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P.B.Shelley
once wrote, “Our sweetest songs are those that tell us of the saddest
thought.” Nothing could be more true when it comes to describing
the works of one of Sindhi’s greatest living poets and literary
legends, Shri Vasudev Vensimal Madhav, commonly addressed amongst
the literary community with his nom de plume ‘NIRMAL’. Poet, Playwright,
Lyricist – Vasudev Nirmal’s contribution to the world of Sindhi
literature has been nothing short of colossal. Poems, ghazals, stage
plays, monologues, lyrics, adaptations, translations, Vasudev Nirmal
has attained mastery in all these above mentioned expressions of
art and is among the more respected literary celebrities.
Born
on 2nd June 1936 in a family of artisans, Vasudev developed
a liking for poetry right since early childhood. In fact, he wrote
his first poem and first one-act play in 1952 when he was still
in school. Though his stupendous interest in literature can be gauged
by his contribution to its various fields, his prime interest is
and shall always be, Poetry, though the Ghazal form of
poetry has been his forte.
Having
pursued his first year and inter in the science stream at KC college,
Vasudev went onto complete his engineering from the Walchand college
of Engineering in Sangli. Despite being an engineer and having spent
most of his professional lifetime with the Bombay Municipal Corporation,
his talent has a poet and playwright can be gauged from his numerous
works, such as, his collection of poems, ‘Muhinja Sur and Tunhinja
Geet’, ‘Haaee Haat’, ‘Galiyoon Dil Joon’ and ‘Geet Avhanja.’ His
collection of one-act plays include ‘Boda Achi Midiya’, ‘Bina Deti
Leti Shaadi’ and ‘Sasu ri Sasu.’ The above-mentioned works have
received wide acclaim and today find their place among the better
works of Sindhi literature.
His
contribution to Sindhi drama and stage have been nothing short of
exceptional. Apart from producing three collections of one-act plays,
he has made a significant achievement
in
adaptation of about twenty other outstanding plays from Gujarati,
Marathi, English and Hindi. His adaptations have a touch of colour
because he moulds and fashions his characters and situations to
reflect Sindhi life.
Adding
onto his wide repertoire, Vasudev Nirmal has written many musical
features for All India Radio & Doordarshan, apart from scripting
and writing dialogues for a few Sindhi films and Sindhi ballets.
In recognition of his excellent contribution to Sindhi literature,
he received the Akhil Bharatiya Sindhi Boli ain Sahitya Sabha’s
Lifetime Achievement Literary Award in the year 1999. He
has also been the recipient of the prestigious Soviet Land Nehru
Award in 1972. Apart from the many other prizes and awards he has
won over the years, the N.C.E.R.T’s award for Best Children’s Literature
for his Collection of monologues ‘Ama Tokhe Khabar Aahe’ certainly
has a special place in his heart.
 Devoutly
patriotic about his homeland, Nirmal has refused to migrate abroad
(USA) despite all his children having settled there. Currently residing
at Juhu in Mumbai, Nirmal spends most of his time for his community.
Particularly concerned about the state of Sindhi language, art and
culture today,he
keeps himself busy with his literary obligations or on most other
times, teaching his mother tongue Sindhi Boli to interested members
of the community. It is in the teaching arena, that Nirmal lately
has been doing tremendous work. Despite not being a teacher by profession,
he has innovated novel methods of teaching to read and write the
Sindhi language in 10 sessions. Travelling around the country for
the past two decades, Nirmal has been doing a colossal service to
the Sindhi community by teaching the language to his fellow brethren
of the community. Quoting him, he states the Sanskrit saying, which
translates, “Knowledge increases by its continuous sharing.”
Sundar
Iyer met this Living Legend and spoke
to him on his new-found love for teaching the Sindhi language with
the aim of inspiring the members of the community.
-Considering
the current predicament of the community, the furtherance of the
language is the norm for the furtherance of the community’s culture
and glory. Comment
In
today’s context, Sindhi language is the only significant identity
of the Sindhi people. Hence the furtherance of the Sindhi language
is a must to preserve the riches of our culture. There can be no
two opinions about it.
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There have been numerous calls from various platforms for the language
to be promoted and more widely used at every given opportunity but
there still exists a large lacuna among its implementation by the
members of the community. Comment
It is the responsibility of the parents, who must realise
their mistake of not conversing in their mother tongue with their
children. But BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. Sindhi parents as a rule must
speak in the language and be strict with their children to respond
in Sindhi as well. Else the language will not survive. There are
many schools that are managed by Sindhi Trusts and give preference
for Sindhi students during admissions. In such cases, it is the
duty of the Trust and Management, to start at least Sindhi as a
subject in their curriculum, so that Sindhis can learn to read and
write their language. It is heartening to know that this beginning
has been made by Vivekanand Education Trust by introducing Sindhi
as a compulsory subject for Sindhi students in all its schools.
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How could the interest for learning the Sindhi language be generated
among Sindhi youngsters?
Though I belong to the school of thought that believes interest
cannot be generated, it has to be an urge within oneself. I think
the mantra would be to ‘Catch them young.’ It is primarily the parent’s
responsibility, but an interest could be periodically built through
vocal culture. We must prepare good ballets, dramas and songs, which
they can not only understand and identify but also enjoy thoroughly.
The subjects for such expressions of art should be both entertaining
as well as serious. To attract the youngsters, the programmes organised
by the Sindhi community should be of similar standards to the one’s
conducted in other languages. The community which otherwise donates
wholeheartedly to other social causes, must also contribute handsomely
to the development and progress of Sindhi literature and art.
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You have received wide acclaim for your novel concept of imparting
education in the reading and writing of the Sindhi Language within
10 sessions. Comment
There is a presumption that learning the Sindhi language
is difficult. It’s a wrong notion. People think that in English
there are 26 alphabets, while in Sindhi there are 52 alphabets,
but in English too, there are 52 alphabets, 26 in small letters,
26 in big letters. Circumstances once compelled me to device teaching
the language in limited time, and thus I started teaching to read
and write Sindhi in 10 sessions only, first in the year 1978. Most
of the members in the community can understand the language. My
10- session crash course is for them. I continue teaching the language
for my love for the language. I don’t claim or boast anything exceptional
about myself. Like many others, I too teach the language to the
interested members of the community. I continue doing so since it
is my duty to my Sindhi brethren.
Translation:
While you are learning French, English as well as German, you are
forgetting sindhi language! How Sad! --- VASUDEV "NIRMAL"
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