Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’
Organization is defined as a group of people who come together in order to achieve a particular goal. If we talk of our region, then there are so many organizations. Now, if the organizations are being run with all honesty and an inclination for serving with a mission, these survive for a long time since these are not self-styled and do follow a democratic set up. At the same time there are other self-centered organizations also which mushroom for somewhat selfish petty gains and extinct with the passage of time. It’s always committed and passionate members who ensure the organizations to flourish and reach the zenith. The actual organizations are run on ground and not on papers.
DOGRI SANSTHA is such an organization that has a dedicated team and their sole mission is to work for the welfare of mother tongue DOGRI and preserve rich cultural traditions of region by providing platforms to aspiring talents in every nook and corner of Duggar Pradesh.
On January 29th’ 1944, on the auspicious day of Basant Panchami, also called Sarasvati Puja in honour of Goddess Saraswati a popular festival commemorating the welcome of spring season, a group of six eminent personalities came together and founded an organization that has seen 78 springs now. There are only a few literary organizations that have the honour of such a long stint that too with continuous activities since inception. The seed that was sowed long back has now become a big tree standing firmly in the garden ‘Duggar Pradesh’ and scattering fragrance of pride all around with a feel for own language and traditions.
Sansar Chand Baru became its first President, Bhagwat Prasad Sathe ,Vice President, Prof. Ramnath Shastri, General Secretary, Dharam Chand Prashant, treasurer and Sahitya Mantri and Deenu Bhai Pant and Narayana Dutt Mishra as members.
Interestingly, initially it was named DOGRI PARISHAD. But during those days PRAJA PARISHAD, a political wing was very popular in the region. Then it was decided to rename it as DOGRI SANSTHA and got rid of the word PARISHAD that gave a similar expression like the political party. The focal point of the organization was to work for self-esteem and social, cultural, economic and political development of Dogras.
In the early days, Dogri Sanstha used to organize literary activities either at Sansar Chand Baru’s home or at Dhani Ram’s shop at Fattu Chowgan Jammu. Thereafter it started working from rented flat of Dharam Chand Prashant. Even Oriental Academy, Afghana Mohalla Jammu was a prominent place where Sanstha’s literary meets were organized quite regularly. However in 1971, Dr. Karan Singh came to rescue by donating land at Karan Nagar and Dogri Bhawan came into existence, the work for which started in 1982.
Many political leaders from different political parties like Madan Lal Sharma, Vijay Bakaya , Ashok Khajuria, R. S. Chib, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, Sham Lal Sharma, Ravinder Sharma and Dogri writers, promoters and lovers in large number contributed for the building and other facilities. Today, we have a well-equipped complex in the heart of Jammu city which has Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Auditorium too.
The journey of Sanstha , quite a long one is very creative and productive. It is a special one as it has been a joint journey of so many Dogri writers, Dogri lovers and Dogri promoters. Such a journey has become an everlasting one with unforgettable memories in store. Undoubtedly Padmashri Prof. Ramnath Shastri, despite all hurdles and hardships led the movement to reach to a perfect destination and we may feel proud of the role played by Sanstha in winning the confidence of Dogras in their rich cultural traditions.
If we cast a look at the role of Dogri Sanstha for inspiring the writers to pen down their creative writings in their own mother tongue Dogri, then it has played a pivotal role. It’s a fact that during those days, the local writers used to write predominantly in Hindi and Urdu. But Prof. Ramnath Shastri, the torch bearer of movement persuaded them successfully to write in Dogri.
It was also thought that regular publications in Dogri was the necessity of time. Sanstha started it with “JAGO DUGGAR” published way back in 1949 and from 1953 onwards it started publishing quarterly magazine “NAMI CHETNA”. Although for a few early years it could not be published regularly for some reasons but from 1967 onwards this literary magazine is published regularly and more than 206 issues have been published till date. It is often said that if you wish to know the history of Dogri literature, cultural traditions and heritage, you need to go through the regular editions of “NAMI CHETNA”. In addition to it, Sanstha has also enriched Dogri Literature with numerous other publications and translations of world literature.
