DIGITAL LIBRARY IN BHOJPURI DEPARTMENT

DIGITAL LIBRARY IN BHOJPURI DEPARTMENT

26-AUG-ENG 27

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------A significant initiative towards the preservation and promotion of Bhojpuri literature and culture has been launched at the Postgraduate Bhojpuri Department of Veer Kunwar Singh University. The ‘Mahendra Mishra Library’ was inaugurated and the digital library service was launched under the aegis of the Akhar Trust.

The library was jointly inaugurated by Sanjay Singh, Naveen Kumar, and Mohan Srivastava of the Akhar organization, along with Dr. M.K. Pandey (Professor, University of Delhi) and Prof. Diwakar Pandey (Head of the Department of Bhojpuri).

On this occasion, a special lecture was organized on the topic: ‘Reflections and Discourse on Bhikhari Thakur’s Works: In the Context of the Times.’ The keynote speaker, Dr. Munna Kumar Pandey—a Hindi professor at Satyawati College, University of Delhi—stated that Bhikhari Thakur serves as a foundational figure for Bhojpuri literature and culture.

He remarked that confining Bhikhari Thakur’s works to a single mold or viewing them through a narrow caste-based lens does not constitute a proper evaluation of his literature. Works such as ‘Bidesiya’ and ‘Gabarghichor’ offer glimpses that resonate even with contemporary postmodern discourse.

Discussing the feminist perspective found in Bhikhari Thakur’s literature, Dr. Pandey described him as an artist who embodied the spirit of his times. He noted that an artist transcends the boundaries of caste and religion; therefore, there is a need for research into Bhikhari Thakur’s works through fresh perspectives and new discourses.

During the event, Sanjay Singh, Mohan Srivastava, and Naveen Kumar of the Akhar Trust announced the launch of the ‘Akhar Prose Writing Competition’ and the initiation of a digital magazine for the Bhojpuri Department in collaboration with Akhar. Students were encouraged to engage in original writing in Bhojpuri.

Several useful facilities for students have also been introduced in the newly established Mahendra Mishra Library within the department. Through the digital library, students and researchers of Bhojpuri literature will gain access to new resources for study and research.

Following the event, the PhD viva-voce examination of researcher Ravi Prakash Suraj was conducted. His research work, titled ‘A Social and Cultural Study of Bhojpuri and Chhattisgarhi Folk Narratives,’ was completed under the supervision of Prof. Diwakar Pandey. Prof. M.K. Pandey from the University of Delhi served as the external examiner. Ravi Prakash Suraj stated that the Bhojpuri folk ballad is one of the oral traditions that is rapidly vanishing. His research will prove useful not only in understanding the significance of these folk ballads but also in their preservation and promotion.

A large number of university faculty members, researchers, students, litterateurs, and journalists attended the event. Notable attendees included Neeraj Verma, Navneet Rai, Mukesh Kumar, Anand Bhushan Pandey, Jitendra Kumar, Krishna Kumar, Narendra Singh, Dinesh Tripathi, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Dr. Yashwant Kumar Singh, Sohit Sinha, and Dhunmun Singh.

This initiative to link the study of Bhojpuri literature with libraries, digital resources, and new research discourse could certainly prove significant for future generations.