Dr. Shikha Mishra
At the launch of Sanjay Mehta’s ‘Ek Ped Ki Katha’ in Bhopal, speakers highlight the need for quality children’s literature, environmental awareness and creative learning through theatre.
Bhopal: The need to create more abundant and high-quality literature for children was highlighted at the launch of noted writer and theatre personality Sanjay Mehta’s book, Ek Ped Ki Katha, in Bhopal.
‘Established Writers Should Write for Children’
Presiding over the programme, Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi, former Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), underlined the need for established writers to devote greater attention to children’s literature.
He said writers who create literature for children in Hindi do not always receive the recognition accorded to literary writers, whereas in several other Indian languages, literary journeys often begin with writing for children.
Dwivedi also expressed concern over the various challenges facing childhood in contemporary times. He stressed the importance of creating literature that can understand and respond to the changing experiences and concerns of children.
Speaking at the book launch, Raghunandan Sharma, executive president of Manas Pratishthan and a thinker, said the shortage of meaningful literature for children has become an important concern in the present times. He called for greater encouragement for writers to create literature that can engage children while helping them understand society, nature and the environment.
Sharma said Ek Ped Ki Katha goes beyond telling a story about a tree and effectively brings out the importance of environmental conservation as well as the struggles and experiences of farmers. He observed that literature can play a significant role in reconnecting children with nature and developing sensitivity towards environmental concerns.
Sanjay Mehta’s Sixth Book
At the beginning of the programme, author Sanjay Mehta shared experiences from his literary journey. He said Ek Ped Ki Katha is his sixth book and expressed his intention to continue writing extensively for children in the future.
The book’s focus on a tree and its relationship with environmental conservation provides an opportunity to introduce young readers to ecological concerns through storytelling. Speakers at the programme emphasised that such literature can make complex social and environmental issues more accessible and meaningful for children.
Theatre Can Strengthen Learning and Social Messages
Dr Santosh Choubey, writer and educationist and a distinguished guest at the event, called for greater adaptation of literary stories into dramatic forms.
He said more literary stories should be adapted for performance and that theatre productions should be encouraged on a wider scale. According to Choubey, theatre can communicate social messages effectively to people and can also become an engaging medium for learning.
His emphasis on theatre was particularly relevant given Sanjay Mehta’s association with the performing arts, linking literary storytelling with live performance and public engagement.
Children Can Become Partners in Environmental Conservation
Gunjan Chouksey, Supreme Court advocate and distinguished guest, said environmental conservation should be treated as a serious concern in contemporary society.
She stressed that when children are connected with environmental issues at an early age, both society and the wider world stand to benefit. Her remarks reinforced the broader theme of the programme—that literature can serve as an important bridge between children and pressing social and ecological concerns.
‘Samagam’ Special Issue Also Released
The programme also featured the release of a special issue of the research journal ‘Samagam’, themed ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Authors were also felicitated during the event.
A poster for ‘Samagam Gurukul’ was released on the occasion, adding another dimension to the programme’s focus on literature, education and knowledge-sharing.
The programme was conducted by Prof. Manoj Kumar, editor of Samagam.
Dr Vikas Dave, director of the Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, along with several recognised personalities associated with theatre, literature and journalism, attended the programme.
The discussions surrounding Ek Ped Ki Katha highlighted a larger question facing contemporary education and culture: how can literature help children understand the rapidly changing world around them? The speakers collectively stressed that children's literature must not merely entertain young readers but should also nurture curiosity, sensitivity, environmental awareness and a deeper connection with society and nature.
The launch of Ek Ped Ki Katha, therefore, emerged not merely as a book-release ceremony but as a call for greater investment in children’s literature and more creative ways of taking meaningful stories to young audiences.
