Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 19: Dogri Sanstha Jammu today released a book of Dogri poems by Ashok Angurana, a retired senior IAS officer. The book is entitled “Mokala Gaas, Uchchi Doari” and contains 54 poems.
Khalid Hussain, renowned Punjabi and Urdu writer, was chief guest in this function, which was presided over by Prof Lalit Magotra, president of Dogri Sanstha. Darshan Darshi, Convener of Dogri Advisory Board in Sahitya Akademi and Dr Arvinder Singh Amn, Additional Secretary of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages were special guests on this occasion.
Veteran Dogri writer and senior poet Prakash Premi read a paper evaluating the literary merit of the released book. He said that Angurana has come up with new poetic symbolism and fresh expression. He further stressed that Angurana has covered some aspects of life, which earlier had found rare attention in Dogri poetry.
Khalid Hussain said that Angurana’s poetry has added new dimensions to Dogri literature, not only by venturing into unexpected subjects and themes but also by virtue of his direct style and the usage of typical chaste Dogri vocabulary. Khalid Hussain predicted that Angurana’s poetry will be considered as a firm step towards the modernization of Dogri poetry.
Prof Lalit Magotra, in his presidential address, pointed out that for quite some time it was being felt that Dogri poetry has reached a level of saturation and when we have to talk of excellence, we always look back to the past, but recently some of the new poets have kindled new hope and at times their poetry touches new heights of excellence. Angurana’s poetry can certainly be considered in this new class of poetry as it represents new and modern sensibility. To substantiate his opinion, he quoted a few verses from Angurana’s poetry.
Darshan Darshi, while speaking on merits of the book, said that in Angurana, Dogri has found an intellectual and sensitive poet, who has raised the expectations of all lovers of Dogri literature. Dr Arvinder Singh Amn observed that Angurana’s experience as a bureaucrat at various levels of Government manifested in the form of his poetry.
Angurana spoke on how he came to writing in Dogri and also read some of his poems, which were liked by the audience.
The program was anchored by Prof Shashi Pathania, who laced her presentation by her scholarly remarks and quoted liberally from the poetry of the author.
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