Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: A historical novel “Peediyen Di Peed”, authored by prominent Dogri fiction writer Shiv Mehta, was released by Dogri Sanstha at a well attended function organized at Dogri Bhawan in connection with Dogri Manta Din -2016 celebrations.
Veteran writer-critic Padamshri Prof Nilembar Dev Sharma presided over the function whereas Prof Lalit Magotra was the chief guest and Dr Veena Gupta was the guest of honour.
The voluminous novel, first of its kind in Dogri, narrates the story encompassing 12 generations of Dogras from 1650 to 1950. The main theme of novel is based on the Karma theory that generations suffer for the misdeeds of their ancestors.
In his address, Prof Magotra said that ” Peediyen Di Peed” is superb gift on this occasion of jubilation by Shiv Mehta who is known for his unique style of story telling . He cautioned the Dogras against the anti-Dogri attitude of present coalition Government which , he said, has adopted a policy of ignoring and undermining the significance of Dogri in every field.
Dr Veena Gupta said that Government has made least contribution to the development of Dogri language, literature and culture. “Thousands of students who love to read Dogri as a subject are being forced to shift to other languages,” she alleged.
Kashmir Singh, former Legislator, lamented that in spite of a considerable number of public representatives of Jammu region sharing power, they were acting as mute spectators to the dire state of their mother tongue.
Prof N D Sharma recalled the long struggle to secure the constitutional honour for Dogri.
In his welcome address Chhatrapal, president of Dogri Sanstha, announced to launch an agitation for the restoration of Dogri subject in Hr Secondary schools. “It is crime to thwart a person from speaking or learning his/her mother tongue. Many social, cultural, political and religious organizations and sections of society have come forward to support this agitation,” he added.
Shiv Mehta interacted with the audience on his writing process and also read out some paragraphs of his novel. The programme was followed by a Kavi Sammelan
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