Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 25: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said the Centre will extend full support to promote Kashmiri language, culture and literature.
“Our Government intends to extend every possible help and support to promote Kashmiri language, culture and literature. Not only our Government, but the entire nation holds the great human principles and values of Kashmir with respect and honour,” Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh told a gathering after releasing the commemorative stamp on Kashmiri poet Mehjoor at SKICC here.
“We want the fragrance of Kashmiri culture to spread all across the country and the world. I am very happy that we are fulfilling such a responsibility which should have been fulfilled earlier,” Singh said.
The Prime Minister said Kashmir has been referred to as paradise on earth. “It is not only because of the natural beauty of the land but its centuries old high values and spirituality. When we look at the past of Kashmir, we come across many great personalities who have, in their own ways, promoted high principles and universal values.
“If I come to give examples, the list will be very large. I will talk only of two such great personalities – Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Wali and Lala Arifa or Laleshwari who were the epitome of the soul of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat,” Prime Minister said, addding that this will not be wrong to say that the hearts of Kashmiris still beat with these personalities.
Singh said that it is the result of the moral and spiritual teachings of such personalities that the Kashmiris set a great example of communal harmony, brotherhood and mutual understanding during the trying times.
While reffering to Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s observation about the situation in Kashmir during 1947 when most of the country was gripped in communal riots, Prime Minister said: “In the difficult times of 1947, Kashmiris did not lose the balance and did not let the flame of mutual sympathy to extinguish. This is the reason that the Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi saw light only in Kashmir when the darkness had engulfed the country.”
During these testing times, Singh said, the intellectuals and poets played their role very well. “Among them, ‘shayer-e-Kashmir’ Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor was on the top. Mehjoor on the one hand through his revolutionary lyrics and songs arose the sentiments and a yearning among the public for political, social and economic upliftment,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Mehjoor tried to take the message of brotherhood and the principle of ‘live and let live’ to every one.
“While on the one hand he talked about new dawn and fresh breeze, on the other he reminded the denizens that the Hindus and Muslims should mix like sugar and milk. Due to this, he has been bestowed with the title of National poet of Kashmir,” Singh said.
Prime Minister said: “It is a great pleasure for me that our Government took a decision to release a special postal stamp dedicated in respect of this great poet and symbol of Kashmiriyat. It is our salute to the great son of the soil and wealth of human brotherhood and enlightened values of Kashmir.”
Omar Abdullah in his speech said that Shair-e-Kashmir, Mehjoor supported the Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s struggle against the totalitarian system by utilizing his pen in an artistic and poetic medium.
Referring to the great poem ‘Walo Ho Bagwano’ penned down by Mehjoor, the Chief Minister said that in his this famous poem Mehjoor described the State as the garden and the people as gardners of this great land. “Mehjoor in this poem wanted to drive home to the people the necessity of working together to safeguard the State and seek better and secure future for it”, he said .
Omar Abdullah said that the best way to pay tributes to Shair-i-Kashmir Mehjoor is that we all join hands to make Jammu and Kashmir beautiful in all fields of life.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also highlighted the literary works of the poet.
On the occasion, Professor Saif-ud-Din Soz demanded that the ancestral house at Metragam in Pulwama district of south Kashmir be declared as a national monument.
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