Sangana Nahi Pan Sangana Wana

‘Sangan Nahi Pan Sangan Vana’ is Dr. Dilip Dhondge’s very first work of creative nonfiction in the Ahirani language. The writing is not only charming but also a powerful narrative that evokes a whirlwind of emotions. In this work, the act of ‘telling’ becomes an exuberant expression. It possesses an irresistible narrative impulse, a compelling urge to share a story that cannot be kept bottled up inside. The storyteller’s eagerness is passed on to the listener, drawing them into the narrative at every turn. The flow of storytelling remains uninterrupted.

The work offers an understanding of the self through experiences and relationships involving people, cattle, fields, schools, friends, family ties, and even those with whom new bonds are formed. It explores the self in relation to everyone and everything that becomes a part of one’s life.

Reading this work aloud can be an immensely enjoyable experience, bringing the distinctive flavour of the Ahirani dialect vividly to life. It captures the drama, humour, joys, and sorrows of rural existence. It portrays the processes of living, flourishing, breaking down, confronting difficult circumstances, and rising again with renewed strength.

The narrator, who brings the drama of these stories to life, observes rural society with restraint and understanding. While revealing himself, he embraces the cultural expressions of the Ahirani region within his own sense of self. He immerses himself in children, adults, animals, agriculture, and the soil itself, offering an authentic indigenous expression of creativity.

After reading this work, one realizes that all these experiences deserve to be narrated, are worth sharing, and are worth listening to. This is a remarkable and natural work of prose—the first of its kind to do justice to the richness and expressive potential of the Ahirani language.