Returning to Childhood is Essential

oshiarpur/ Oct.3/Daljeet Ajnoha :;Renowned writer and recipient of Shiromani and Sahitya Akademi awards, Manmohan Singh Daun, emphasized the importance of reconnecting with childhood to create authentic children’s literature during a literary dialogue held at Krumblan Bhavan, Mahilpur. Daun highlighted that contemporary children’s writers often use long, complex sentences that confuse young readers, whereas children require short, engaging, and age-appropriate vocabulary and sentences. He expressed concern over the difficulty in finding genuinely useful books for children today, pointing out that many valuable literary works fail to reach their intended young audience—a responsibility shared by parents and educators alike. According to Daun, a children’s writer should possess historical, contemporary, and futuristic perspectives to enrich their creations.The event was organized by Sur Sangam Educational Trust, Mahilpur, and featured world-renowned writer and artist Kamaljit Neelo as a special guest. Neelo captivated the audience with his singing and artwork, presenting new stories accompanied by his illustrations. He announced plans to revive the “Bal Kafila” (Children’s Caravan) in the district, supported by Nikitan Karumblan Publications, echoing a similar initiative from 1990. The objective is to instill moral values among children and reinforce their connection to their mother tongue and cultural heritage.Artist Bagga Singh praised Manmohan Singh Daun and Kamaljit Neelo, describing them as rare literary and artistic talents whose works positively influence students and inspire a new generation of writers.In a related session, Bibi Daljit Kaur Daun underscored the significance of Ayurveda and traditional remedies, noting that many illnesses can be treated with common kitchen ingredients like fennel, carom seeds, ginger, and black pepper. She cautioned against the increasing reliance on packaged and processed foods, encouraging the use of natural ingredients for health preservation.Concluding the event, Sur Sangam Educational Trust President Baljinder Mann expressed gratitude to attendees and reaffirmed the Trust’s mission to promote the mother tongue, ensuring future generations maintain ties to their rich cultural legacy.The event was attended by prominent community members, including Principal Manjit Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur, Sukhman Singh, Harveer Mann, Kenchar Singh Bains, Raghuvir Singh Kaloa, Narinder Kumar, Nidhi Aman S and Kuldeep Kaur Bains, among other literature and culture enthusiasts.