme was conducted by Dr Gyan Singh.

The prominent personalities present on the occasion included Prof Lalit Magotra, President Dogri Sanstha, Udhay Chand, Nirmal Vinod and number of poets and writers of different languages.