When your music teacher cousin gets his students to understand the importance of reading through the song, “So, please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall,” there was a deluge of memories of summer vacations with Roald Dahl.
On his birth anniversary and Roald Dahl Day, we talk to fans about the man who found that “a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”
Krupa Paulson, manager of a NGO says: “My all-time favourite Dahl book is Matilda . Like he said, ‘If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely’.”
Dean Lobo, an instructional designer chooses “ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because of the simple yet ingenious storytelling that Dahl employs to tell us good comes with being humble and caring, and what happens when one is selfish, greedy and capitalistic.”
He adds: “Dahl will always be my favourite for the brilliance with which he delved into the innocent, yet deep perspective of a child, which his illustrator, Quentin Blake so beautifully complemented with his doodle-like illustrations. Not to forget the funny and creative adjectives Dahl invented to aid his storytelling!”
Sandra Oberoi, singer, musician and founder of Harmony Music School, Koramangala, says: “Imaginative, creative, intriguing, passionate, captivating- these are just some words that pop into my mind when I think of Roald Dahl's stories. His writing captures the reader’s attention from the very beginning. Anyone who has read his books finds something they can relate to, something that appeals to them. My choral ensemble, The Harmony Children’s Choir, will perform two songs from Matilda as part of Cadence, a concert featuring Broadway hits, in November.” Her 11-year-old daughter, Tiara, is also a fan of Dahl. She says: “He was able to portray all the feelings of the characters with great detail in his books. He could think up idea after idea and make the reader imagine every scene while reading. He has a unique sense of humour and writes with a fun twist that makes me want to go back to reading his books over and over again. I love his work. Happy birthday Roald Dahl!”
“What I admire most about Dahl’s writing is that he developed a language of his own,” says Jeremy Dawson, a freelance writer. “This gobblefunk includes words he uses when his world of imagination transcended regular adjectives. That is also why The BFG (Big Friendly Giant ) is my all-time favourite read. It is packed with gobblefunk. Since I studied in an all boy’s school, ‘bogglebox’ was a word we used a lot. My other favourite words include ‘crodscollop’, ‘phizz-whizzing’ and ‘whoopsy-splunkers.’ His books transported me into new worlds and introduced me to amazing people who lived exciting lives.”
Children were always the heroes of his stories and their triumph over evil adults is common in his books. “Roald Dahl also told some gory stories but he did it in a way that nobody else can,” says Radha Singh, a teacher. “Whether it was about disgusterous creatures or blood-sucking giants, he has always had his reader captivated.”
About seven decades ago Dahl began entertaining children with his books that had Oompa Loomps, poisnowse and grisly creatures, witches, quagwinkles and crabcrunchers, among others. He spoke to children through the children in his books. And while his short stories and screenplays have a colossal fan following, the child in us will always cherish his children’s books which are the best companions, on the porch or on a train, when you’ve had a ringbeller or a trogglehumper. It’s been 24 years since his passing, but through his works, the time-widdler and his tales live on!
