Seminar on literatteurs, maestros with Uttarakhand links

DEHRADUN: A number of literary figures and creative personalities who have had an Uttarakhand connection like Ruskin Bond, Manohar Shyam Joshi and Kamleshwar whose works have been converted into films or who have made successful films or TV serials themselves like Basu Bhattacharya were remembered and showcased in a discussion and presentation at the Doon Library and Reseacrh Centre on Saturday.

Manoj Panjani, a staff member said, literature and films is the common thread running through the lives of these famous people who enjoyed their connection with Dehradun.

Khushwant Singh, journalist mentioned about his visit to Dehradun in many of his column. He visited Natraj book studio where 100 copies of his book Nature Watch sold within couple of days in 1991. Film was made on his book, 'Train to Pakistan'. Arundhati Roy, who worked in film 'Massi Saheb' before writing book, has visited the same book studio .

Similarly, he said, Kamleshwar who was editor of Hindi daily of The Times of India, Sarika, penned down his book 'Aur Kitne Pakistan' in the confines of serene environs of Jhajhar guest house of state forest department. He also used to stay at Forest Research Institute.

Ruskin Bond, the renowned author of Mussoorie have many books to his credit on Dehradun. His first book, 'Room on The Roof' had many such memoirs. Films based on his novels such as Flight of Pigeons, Blue Umbrella, Susanna's Seven Husbands were made.

He said, "Manohar Shyam Joshi, who is known to have penned down the first soap opera of the country, Hum Log and later Buniyad and, wrote screenplays of films such as Appu Raja and Hey Ram was originally from Almora, Uttarakhand, though he lived in Delhi. He would often come and stay in his ancestral home at Almora."

He also referred to Basu Bhattacharya, Ace film maker who would often drop in to his brother-in-law's home at Old Survey Road in Dehradun.