Face to Face with Dharminder author of ‘Rahan Di Mitti’
Face to Face with Dharminder author of ‘Rahan Di Mitti’
Writers don’t focus on the real issues to put wiser the next generation but I have tried to do justice: Dharminder
Ferozepur, March 12, 2020:
Dharmnder Singh, 27 years young, from village Shakur in Ferozepur, now settled in Canada, visited my place to present his the book ‘Rahan Di Mitti’.
The book is published by Tark Bharti Prakashan, Barnala of 127 pages with Preface by Jagjit Singh – Sach De Ark, beautifully designed title in black and white in hard binding.
With back page tag line – It comes to certain people to see the sad days, listen to the voice of silence night, but it is not impossible to love nature.
Born on April 4, 1993, in a family of Himmat Singh father and Paramjeet Kaur mother – passed his Plus Two in 2010 from the Government School in the village. Did his IELTS and left for Canada in 2013. He got inspiration from Shiv Batalvi and started writing in Punjabi touching almost all the issues on religion, separation, love and nature.
Being born in a Punjabi family, his writing is a hundred per cent organic and my love for poetry also made the process of writing easier. It’s his maiden book but still continuing with his writing and hope to come with new titles in the coming years. He has even selected the titles – Birhar – Pain of separation, Maskeen Mausam – Masked Season
Here are excerpts from Face to Face to talk with Dharminder – a soft-spoken youth.
When and how you started writing?
In my opinion, poetry or songs are attacked with a person right from his birth and whatever we listen, takes a special place in our mind. Later on, the ideas start coming to your mind and you need to do more efforts. It is your inner force only which attaches your mind with pen and paper.
Reading habits are dying but reading allows you to be connected closely with society, which provides awareness on social causes. I have always felt strongly about social issues and hence, it was not difficult for me to write a few lines on them.
I was too much impressed by the poetry of Shiv Kumar Batalvi and I started writing in 2012 and it took eight years to make my collection to give a book form in title Raha Di Mitti.
To write about any subject, one has to first love with him and only by understanding we can pen down in words otherwise we cannot justify with the words.
Writing, for me, is not a deliberated effort; it comes to me naturally. Poetry as art is dying because we do not focus on the real issues to put wiser the next generation.
How about the title of the book – Rahan Di Mitti?
I have tried to express my thoughts about the state of affairs in the village culture and explained about the curiosity of a mother waiting at the gate when his son has returned home despite sun-set.
Have you gone through Sadat Hasan Monto who was bold to write as to what is happening in society?
No, I have not. I will definitely read now. However, I got inspiration from Shiv Batalvi, Amrta Pritam Passh, Nana Singh and Prof Mohan Singh.
What message you would like to give to society?
Dharminder said I am very much disturbed when the ground realities are not presented by the writers in their poetry or write-ups. Writers should be bold enough to put wiser the society about the happenings around us and I have tried to justify in my poetry.
In the Dharminder has tender apology being his first attempt for any mistake in expressing my thoughts and has sought suggestions to get feedback for improvement.
