Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: Alarmed by the growing trend amongst new generation of Dogras to shy away from speaking mother tongue in favor of Hindi or English, Dogri Sanstha, the pioneer literary working for development of Dogri language since more than six decade, organized a one day seminar on ‘Popularization of Dogri: Needs and Solutions’, at the K L Saigal Hall, here today.
Speaking in his presidential address Prof Lalit Magotra, President Dogri Sanstha, said that the seminar which marks a shift in Sanstha’s focus from literature to the language, while acknowledging that only good quality Dogri literature is not sufficient to keep the language alive in day to day speech, the seminar is aimed at locating other popular ways and means to ensure survival of Dogri in present era of globalization and homogenization.
Khalid Bashir, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, the chief guest of the function while appreciating dedication and commitment of Sanstha towards Dogri, said that all regional languages are under threat as new generations are ignoring their respective mother tongues. He informed that Academy is going to organize an inter-language meet so that writers and scholars of various State languages get an opportunity to discuss the problems that regional languages are facing today.
Earlier welcoming the audience Prof Veena Gupta, general secretary, Dogri Sanstha, gave background of the seminar and the effort to cover all relevant topics like children literature, media, music, social media etc.
In the paper reading session presided over by Padamshree Nilamber Dev Sharma, Praduman Singh, Jandraia, eminent folk singer and poet and the living legend, who presented paper on ‘Role of Music in Popularizing Dogri’, emphasized the importance of attracting youth through catchy Dogri music. Chhtrapal, well-known short story writer and satirist who read paper on ‘Role of Stage, Film and Media in Popularizing Dogri’ urges the need for an exclusive Duggar Channel, community radio, effective use of electronic media, theatre etc. Surjeet Singh ‘Hosh’ Badsali who presented paper on ‘Role of Children Literature in Popularizing Dogri’ also gave useful suggestions like production of comics, illustrated books and also ensuring that these actually reach to the students.
Padamshree Nilamber Dev Sharma, in his remarks appreciated the paper readers for their suggestions and said that missionary zeal is required to achieve the aim of popularizing Dogri in day to day life.
Dr Nirmal Vinod, secretary of Dogri Sanstha, conducted the program which was attended by a large number of writers, poets of various languages.
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