Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 1: “Languages need interaction to flourish; in isolation, they often decay. Dogri, too, risks becoming a lost cause unless the people of Jammu integrate it with technology, connect it with languages like Sanskrit, English, Punjabi, and Urdu, and encourage translations that take the works of Dogri writers beyond the region.”
This was the central message of Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu while speaking at the Cheten Di Lari Scholarship event, part of the 10th Kunwar Viyogi Utsav 2025, jointly organised by the Departments of Dogri and English at the JU.
The Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust also unveiled the blueprint of the new Kunwar Viyogi Auditorium that it will be constructing for innovation in languages. The blueprint of the auditorium was unveiled by KVM Trustee Aarushi Juneja Jamwal, who is also a well-established architect in a Delhi-based firm.
During the unveiling ceremony, Aarushi said, ” The auditorium is a tribute to Kunwar Viyogi’s legacy; a cultural hub for the vibrant youth of Jammu. It’s a space for nurturing language, literature, and performing arts and reflects a vision of modern design rooted in culture, and inclusivity.”
At the event, meritorious students were honoured with scholarships instituted by the Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust in memory of Group Captain Randhir Singh Jamwal, fondly remembered as Kunwar Viyogi. Rupali Devi received the Prem Jamwal Merit Scholarship for topping MA in Dogri; Pankaj Sharma was awarded the Kunwar Viyogi Merit Scholarship for topping MA in Dogri and Aisha Talhat received the Prem Jamwal Merit Scholarship for topping MA in English.
Trust Founder, Poonam Singh Jamwal shared her life experiences with that of her father Kunwar Viyogi and stressed that it was for the love of the language that she keeps coming back and is tirelessly working since 10 years to take Dogri to the world.
The event began with a formal welcome address by HoD Dogri Sushma Sharma. Noted music director Brij Mohan spoke of his inspiration to compose and translate Kunwar Viyogi’s patriotic Dogri song Jai Dogra.
Padma Shri Lalit Mangotra, President Dogri Sanstha, laid stress on the need to introduce integrated and comparative studies in literature and leveraging technology to widen the reach and scope of the language. Padma Shri Mohan Singh Slathia underscored the urgent need to preserve Dogri as the lifeline of Duggar identity. The event concluded with the launch of a student journal.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
