* Speakers discuss challenges, opportunities
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Sept 23: The 2-day Pahari Conference, organized by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, started today with participating writers and scholars stressing on popularization and promotion of the language and its literature.
Inaugurated by Vice Chairman, J&K Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, Kafil-ur-Rehman, the literary event is the fourth in the series of language conferences organized by the Academy since October last. Earlier, conferences were held about Kashmiri, Dogri and Punjabi languages even as similar activity is in the offing with respect to Gojri, Urdu, Hindi and Bodhi.
The conference began on a positive note with speakers sounding optimistic about the richness and development of the language and appreciating the Academy’s initiative to focus on the challenges and opportunities for Pahari language. During two days, several paper reading sessions will be held and issues relating to Pahari language thoroughly discussed and debated.
On the first day, three papers were presented including Pahari Zaban: Masayil Te Mawaqe by Zafar Iqbal Manhas, Pahari Zaban Te Isna Nasri Adab by Ghulam Haider Nadeem and Pahari Zaban Naway Daur Ni Darwatni Ver by Fida Rajourvi, followed by question-answer session. On the concluding day, seven papers will be presented by K. D. Maini, Raja Nazar Boniyari, Dr. Jahangir Danish, Nazir Qureshi, Nisar Rahi, Dr. Abdul Haq Nayeemi and Abdur Rashid Qureshi. The papers cover various aspects of Pahari language with special reference to contemporary challenges confronted by it.
Former Ministers, Mirza Abdur Rashid and Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari, prominent writers, poets and a large number of lovers of Pahari language and literature attended the conference that began with a beautiful musical item.
On this occasion special number of Sheeraza (Pahari) on Uri was also released.
Addressing the conference, Kafil-ur-Rehman referred to the richness of Pahari language and urged new generation to carry forward the mission of its development started by their seniors. He said writers and poets are valuable assets for any society and through their writings they give direction to people. Pahari writers and poets, he said, have contributed a lot in making it a frontline language in the subcontinent. He said although the literature produced in Pahari is rich and comparable to any other language there was need to produce quality works in a sustained manner and take it to further heights.
Speaking on the occasion, Mirza Abdur Rashid and Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhuari dwelt on the efforts of individual writers and literary groups in bringing Pahari language and literature to its present level and hoped these efforts would continue.
Welcoming the participants, Secretary Academy, Khalid Bashir Ahmad, spoke about the importance of the conference in identifying challenges and opportunities for Pahari language and hoped the participants would come up with a roadmap for its promotion.
The Secretary also briefly highlighted some major steps taken by the Academy since last year to improve the functioning of the institution. He specifically referred to the launch of the Academy’s website and multi-coloured newsletter, Saqafat, digitization of the rich collection of manuscripts, paintings, miniatures, sculptures, artifacts and images, laying of foundation stone of the multi-crore Tehzeeb Mahal as the state-of-the-art cultural centre and institution of Artists & Writers’ Welfare Fund.
Earlier, Chief Editor Pahari, Farooq Anwar Mirza presented a vote of thanks.
Follow our WhatsApp channel