Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: A two-day National Gojri-Urdu Adbi Conference began in Jammu today with a vibrant Urdu Mushaira and cultural programmes at the Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust Complex, Channi Himmat.
The event was organised by Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust and saw participation of poets, scholars, academicians and cultural personalities from different areas.
Cabinet Minister Javed Ahmed Rana inaugurated the conference virtually as he was busy in official engagements in Doda.
In his message, he appreciated the efforts of the Trust in promoting Gojri and Urdu languages, literature and culture.
Principal Secretary, Culture Department, B M Sharma, who was the guest of honour, praised the organisers for holding such a meaningful literary event.
Prof Shohab Inayat Malik, Dr Javed Rahi and Seema Anil Sehgal attended as special guests.
Trust chairman Arshad Ali Choudhary welcomed the guests and highlighted the aims of the conference.
The inaugural session included registration of participants and a Naat Sharif presented by students of KB Public School.
The main attraction of the first day was a grand Urdu Mushaira featuring noted poets including Khurshid Bismil, Ahmed Din Shanas, Samaria Samar, Aleena Itrat, Tara Iqbal, Sajida Saba, Naseem Akhtar and others.
Khurshid Bismil presided over the Mushaira while Ahmed Din Shanas was the guest in the presidium.
The programme was conducted by Dr Akhter Hussain and Naseem Akhtar.
During his address, Khurshid Bismil stressed the need for a social campaign against drug abuse and called for protecting the younger generation from the growing menace.
The event was attended by trustees, senior citizens, social activists, students and media persons.
Cultural performances by students, Gojri songs by Aneesa Kareem and Ch Bashir Mastana, and an address by Patron-in-Chief Haji Abdul Hamid Choudhary added colour to the programme.
Speakers also stressed the need for preservation and promotion of Gojri language, literature and culture.
The second day of the conference will feature more literary sessions, a Gojri Mushaira and cultural programmes.
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