Rajneesh Kumar Gupta
A graduate in Medicine (MBBS) from Kashmir University and achiever of Master Degree (MS) in Obstetrics Gynaecology from Patna University Dr. Kasturi Lal has dedicated 30 years as teacher in Obstetrics Gynaecology, started service in CMC Vellore as lecturer, sought promotions as Prof. and Head in MGIMS and served J&K Medical Education Department in the capacity of Prof. as well as Head obstetrics and Gynaecology and Principal Govt. Medical College and Associated Hospitals. Dr. Kasturi Lal has utilized a span of 42 years in prompting special interest in development of resources of maternity benefits through the public private partnership scheme under Rural Health Mission. He attended workshops on Gynaecologic Oncology in U.K., France, Japan, U.S.A, Hungry, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Attended world conference in U.S.A Singapore, Indonesia, Austria, Hungry, Hongkong, Scotland and Italy. He has numerous prestigious awards in his name and is a member of various national and international committees.
Dr. Kasturi is social worker by birth and always wants to serve the humanity. For that purpose he joined governing council Kasturba Health Society, Sewagram as a member, founded Amar Balika Kendra, founded and acts as a working trustee of NGO (Lajwanti Medical Trust) providing maternity benefit scheme to slum dwellers in Jammu, raised his voice for the awareness about issues related to environment, safe motherhood and voluntary health service myths about cancer, created a boarding place to foster recreational activities for the elderly people known as Senior Citizens Support Service Club at Chowadi, Jammu.
The club has been conducting a series of programmes for the promotion of Dogri language. Love of Dr. Kasturi Lal for Dogri has been raised so high that he has dedicated his body and mind for the upliftment of Dogri. He says, “I can stop eating food but I cannot stop promoting Dogri.”
He has started promotion of Dogri from the root level i.e., primary school children the result of which are awesome.
Here are some excerpts of interview with him which throw light on the immense work he has done for the spread of Dogri.
Q:- Sir, which spirit came in your mind that you took a vow to spread Dogri Language to each and every house in Jammu?
Ans:- I see our young generation has been forgetting mother tongue Dogri day by day. Children do not know the meanings of common Dogri words even. It is a serious thing as it is a sign that our folk culture will soon be on the verge of extinction. Somewhere the parents of children, teachers of children are responsible for it. Our Dogri culture is full of humanitarian values. I took a vow that I will spread Dogri language to each and every house in Jammu.
Q:- You have arranged a lot of programmes/ competitions from time to time to spread Dogri language. Please name them.
Ans:- I started my journey in this field with lectures on social responsibility where people from every sect of society gathered and discussed various aspects in this direction. I arranged Dogri Kavi Goshthis wherein distinguished as well as novice Dogri poets took part and shared their ideas, Dogri stage plays were held, Dogri rallies were taken out, Dogri Nibandh Pratiyogita were held in schools, Dogri Sarvshreshta Tara competition held, Dogri Pagri, ladies Dogri dress competitions held. I adopted 11 schools for teaching Dogri in Primary classes, put boards in Takri script at public places, arranged Jammu Province colleges and university students Dogri language spoken competitions, arranged campaign of awareness lectures in Ware House, Chamber of Commerce and Amar Singh Club where public met Dogri scholars, writers, artists and teachers.
Q:- You think at first our children should know Dogri language. Is it so?
Ans:- Exactly. Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. They can build a healthy society. If they are well educated in Dogri, our folk culture will shine in coming days with fluorescent colours. Some parents have still very ill-thinking that the knowledge of mother tongue will make our children bumpkin. I feel pity on this sick mentality. Hence, children are the only source who can understand the necessity of local language in their lives. They possess power to change the mentality of their parents too. English is good for competing internationally but our national issues will be solved more efficiently through our local language.
Q:- What are your future endeavours?
Ans:- Rajneesh, we are in the process of getting composition of Geets and bhajans in Dogri to be relayed in temples and cremation ground, on the project of developing suitable raps in Dogri to be broadcast in transport, projecting demand for installing boards in Takri Script in chowks and streets in public places and a direction to transporters to use Dogri instead of English on their plates.
Q:- What do you think about placement for Dogri persons?
Ans:- With the commencement of teaching of Dogri in colleges and University, many job opportunities for the Dogri educated students have been opened. Main areas for their placement are in the schools, colleges and universities as teaching faculty, radio, television and other multimedia agencies. With the introduction of Dogri as a subject in prestigious examinations like IAS and JKAS, aspirants can start joining state as well as national administrations through these examinations, as a writer, actor, director etc. in Dogri dramas and films, In the Parliament of India for online translation of speeches in Dogri, For translation of Prime Minister’s monthly address to the nation “Mann ki Baat”, at CIIL, Mysore for preparing Dogri academic books. Already one book called Dogri kayida was published by them in December 2024. Many more academic books are yet to be published.
My work in the field of spreading Dogri language is a non stop journey.
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