Two years on, Jammu Writers Club has nothing for Writers
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 14: While the Babus of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) continue their stay-put for the last two years in the much talked about Jammu Writers Club (JWC), the place expected for motivating Writers has yet to start any such activity to justify it as a platform for Writers.
Raised after incurring expenditure running in crores of rupees, the Club has a marble plate outside with written on it that foundation stone for the building was laid on July 26, 2018 by the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and President JKAACL, N.N Vohra.
Sources informed that the Club after its completion was taken over by JKAACL in the year 2021.
“However, no activity as expected by the Writers from Jammu has ever taken place at the Club though some functions were organised at the auditorium there and most of the rooms in the building have been converted into luxurious offices for administrative officers including Secretary JKAACL,” they said adding: “Earlier these officers had offices at the old administrative block of the Academy.”
They also said: “After these officers left the old administrative block, a Delhi based organisation working in the field of art started its activities from there.”
Some insiders said that initially there was some hue and cry and protests from Writers against the unexpected development involving officers occupying the rooms in JWC but the protesters were pacified on assurances that when the new administrative block gets constructed the officers will move there.
“However, the same didn’t happen even in the last two years,” they maintained.
Dogri Writer, Shiv Dev Singh Sushil when contacted said, officers occupying the Club constructed for Writers is a blatant misuse of the institution.
“It needs a mass agitation for getting the Club restored to the Writers to justify the purpose for which it was made,” he said.
Many other Writers also expressed similar views.
Some literary persons who are associated with the JKAACL informed that many Writers don’t express their concern against the issue as they feel the financial help they get for writing books from the Academy can suffer by their objections along with their other interests linked with JKAACL.
“From 2021 to till date neither membership was started for the Club nor any infrastructure to facilitate writing culture and encourage it was thought of by those at the helm of affairs,” sourced said.
The double storey building of JWC has an auditorium at ground floor and adjoining to it is a canteen/Cafe and as one moves ahead there comes the offices of Cultural Officer Shah Nawaz and Editor Gojri, Javed Rahi after which there is office of clerks and accountants and then toilets.
On first floor there is a library with few books which too awaits proper placing and adjacent to it is Writers/Artists Reading Room in utter shambles with a broken table and some scattered books spread on the floor but no chair to sit and the floor remaining unclean and dusty with walls and ceiling too in similar state while a little ahead there are offices of administrative officers including that of the Secretary, Bharat Singh.
However, the offices of Secretary and other officers are well air conditioned with costly curtains hanging from doors and windows and rare paintings from the walls.
Despite repeated attempts Secretary JKAACL, Bharat Singh could not be contacted for his comments.
Cultural and Public Information Officer at the Academy, Shah Nawaz when contacted informed: “Our staff is stationed there (in the Club) only to assist the Writers.”
He claimed that there is a Cafe at the Club tendering for which was underway.
The Cultural Officer also said that for purchasing chairs and other furniture for the Reading Room of the Club, proper procedure set by the government shall be followed.
“All these technical things will gradually be completed after which the Club will start membership for Writers after charging a certain fee from them,” he continued adding that a library is also there in the Club.
“What else we can give to Writers as it is not a guest house,” Shah Nawaz maintained.
On Club housing officers of the Academy, he claimed that these officers were also Writers.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
