Devotional hymns are parts of a rich fabric of culture that form an integral part of growing up years. An earlier generation of children would learn prayers recited in families as a part of daily rituals. In many urban homes today, daily prayers as a whole family is a practice now reserved for special occasions. Books such as My First Prayer to Lord Ram- a translation of Tulsidas’ prayer may well play a role in introducing some of these hymns to children.
My First Prayer to Lord Ram- a translation of Tulsidas’ prayer by Chitwan Mittal and Sarita Saraf, with gorgeous illustrations by Aparajitha Vasudev is an exceptional offering by independent children’s book publisher AdiDev Press. It is a translation that kids (and adults!) can read, understand and enjoy.
This illustrated translation however delivers much more than a simple translation. The illustrations have a soothing and calming quality about them. There is also a transliteration of the poem, the original text in Devanagari script is also printed and meanings of the words are given as well with arrows neatly linking the words. The text is constructed for readability, at grade 1-2 level, and hence this is a book that is accessible to all.
There are many different ways by which this book can be accessed by families. On one hand, it could be used to teach children the actual prayer in a fun manner. They can also learn about the meaning of the same. It could be a point of connect between grandparents and grandchildren, the book acting as a shared activity between two generations.
Readers can scan the QR code at the back of the book and they will be taken to the AdiDev Press Website where they can listen to the prayer to Lord Ram.
The rich and vivid illustrations do justice to the magnanimity of the hymn. They are captivating and in conjunction with the layered and meaningful writing, the book becomes a very engaging experience for both parents and children alike. That’s My First Prayer to Lord Ram for you!
