Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 22: Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages with the support of Government High School, Ajot, Poonch organized a Punjabi Kavi Darbar and Sangeet Samaroh at Government High School, Ajot, Poonch.
A book exhibition of Academy’s publications was also organized on the occasion.
Jaspal Singh, Retd Captain, a worker for promotion of Punjabi language, was the chief guest on the occasion, while Haji Nazir Hussain Bhatti presided over the function. Naseem Akhtar, Headmistress GHS, Popinder Singh Paras, Editor Sheeraza Punjabi and Mohan Singh Mastana also shared the dais.
Jaspal Singh in his address said that Punjabi is getting recognition globally but lacks response in our own land. “We need to practice our mother tongue at home, in our families”, he said, adding that being Punjabis we should feel proud in speaking our own language.
The performance by musical troop presenting Punjabi folk songs was highly applauded by the audience with thundering applauses.
While presenting the welcome address, Popinder Singh Paras said that there is dire need to preserve Punjabi literature, language and culture of the region. He said that the Cultural Academy aims at organizing such events for the youth particularly in remote areas. He said that the parents and youth should associate with their mother tongue whatsoever the language it may be. He added that Punjabi Sahit Sabha Poonch should come forward and revive its active role for the purpose for which it was raised.
Well known poets, writers, staff and students of the school and local people attended the programme. Young students of the school were given platform to present their poetry. Mohammad Rabhani, Rashid Hussain, Mohammad Aslam and Tahira Kausar recited poems composed by them. Poets who recited their poetry included MP Singh, Devinder Kaur, Gurjit Singh, Gurcharan Singh Gulshan, Kailash Sharma, Smiley Sharma, Inderjeet Kaur, Prof Fateh Mohammad Ubassi, Mohan Singh Mastana, Nazir Hussain Bhatti and KD Maini.
The second part of the programme was Sangeet Samaroh in which the singers of Poonch presented Punjabi folk songs. The singers and accompanists of Pradeep Khanna Group and his party and Khurshid Rathir and his party who participated in this programme included Nigam Khan, Shahnaz Mughal, Archana Bali, Shabnam, Saika, Sanjay Sharma (Harmonium), Prem Parkash (Tabla), Rameez Rathar, Ibrar Rathir, Nazir Ahmed and Rafiq Ahmed (Dholak).
The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Pardeep Khanna, a well known anchor of the region, who also presented vote of thanks.
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