Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 22: Iconic writer and well known film personality Ved Rahi was honored in a simple but impressive on-line function with the prestigious Kunwar Viyogi Sahitya Kala Samman – 2020 by Dogri Sanstha Jammu & Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust.
Dr K Sreenivasrao, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi was the chief guest in the function. This Samman was instituted last year and the first to be awarded this Samman, was Late Chhatrapal, another towering personality in Dogri literature.
This coveted Samman is given away to a prominent person from the field of Literature, Art and Culture for his/her lifetime outstanding contribution to any of these fields. This annual Samman includes a citation, a Shawl, a memento and cash award of Rs 51,000/-. This Samman has been instituted by Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust and is conferred under the aegis of Dogri Sanstha Jammu.
Ved Rahi, born and brought up in Jammu and at present living in Bombay, is a nationally and internationally known writer, who writes prolifically in Dogri, Hindi and Urdu languages. He has penned down more than fifteen original works in Dogri, which includes Novels, Short-Stories, Poetry, Plays and Essays etc. Most of these books are award winning books at State and national levels.
He was conferred with Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983 for his collection of Short Stories ‘Aale.’ His contribution to Films & Television is equally significant, having directed and scripted many important films and tele-serials. His tele serial ‘Gul, Gulshan, Gulfaam’ was a milestone in the history of television in India.
Ved Rahi, in his acceptance speech of the Samman, fondly narrated his close association, in the early days, with Kunwar Viyogi, the writer in whose memory the Samman has been instituted. He appreciated the work that the Trust and Dogri Sanstha Jammu are doing to promote language and literature. He also read one of his poems.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Prof Lalit Magotra, President of Dogri Sanstha, spoke of the pioneering works done by Rahi and his outstanding contribution to Dogri literature. He also briefly described the activities of Dogri Sanstha, Jammu and the Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust. He urged upon the younger generation to make best use of the opportunities which have been opened up in the fields of Literature, Art and Culture.
Vanshika Jaral presented a beautiful rendition of Saraswati Vandana in the beginning of the programme. The proceeding was conducted by Vijaya Thakur.
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