Open-Air Theatre renamed as Padma Sachdev Sur Sanwad Rangsthal
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 31: The Literary Club of the University of Jammu, under the aegis of UTSAAH, organized a literary event titled “Echoed in Verse: Literary Tribute to Jammu’s Monuments” at the Open-Air Theatre of the varsity.
The programme, themed “Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future,” celebrated Jammu’s heritage through storytelling, poetry, and prose, inspiring students to connect with the region’s cultural legacy.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Umesh Rai, who was the Chief Guest, lauded the initiative as “a remarkable experiment in dissolving boundaries and evolving education.”
He said the essence of the National Education Policy 2020 lies in integrating disciplines to create holistic learning.
“Whether it is mathematics, history, or literature-every field carries a rhythm and pattern that connect us to a shared pursuit of knowledge,” he remarked.
Prof Rai proposed more such interdisciplinary events linking heritage, culture, and literature, assuring institutional support for research and documentation at historic sites.
He stressed the need for media, civil society, and academia to work together for sustainable cultural revival.
Marking a cultural milestone, Prof Rai announced the renaming of the Open-Air Theatre as “Padma Sachdev Sur Sanwad Rangsthal,” in honour of the legendary Dogri poetess whose writings shaped Jammu’s cultural identity.
Guest of Honour Prof Shyam Narayan praised the theme “Monument and Literature: A Symbiotic Relationship,” observing that literature preserves the essence of monuments by capturing emotions and memories often ignored by history.
Quoting writers like Padma Sachdev and Shiv Nirmohi, he said their works transformed nostalgia into cultural activism.
Senior journalist and author Arun Joshi described literature as the true custodian of monuments, saying that “stones remain silent until words give them life.”
Eminent writer Khalid Hussain highlighted Jammu’s timeless heritage, urging for its revival through education and tourism.
Emphasising the need to revive and preserve such heritage, he urged for better access to historical sites and greater efforts to integrate them into the region’s tourism and cultural identity.
The event, coordinated by Prof Meena Sharma and Prof Sadaf Shah, concluded with student performances inspired by historic sites and a vote of thanks by Prof Shah.
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