Book Review: “Bol Mhari Maati”
Author: Dr. Satyawan Saurabh
Publisher: R.K. Features, Pragyanshala, Bhiwani
Price: ₹260/-
Page Number: 120
ISBN: 978-7-1862-8282-6
Language: Haryanvi (Devanagari script)
Genre: Poetry Collection | Folk Literature | Contemporary Social Poetry
Vedprakash Bharat
When the name of Haryana comes to mind, it is milk, curd, farms, barns, wrestlers, Chaupal, Bagdi-Jebdi dialect, and a simple life. But there is a dark thing in the soil of Haryana – sensitivity. Dr. Satyavan Saurabh’s book “Bol Mhari Maati” has brought this sensitivity to us in the form of poetry. This is not just a collection of poems; it is a document of Haryanvi soil, dialect, culture, and folk consciousness.
Bol Meri Maati – is not just a book, it is a window to Haryanvi life. It has the rough dialect of the village, the pat of the mother, the father’s fields, the passion of the soldier, the anger of the girl, and the laughter of the community hall. Every couplet, every Kundaliya, tells a story. Through this collection, I salute my Haryana – its soil, its shadow, its dialect. As you read it, you will find the shadow of your village in every word.
be attached to the roots
Dr. Saurabh’s writing is grounded. Have a look:
“Roti aar lilu onion sa,
It is very hot in the afternoon.
Do not keep on complaining a lot,
My time is also the same today.”
These lines express the pain of the labourer as well as his self-esteem. The language is exactly like the common language – like the grandmothers tell it, like the discussions in the community hall.
The Haryanvi girl in the depiction of the girl in the collection is quite lifelike. Dr. Saurabh Chhori does not just show that he is helpless; he shows the power of change.
“Life fades under the veil,
Now it will become the headline of books.
Why should I teach you as a boy without wearing clothes?
Believe it, but don’t change it.”
In this poem, the veil has been removed, the pen has come into hand, and the girl has become the backbone of society.
Farming, threshing, and labour
Haryanvi farmers are connected to the soil, and Saurabh ji has expressed their every pain in words.
“Even though our land is barren,
The seeds of courage are being sown.
Soil nurtured with blood and sweat,
This is the wish of my father.”
This poem increases the pride of the soil. There is sweat in the poem, and also a rebellious spirit.
voice of the movement
There are many poems in the collection on agitation, government’s oppression, unemployment, and exploitation. See one poem:
“Give me a grain of rice,
Suck the sugarcane juice,
The government should slap me,
You can touch my bag!”
These lines are not just a protest, but a consciousness – farmers, labourers, poor.
The color of childhood
The section written on childhood life, “Bachpan Ra Ran,g” is filled with true innocence.
“I used to run barefoot,
I will not adopt the streets.
Roll the clay marbles,
Oh, let me sing the song of my heart.”
Listening to these lines feels as if my childhood days have come back.
Rhyme, style, and beauty
Doha, Chaupai, Kundaliya, and Muktakhand in the collection – all together made the poetry lively. But there is a charm of the Haryanvi dialect in all of them.
“In the words of the soil, the noise of truth,
The color of lies fades when the village peacock speaks.”
Short verses, but deep thoughts – this is the specialty of Dr. Saurabh.
A living picture of folk culture
Every layer of Haryanvi culture is visible in my soil – Teej-festivals, Ghaghra-Odhani, chulha-dhuni, songs-dance, anecdotes-stories. This book is a cultural document. Anyone who wants to understand Haryana should first read this book. “Bol Mhari Mati” is not like a book; it is like the heartbeat of the land of Haryana. In this era, when people feel shy of their speech, this collection reminds them that one should never forget one’s soil, one’s tongue, and one’s roots.
Whatever is said in this book has come directly from the mind – the tired back of the farmer, the silent eyes of the woman, the laughter of the unemployed boy, the helplessness of the master, and the silence of the theater of politics. Each one has 16 lines, and after every 4 lines, there is space to take a breath, as if there is a pause in life. The author has not said anything shocking or pretentious – he has written exactly what he saw, understood, and endured in society. Now, whether you live in a village or a city, after reading it you will feel – “Yes, this is what I also say.” This collection works to convey the dialect that arose from Lakhmichand’s Chaupal to the present generation, so that they can understand that it is not only in books, but also in life.
Last thing, why read this book?
If you want to see the real face of Haryana, read it. If you want to understand the level of literature in the Haryanvi dialect, read it. If you want to hear the voice of girls, labourers, farmers, movements, childhood, read it. This is not just a collection of poems; it is the call of the Haryanvi soul. Dr. Satyawan Saurabh’s “Bol Mhari Maati” describes Haryana’s dialect, customs, and soul in words. This collection should reach every home, every school, and every researcher.