PVPF 2024

Interview With Chitwan Mittal, Author of "My First Hanuman Chalisa"

on Oct 25, 2022

Chitwan Mittal holds a BSc degree in English Education from Boston University and an MA in Values in Education from the University of London. She is a published author with titles such as Education for the Complete Person, Taittiriya Upanishad, and The Arguments for the Existence of God. Actively involved in children’s education since 2005, she was part of the committee that established the Indian Institute of Teacher Education and the Children’s University by the Government of Gujarat, India. Both institutes are focused on experiential learning and the holistic development of children through innovative educational tools. She is now foraying into the field of writing children’s picture books. Her books encourage engagement and diversity and focus on value-oriented education, bi-lingual learning, and South Asian culture. She lives between India and Singapore with her husband and two sons, who are her constant source of inspiration.

Frontlist: Understanding Hanuman Chalisa can be very challenging due to Sanskrit texts. How did you develop an interesting idea to publish the Hanuman Chalisa for young children?

Chitwan: As a child, I memorized the Hanuman Chalisa and would instinctively chant a few verses whenever afraid or needed strength. While teaching my children this powerful prayer, I began to wonder about the meaning of some of the words. Then, I decided to create a translation that children could read, understand and fall in love with. I wanted the book to be accessible to even very young children who are just beginning to read independently, so the book has been crafted keeping their reading and language levels in mind throughout.

Frontlist: How did the three of you get along while collaborating to finish this amazing book?

Chitwan: It was wonderful to work with both Sarita and Aparajitha on the book. Sarita and I collaborated on translating the text and ensuring the word meanings were correct. We loved Aparajita’s style in the sample she sent us—it kept the idea of Hanuman as an object of devotion but was also very contemporary. Our illustrations draw on imagery kids are familiar with already from superhero comics, and that was also something we were aiming for.

Frontlist: Do you think this book will make learning the Hanuman Chalisa more enjoyable, and will it influence young minds to a great extent?

Chitwan: Yes, definitely. Many children worldwide grow up with stories of Hanuman and are taught to recite this prayer, but many do not even understand what the verses mean. I wanted to make Hanuman Chalisa's text not just memorized but also understood, cherished, and enjoyed by every child. I also wanted our book to be a way to bring families together and to help parents and grandparents to share their faith and culture in an exciting and fun way.

Our translation is in simple English with word meanings. The text is at Grade 1-2 reading level and so is accessible to even emerging readers. We have also included a QR code on the back cover that enables parents to access a webpage where beautifully sung verses and word meanings are read aloud. With this book, we hope children will fall in love with Hanuman and treasure Tulsidas's simple prayer.

Frontlist: Illustrations have been made to comprehend Hanuman Chalisa's meaning explicitly. How did you conclude the layout of the book?

Chitwan: We went through many discussions on the layout because each page has many different elements. We wanted each page to include the original text in Awadhi with English transliteration so that children could simultaneously read and understand the text. This also gives them a flavor of the original language of the Hanuman Chalisa and a sense of the weight of tradition behind it. And we were keen to have stunning illustrations in this book to bring the story behind this prayer to life and add value to the text. So, for instance, on the page on which the text says Hanuman does Ram's work well, the illustration shows the building of the bridge to Lanka. In this way, the illustrations provide a story and context to the text, making reading the book a richer experience overall.

Frontlist: How does this book differ from other Hanuman Chalisa-based graphic books?

Chitwan: Most books available in the market are written for older readers and do not include illustrations. For our book, we took up the challenge of illustrating Hanuman in a completely original manner. We wanted to depict Hindu gods in a way that has not been seen before. We added magic, fantasy, and pop culture elements to create unforgettable imagery. We hope through the pictures to take children on a fantastical and wondrous journey, in which Hanuman is not just a god to be revered but a friend to be loved and held close to the heart.

It is also a book that can be read in many different ways. You could read just the Awadhi first or the transliteration and then come back to the translation, or you can approach it the other way around. We wanted the book to give the reader something new each time they open it, and this seemed like an excellent way to achieve that effect. And we’ve received feedback from readers of all ages that this is something they enjoyed about the book.

Frontlist: How does this book incorporate the notion of teaching Indian Heritage with modern essence to children?

Chitwan: The illustrations depict aspects of Hanuman’s life and character in a relatable way, and someone children can connect to. The idea was to make Hanuman ‘cool’, a character children can think of as a friend rather than a remote and distant god. That’s why the illustrations incorporate both traditional and pop-culture elements.

Frontlist: Many renowned personalities have acclaimed the book. Do you intend to write more books in the future that delineate Indian culture?

Chitwan: We were fortunate to be able to send our book out to so many renowned personalities and are delighted to have received feedback from them on it. Many pointed out how this book has made a mark because of its format and illustrations. We have more books planned in this series on other prayers and shlokas that we will showcase similarly. Some will be published towards the end of the year, while others are planned for subsequent years.