Dr. Kundan Yadav, a language aficionado who wanted to be a professor. but ended up in IRS (C& IT), is among the few left who knows a dying language. Equally comfortable in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Dr. Yadav can speak almost every dialect of Hindi.
Currently, posted as Additional Commissioner CGST (Chandigarh), he is also one of the few left who knows ‘Apbhransh’ (an ancient dialect) which is on the verge of extinction.
Even though working on tax and money, Dr. Yadav never lost his love for languages and only added to his vocabulary over the years. Recently he came up with his first collection of stories titled ‘Gandasa Guru Ki Shapath’ which is rooted in the Indian heartland.
During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer talked about his stories and his connection with ‘Apbhransh’.
CHILD POET
Dr. Yadav, who went on to become an Allahabad University graduate before completing further studies from BHU and JNU, was mesmerised by the sea while living in Pondicherry. He penned his first poem at the age of 12.
Literature both in prose and poem has always been special to him. Over the years as he continued to write, he gathered both appreciation and criticism. His originality and style of writing also picked many followers finally bringing him to his first story collection published by Rajkamal.
GANDASA GURU KI SHAPATH
Dr. Kundan chose his native dialect for his stories that brought out the essence of Banaras. The title and stories both make you laugh and inspire human values. Stories like ‘Kotwal Ram Lakhan Singh’, and ‘Majbooti’ Ka Naam Mahatma Gandhi’ would make you think.
Sharing the behind-the-scenes of his unique title ‘Gandasa Guru Ki Shapath’, Dr. Yadav says, “Guru is a common title in Banaras and around. It is given to people with some uniqueness.
“The ‘Gandasa’ Guru was named after he chopped of his finger after being bitten by a snake, only to know that the snake was not poisonous. He later started to organize gambling and vowed to never stop come what may.” On using the native dialect, the officer says it keeps the story true to its roots.
SAVING APBHRANSH
Apbhransh is known to be the link between Prakrit, Sanskrit and Hindi. Only a handful of people know this language. When he reached BHU for masters, he chose this language as part of his oriental studies. Now, he has a degree in it.
Sharing a story he says, “Whenever I used to go back to Banaras (his native place) I used to pray in Apbhransh only to the priest’s chagrin. Then the officer told him:”Since only a few are left who speaks Apbhransh, this makes my queue shorter and God eventually attends to me faster.”
When he cracked the UPPCS, the priest told everyone it was because of his choice of apbhransh.His next work includes collecting what is left of “Apbhransh” and describing it in his own words. He is also working on a book with Sorathe in Braj.
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