Karanvir Gupta
The hangovers must be over and everyone would have started settling for 2014. Resolutions must have been set as always just to be taken again next year. Just if we could understand that New Year would keep the things same and remain unchanged until and unless we push for it and try hard to rise above our own predefined levels. Alas, we are caught in our own “busy” lives always making an excuse for one or the other reason and not making it to what we resolve to achieve. But have we ever given a thought that we have always been selfish enough to make resolutions for ourselves. Was it really the purpose of us being born, to live for ourselves? Probably not so bright a thought to ponder upon in the beginning of the year but then enough as food for thought!
This year, 2014, I intend to shift your epicenters of thought towards our very own ‘City of Temples’, the Jammu city. My thoughts have not been just my own. They have been accumulation of certain incidents that happened recently on my vacation to Jammu and over the things that have happened over the time. As always I see Jammu racing faster and pacing up with times. More and more branded outlets coming up in Jammu, the variety of cars ever increasing, roads seeming narrower than before, more trees getting vanished in every new trip but unfortunately people drifting away from the roots of culture.
Seven years staying away from home, I have been thrusted upon by many a question regarding our culture, community and language. Though I tried my best to find answers to many of them yet there were times when I couldn’t. This time I thought of gathering more and authenticated information about Dogri culture, literature and history. But to my dismay, there were only pieces tattered here and there. There was no consolidated text or work that could satisfy my quench for the same. The question is why? Unfortunately as you drift away from northern India, people even do not know if there is a language called Dogri. That answers that just getting a language recognized in the eyes of constitution is not sufficient to keep it alive.
Jammu Festival that was held a few days back, though a good move, but seems to be for namesake. I do not believe that were the only things to be put up on display. I would say rather it was a poor show. Why not have it conceptualised in the form of Jammu Haat just as Delhi Haat exists. The place and the ambience should be reflective of our culture, sweetness and hospitality that we are known for. I doubt if a generation immediate next would even be able to understand Dogri or not.
I wonder if when the old forts, fortresses and temples would be restored properly to preserve the heritage. Or probably not taking care of the heritage of a community (that too minority) is one of the new ways in taciturnity to eliminate it over the period of time. Business and money is all what we have always meant. Our doors and hearts have been always open to everyone irrespective of any sect or religion people belong to. And this is our strength but then to prevent our own identity is our onus alone. This might sound weird at this point of time but if you see in the foresight, this is time we need to take preventive steps.
I am neither taking potshots at anyone nor undermining the efforts of anyone who has been working to preserve and promote the cultural heritage. My thoughts are probably more of an introspection which I believe many of you would agree with because I consider myself equally responsible for such a negligent attitude that we have adopted towards our culture over the years. By just liking or commenting few pages on social networking sites, we might not be able to achieve what we really want to. This is time for some real ground work. And it requires elderly, young; everyone to work for the same. Let’s do it before we run out of reservoir of source of information on our culture and its roots.
All what I expect out of each one of us is to dedicate this year of 2014 towards consolidating Dogra culture and contribute in the best possible ways we can. Literature, old art forms, dance, language, architecture and buildings; all that reflects our culture needs to be taken care of. Some of you reading might call this piece of article orthodox in nature, I call this forewarning preventing the people from the pangs of pain that might have to be faced in future because of disinterest shown now. Only when we will stand to the cause and work for it, the policymakers and Government would come forward to support the same.
(The writer is a student at IIM Shillong)
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