“MAIN KYON NAHI HOON” By late Swaroop Dhaundiyal RELEASED AT GANDHI PEACE FOUNDATION

A book titled ” Main Kyon Nahi Hoon”, written by late Swaroop Dhaundiyal editor, publisher of Alaknanda magazine and a leading story writer and literateur as well was released at Gandhi Peace Foundation in the presence of many luminaries of Uttarakhand in Delhi.

Being published for the last five decades started by legendary figure, its publisher, editor, story writer and literateur late Swaroop Dhaundiyal Alaknanda magazine would be completing its long journey of fifty years next year.

The book uniquely titled ” main Kyon Nahi Hoon”, was released by former DG Indian Court Guard and member of National Disaster Management Authority Rajendra Singh Bisht, renowned literateur and story writer Pankaj Bisht, well known figure of Uttarakhand and engineer turned entrepreneur K. C. Pandey, professor Harendra Aswal from Delhi University, senior journalist and president of Press Club of India Umakant Lakhera, former ADG of Indian Foreign Trade and writer Mahesh Sharma and Income Tax Commissioner of 1994 batch Umashankar Dhyani.

Several known figures in social activism, journalism, writing and special guests of the programme viz, journalists – Sushma Jugran Dhyani, Umakant Lakhera, Charu Tiwari, Chandra Mohan Papnai, Vyomesh Jugran, President, Uttarakhand Journalists Forum Sunil Negi, Pawan Maithani, K. C. Pandey, Professor Harendra Aswal, Dr.Pankaj Bisht, Mahesh Chandra, Umashankar Dhyani etc were also felicitated on this ocassion.

Lauding the efforts of the present editor of Alaknanda Magazine Vinod Dhaundiyal for continuing the publication of this magazine despite various odds and challenges renowned Uttarakhand personality K. C. Pandey who also chaired the event said that the contribution of late Swaroop Dhaundiyal in promoting and preserving the Uttarakhand’s culture by writing several plays like Adalat, Mummy and Mangtu Baulya etc including about three hundred stories has been highly laudable.

He not only left his government job for the sake of fulfilling his passion for writing books and three editions of Mini Uttarakhand, Delhi n Mumbai, a highly challenging task with limited resources but also kept himself moving on to fulfil his mission said K. C. Pandey.

He assured the present publisher, editor Vinod, Dhaundiyal of his fullest support and cooperation in future for continuing the journey of its seamless publication.

The member of the National Disaster management Authority Rajendra Singh while appreciating the stories of late Swaroop Dhaundiyal said that his every story carried emotions, passion, compassion and nostalgia taking the readers back to memory lane of several years.

Praising late Dhaundiyal ji as one of the outstanding writers of his time Rajendra Singh said that his contribution in story writing and creation of dramas like Mangtu Baulya, Mummy, Adalat etc have been extremely laudable. Personalities like him are seldom found these days said Rajendra Singh while paying his richest tributes on this ocassion. He also urged others to emulate him and go through his writings as a when they get time, lauding them to the hilt.

Eminent story writer of the country, author of several books and literateur Pankaj Bisht was for all praise for late Swaroop Dhaundiyal saying that he used to meet only three renowned writers and discuss with them very often viz Swaroop Dhaundiyal, Shailesh Matiyani and Ballabh Dobhal. Lauding the pivotal contribution of late Swaroop Dhaundiyal in bringing out Alaknanda magazine since 1970 giving opening to several budding writers n poets, his contribution in bringing out the three editions of Mini Uttarakhand of Delhi and Mumbai was also worth praising.

He moved by buses and contacted each and every person of Uttarakhand origin in Delhi and Mumbai to write their details in order to include them in Mini Uttarakhand thus playing a pivotal role in bringing Uttarakhandies nearer to each other in Delhi and Mumbai metropolises.

The president of Press Club of India Umakant Lakhera recollected the old days of his association with late Swaroop Dhaundiyal praising him for his outstanding collection of three hundred unique stories in various subjects terming him a man of principles and ethics who never compromised his values for material gains.

His writings carried passion, emotions and compassion said, Umakant Lakhera with several of his plays like Mangtu Baulya, Mummy and Adalat being enacted several times and his stories translated in several languages as well earning tremendous accolades.

Hitting the ruling political dispensation of Uttarakhand for not coming true to the expectation of the inhabitants of the himalayan state Lakhera dwelt on, in detail on ongoing socio economic crisis prevailing in Uttarakhand accusing the ruling political party for not doing justice to the people by their vision less policies putting people to immense hardships.

Professor of Delhi University Harendra Aswal while reminiscing the years of his arrival in Delhi after passing out 12 th standard and pursuing his higher education from Delhi University and joining JNU for Phd revealed how Alaknanda magazine gave him the very first opening as a poetry writer in eighties when his first poem was published in Alaknanda Magazine at the behest of Rajendra Dhasmanaji and late Swaroop Dhaundiyal thus encouraging him to write frequently lateron.

Expressing his deep annoyance over the sorry state of affairs in Uttarakhand professor Harendra Aswal also highlighted the plight of Uttarakhandies after the state was handed over to mafia post separate Uttarakhand state coming into existence.

Lauding stories of Swaroop Dhaundiyal as symbol of passion and compassion he appealed the audience to read his stories and enjoy the nostalgia behind them.

The former ADG of Indian Foreign Trade and writer Mahesh Chandra while assuring the present editor, publisher of Alaknanda magazine Vinod Dhaundiyal of his full support and cooperation in future as well to ensure the continuous publication of Alaknanda incessantly said that late Swaroop Dhaundiyal was a regular visiter to his office during eighties n nineties and he tried his best to co operate him as and when required lauding late Dhaundiyal ji for his relentless struggle facing odds and challenges smilingly to bring out Mini Uttarakhand including his writings of Hindi and plays as well as the three hundred story collection.

The 1994 batch officer and Commissioner Income Tax Umashankar Dhyani said he felt very enthused on learning about the legendary personalities of Uttarakhand like late Swaroop Dhaundiyalji and is feeling tremendously honoured and emotional to be in the midst of our fraternity assuring the participants to be the part and parcel of every such events of Uttarakhand in future.

The event was ably anchored by leading writer, poetess and journalist Sushma Jugran Dhyani. The programme was well attended despite “Dhan Teras” festival and the audience were seen clutching to their seats till the end.