Dogri Ramleela: Reviving Jammu's Linguistic Soul Through the Epic
A unique Ramleela staged in the Dogri language is drawing crowds in Jammu to revive the regional tongue and connect youth with their roots.
In the heart of Jammu, the timeless tale of the Ramayana is being retold with a special twist. During the auspicious occasion of Navratri, a unique Dogri Ramleela in Jammu has captured the imagination of the public, drawing diverse crowds and serving as a powerful tool to preserve the region's fading linguistic heritage.
A Mission to Save a Mother Tongue
The initiative, spearheaded by the Senior Citizens Support Services Club, is more than just a theatrical performance; it is a cultural rescue mission. Organisers have observed a worrying trend where the Dogri language is increasingly absent from homes, schools, and universities. This decline has sparked fears that the language could eventually face extinction if immediate action is not taken.
Kasturi Gupta, chairman of the Senior Citizens Support Services Club, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the lack of usage in educational institutions and domestic settings is a critical hurdle. He emphasized that while isolated events are helpful, the survival of a language requires sustained efforts across all strata of society.
Why Ramleela?
The decision to use the Ramayana as the vehicle for linguistic revival was strategic. Vijay Sharma, general secretary of the club, explained that the epic is familiar to people of all generations, making it an ideal medium to communicate a message to the masses quickly. By staging the performance in Dogri, the organisers aim to prove that the traditional epic is just as resonant and powerful in the regional tongue.
To further the cause, the club has not limited its efforts to the stage. They have been:
- Conducting promotional programmes in colleges and schools.
- Installing Dogri signboards in public spaces across the city to increase the language's visibility.
- Planning a massive procession on October 24, featuring approximately 500 students from various schools.
Bringing the Script to Life
The production, directed by Rajnish Gupta, who also crafted the Dogri script, focuses on the traditional form of the language. For the artists involved, the process was both challenging and rewarding.
Artist King C Bharti shared that while adapting the epic into traditional Dogri required significant effort, the experience was deeply enjoyable. He expressed pride in contributing to the preservation of the language and noted that the presence of young viewers was particularly heartening.
Another performer, Ajay Saini, pointed out a common psychological barrier: many young people understand Dogri but hesitate to speak it. He believes that seeing the language performed on stage helps overcome this reluctance, making the youth more comfortable embracing their mother tongue.
Connecting the Youth to Their Roots
The response from the audience has been overwhelmingly positive. Young viewers, such as Manas Sharma, have acknowledged the importance of the initiative. By intertwining culture and language, the organisers believe they can effectively reach the younger generation, fostering a sense of pride in their identity.
"If we familiarise them with our culture and language, the message reaches people more effectively because language and culture are connected," said Kasturi Gupta.