Future of Dogri linked with teaching in primary education

Symposium on Children literature in Dogri held
Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, June 2: Until the regional languages are introduced primary education and the younger generation feels pride in speaking the mother tongue, the future of Dogri as a modern language is going to bleak, was the informed opinion of the eminent Dogri writers, poets and scholars.
The galaxy of Dogra intellectuals had come together in the one day symposium organized by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, on ‘Children Literature in Dogri: Present Status and Future Concerns’, at the K L Saigal Hall, here today.
The Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Mohan Pal Singh Issar, chaired the inaugural session, while Prof Lalit Magotra delivered the key note address. Prof Magotra highlighted the importance of children literature in development of regional language like Dogri. Tracing the growth of literature for children all over the world, he particularly noted the Indian tradition as best seen in stories of Panchtantra, Jatakas, Vetalpachisi and Hitopadesh.
Prof Magotra stressed upon the essentiality of Government patronage in the development of regional languages especially by introducing these languages in primary education.
In his presidential address, Mohan Pal Singh Issar said that unless a language becomes the language of trade and every day affairs, it is difficult for it to survive. He lamented the current fashion where social recognition is given to one who speaks in English.
He said good and interesting children literature is the need of the hour.
Earlier, Prof Veena Gupta, convener, Dogri Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, welcomed the guests and dignitaries and gave an outline of the symposium. She also gave an overview of the extant children literature in Dogri. The inaugural session was concluded by Shantanu Gangopadhyay, assistant editor, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
The second session of the Symposium was chaired by Padamshree Prof Nilamber Dev Sharma. Prominent writers and scholars Prof Champa Sharma and Prof Satya Pal Srivatsa read papers on Children Play in Dogri and Children stories in Dogri respectively.
In the third session, three papers by Dr Gian Singh, Dr Nirmal Vinod and Yash Raina were presented on Children Poetry, Children Novel and Children Magazines and Prose writing in Dogri respectively. Dr Goswami, well known Dogri writer and scholar chaired the session.
Prof Veena Gupta presented the vote of thanks. She expressed her gratitude to the paper readers and the audience for making the symposium a success. Prominent among the audience were well known poets and writers of Dogri and other languages such as Krishna Prem, Praduman Singh, Prof Rita Jatinder, Thakur Baldev Singh, Prof Raj Kumar, Mohan Singh, Shiv Dev Singh Shusheel, Sunil Sharma, Shiv Mehta, Vijya Thakur, Virendra Kesar, Prof Shashi Pathania, Sham Talib, Baljit Raina and Neeru Sharma.