Shimla, September 4: Critics and writers termed S.R. Harnot’s Nadi-Rang Jaisi Ladki a powerful critique of unplanned development and environmental destruction in the Himalayas at the launch of a critical volume on the novel at Gaiety Theatre here on Thursday.
Senior poet-critic Rakeshranu said the novel, Harnot’s second after Hidimb, carries a strong environmental message, vividly portraying the destruction of rivers by human intervention.
Journalist and critic Jai Prakash Pandey said the extraordinary life of protagonist Sunma Dadi reflects the human cost of so-called development and its impact on mountain communities.
The speakers also urged the Himachal government to make Shimla free of petrol and diesel vehicles and promote electric vehicles, beginning with government fleets.
Editor Dr. Rajendra Badgujar said the critical volume, conceived during his fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, brings together essays by leading Hindi critics. Dr. Meenakshi F. Paul said she was translating the novel into English, describing it as an important work of contemporary environmental literature.
Published by New World Publication, the critical volume was released by Badgujar, Rakeshranu, Pandey and publisher M.M. Chandra in the presence of Harnot and several writers and critics.
The novel was published by Vani Prakashan in 2022 and has since gone through three editions. It is part of the BCA-3 syllabus at Bidar University and has been taken up for Ph.D. research at several universities, say the press release.
