My First Hanuman Chalisa: A Picture Book for Kids
My initially Hanuman Chalisa is an illustrated translation of the Hanuman Chalisa. The reserve will make it simpler for young ones (and grownups) to fully grasp, get pleasure from, and fall in enjoy with this easy prayer. It is translated by Chitwan Mittal and Sarita Saraf, and illustrated by Aparajitha Vaasudev.
We interviewed Chitwan Mittal on why she decided to publish a e book on Hanuman Chalisa and what is her vision for her publishing residence – AdiDev Press. Beneath is the transcription of the interview.
Why did you choose to translate the Hanuman Chalisa for Young ones?
As a baby, I memorized the Hanuman Chalisa. Instinctively, I would chant a several verses each time afraid or required power. While instructing my own young children this powerful prayer, I began to marvel about the that means of some of the words and phrases. It is then that I decided to make a translation that children could examine, have an understanding of and drop in love with!
What can make this book, My very first Hanuman Chalisa, so unique?
The Hanuman Chalisa is a single of the most-cherished prayers in Hinduism. Numerous small children, all more than the entire world, mature up with tales of Hanuman and are taught to recite this prayer, intuitively. Most will instinctively consider of a number of verses when they are afraid or want to pray for power and bravery. But many do not even fully grasp what the verses mean.
I aspired to make the textual content of the Hanuman Chalisa, not just a little something that is memorized but also understood, cherished, and liked by each individual and each and every boy or girl. Our translation is in simple English with word meanings. The text is produced for readability, at quality 1-2 amount. Just about every webpage includes the initial textual content in Awadhi with English transliteration. With this e-book, we hope for small children to drop in love with Hanuman and treasure Tulsidas’s very simple prayer.
For our illustrations, we took up the obstacle of illustrating Hanuman in a totally original method. We added features of magic, fantasy, and pop tradition to produce unforgettable imagery. It is in contrast to any other depiction of Hindu gods that have been noticed right before. The gorgeous illustrations in this e book carry the story behind this prayer to existence. And we hope, by means of the photographs, to choose young children on a fantastical and wondrous journey, in which Hanuman is not just a god to be revered but a close friend to be beloved and held near to the coronary heart.
We have also integrated a QR code on the again deal with that enables moms and dads to obtain a webpage where verses are wonderfully sung and phrase meanings are study aloud.
Is this ebook mostly focused at young children or anyone who would like to fully grasp the Hanuman Chalisa?
There are numerous grown ups all above the earth who enjoy and recite this prayer day-to-day. And a lot of who confess to not definitely knowing all the words, despite their devotion and everyday ritual. This reserve has been created in a way that folks of all ages will delight in looking through it. The outstanding print high-quality will make this book one that is cherished by the whole spouse and children. Dad and mom and grandparents will enjoy reading it with the small children and grandchildren and sharing their faith and culture in an enjoyable and exciting way.
Can you remember to convey to us a minimal about the sort of publications that AdiDev Press is publishing?
I started out AdiDev Press with a mission to generate significant-quality picture textbooks for young children that would signify South Asian tradition and views. My childhood, like most people today of my era, was filled with storybooks of western origin and agent of western lifestyle and ethos. When I was more mature and researching in Boston and London, I spent all my weekends browsing the children’s portion of huge bookstores, as nicely as at specialty e book retailers. I longed to link with my residence and society, to someday stumble on books with photographs and stories indigenous to South Asia. But, unfortunately it in no way happened!
And substantially afterwards, as a young ex-pat mother living in Singapore, I soon understood that not considerably experienced changed and South Asian storybooks were nonetheless difficult to find. I made the decision to prevent searching and start out developing the really guides that I usually missed –stories that stand for South Asian individuals and lifestyle. And, AdiDev Press came into existence.
We have an exciting line-up of textbooks coming up this year….
We are launching a collection on biographies for small children identified as, Mastering TO BE. This is an engaging collection that introduces young children to important values. The series is based on effective South Asian personalities and their philosophies.
The initial 3 titles to be launched in February are Kindness with Mahavira, Service with Guru Nanak, Peace with Buddha. These are composed by me in collaboration with Sarita Saraf and illustrated by award-winning illustrator, Debasmita Dasgupta.
Presently, the team is working on multiple sets of guides for the Discovering TO BE collection, which includes Girls in Science and Sportswomen, to be posted later on this yr. These textbooks have been prepared by award-successful poet, Pervin Saket. Each and every e-book is remaining illustrated by a diverse South Asian illustrator, introducing a various range of visual designs to young children.
We believe that biographies can be inspiring and uplifting tools. We are dedicated to producing the sequence by producing publications on artists and modify-makers.
We are releasing a Hindi alphabet guide referred to as J is for Jalebi, in February 2022. It is a quirky introduction to Hindi alphabets and South Asian food stuff vocabulary. Pursuing this, we have a sequence of bilingual guides (Hindi and English) for early viewers (4-8-year-olds), releasing afterwards this calendar year. The titles are: ‘A Pagdi for Sinh’, ‘One Elephant, Two Monkeys’ and ‘Animal Band’. The intent of this series is to introduce small children to vocabulary linked to South Asian clothing, musical instruments, and Hindi figures, in a entertaining and playful fashion. We also have another, ought to awaited bilingual book, on colours termed, Colors with Radha Krishna.
Supplied the too much to handle reaction to our e book, My Very first Hanuman Chalisa, we have resolved to expand our prayer reserve collection. We will be releasing a smaller guide, which will be an accompaniment to our initial Hanuman Chalisa. It is an illustrated translation of the small prayer, Ram Chandra Kripalu Bhajaman.
In addition to these, we have a myriad of other textbooks on South Asian mythology, festivals, and culture underneath advancement.
If you could encapsulate the wisdom of the Hanuman Chalisa, what would that be?
Hanuman is the epitome of energy and bravery. We pray to him when we come to feel fear and want to sense brave rather. I believe that that the knowledge of the Hanuman Chalisa lies in believing in our interior toughness. When Hanuman was asked to fly across the ocean to come across Sita, he much too doubted his individual capacities. He essential to be reminded of his inner power, substantially like we generally will need a reminder to believe that in our internal selves.
So, to me, the essence and knowledge of the Hanuman Chalisa are this:
You are powerful and brave. Consider it!
Chitwan Mittal holds a BSc in English Training from Boston College and an MA in Values in Instruction from the University of London. A released writer she has been actively included in children’s education and learning considering that 2005, and was an training expert to the Authorities of Gujarat. She has just lately written and released 6 children’s picture books, encouraging engagement and variety, worth-oriented training and bi-lingual discovering with a concentrate on South Asian culture. She life in between India and Singapore with her spouse and two sons, who are her frequent supply of inspiration. She is the Founder of AdiDev Push, an unbiased publishing enterprise centered in India.
