Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Feb 26: Two-day Gojri Literary and Cultural Meet organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, was inaugurated today at K L Saigal Hall, emerged as a platform for the Gojri poets, writers, scholars and community leaders to reiterate that it is the State of Jammu and Kashmir that has emerged as leading centre of modern Gojri language despite the fact that Gojri, the third largest language of the State which is also spoken in twelve other States of the country along with adjoining areas across the border.
Minister for Forest and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad and the chief guest of inaugural function, said that State Government will persuade the Centre to include Gojri Language in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution adding Gojri is a leading Tribal language of the country and merits this status. Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla presided over the inaugural function in which eminent Gojri writers, poets, artists and critics were also present.
Mian Altaf Ahmad said that he will personally meet the centre leadership and convince to include Gojri in the constitution of India. He assured that he will convene a meeting of all stockholders for opening of Gojri Department in University of Jammu which stands already approved by the University Council in 2008. The Minister appreciated the Academy for its contribution in the development of Gojri language and Gujjar culture.
Mr. Raman Bhalla in his address said Gujjars are an important identity of the State and Gojri is one of the significant languages of India and mother of Rajasthani, Marwari and Gujarati. Appreciating the work done by Gojri section of Academy, he assured full support of the Government for further development of Gojri literature and Gujjar Culture.
On the occasion, the Ministers released ten latest Academy Gojri publications edited by Dr. Javaid Rahi, Chief Editor.
Earlier welcoming the guests Secretary Academy Khalid Bashir Ahmad stated that the objective of the Meet was to provide an opportunity to Gojri writers, poets, artists and intellectuals to sit together and discuss various trends emerging in global literature. He impressed upon the writers of Gojri language to publish their works and participate in the Academy s competitions for Awards.
In the paper reading session, presided over by art historian Dr. Lalit Gupta and Iqbal Azeem Central Committee Member of Academy in the presidium, scholars who read papers on the Sufi Heritage of Gujjars were Choudhary Hassan Parwaz, Choudhary Gulzar Khatana, Choudhary Amin Qammar, Choudhary Jahangeer Asghar Choudhary and Abdul Ghani Arif,
In the Cultural evening prominent artistes Bashir Mastana , Parvaiz Malik, Noor un Nissa, Razia Begum and Freed Khatana rendered lilting Gojri folk songs. Today’s proceedings were conducted by Mohammad Manshah Khaki Editor Gojri.
Academy’s, Sub-Office, Rajouri, under Sanjeev Gupta, Cultural Officer, organized a composite folk music and dance program at Govt. High School, Dharamshal, Kalakot, yesterday, in which various folk parties presented performances of Gojri, Pahari, Dogri and Kashmiri languages.
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