It is pertinent to add here that norms are essential for running any organization. For the same the constitution of Dogri Sanstha was published in 1956. Sanstha was registered with Registrar of Society on August 31st’ 1968
The think tank knew that in order to build up the confidence of Dogras, they have to work hard. Now theatre is a potent medium of expression and has always played an important role in awareness campaigns. It was decided to start with BAWA JITTO that was staged at Tikkri in 1948 when Ist ever Exhibition of Miniature painting was also organized there. There after the tremendous response from the public boosted the morale of team and it became a regular feature. Another play that helped the movement was SARPANCH. Dogri poets became heart throb of masses and literary meetings were attended in huge numbers that inspired many to pen down their feelings in mother tongue and eventually emerged as celebrated writers.
Now Dogri Sanstha had become very active. With its help Dogra Art Gallery was 
established in 1954. In 1964, Jammu University started TILAK, Proficiency in Dogri and in 1967 Dogri Sanstha was again instrumental in starting PARVEEN, high proficiency course and SHIROMANI, honours in Dogri in 1969. Dogri Sanstha managed all necessary arrangement for the same. The members of Sanstha took tuition of interested Dogri lovers and offered their services free of cost. First Dogri feature film ‘GALLAN HOEAN BITIAN’ was also produced, with the active support of Sanstha.
Further ‘DOGRI RESEARCH CELL’ and ‘DOGRI RESEARCH CENTER’ were established at Jammu University in 1971 and 1975 with active participation of Dogri Sanstha. In 1975 J & K Academy of Art, Culture and languages published first ‘DOGRI to DOGRI SHABADKOSH’ with the help of Sanstha. It has also played remarkable role in starting M.A. course in Jammu University and introducing Dogri Subject in schools, colleges, KAS and IAS. The struggle made by Sanstha also paved way to appointment of 49 Assistant Professors in Dogri subject a few years ago.
Dogri Sanstha is in fact a movement. Although it was led by prominent personalities but every writer and activist feels proud for being associated to it. It was owing to the efforts made by Sanstha that mother tongue DOGRI was recognized by Sahitya Academy New Delhi as an Independent Modern Literary language in 1969. The stalwarts of literature knew that inclusion of Dogri in 8th schedule of Indian constitution was very significant. After hard struggle of decades, when our mother tongue got this privilege on December 22nd ‘2003, it was just a celebration for inhabitants of Duggar land.
Prominent personalities from literary field and performing art have served the organization in different capacities in executive body from time to time which include Dinu Bhai Pant ,Ved Pal Deep, Neelambar Dev Shama, Om Goswami, Jitendra Sharma , Ved Ghai , Sukhdebv Singh Charak, Champa Sharma, Ashwani Magotra, Ved Prakash, Ram Lal Sharma, Baldev Singh, Shivram Deep, , Kunwar Viyogi, Lalit Magotra, Bandhu Sharma, Yasin Beg, Dhyan Singh, Veena Gupta, Gianeshwar, Shashi Pathania, Chhatrapal, Praduman Singh, Shivdev Singh Manhas, Chaman Arora, Virender Kesar, Nirmal Vinod, Narsingh Dev Jamwal etc.
Dogri Sanstha has been a hub of literary and cultural activities. With continuous activities it has become a pioneer organization that ensures exposure not only to literary talents but also performing arts. For the last couple of years, it has come up with an appreciable concept of publishing calendars which are in fact a tribute to our legends thus recalling their immense contributions to mother tongue through their creative works. It is also aimed at introducing the veterans who have left for eternal abode to new generation and make them realize that they have all the reasons to feel proud for their old generation.
Let it be known that the mother tongues all over the world except a few ones have a grave concern of their survival. As per a survey, about 1500 mother tongues will extinct by the end of this century. Now it has to be understood that a language takes centuries to evolve and every sincere effort should be made to save it.
Ironically, DOGRI is also undergoing the same threat. As in the past, the inhabitants of Duggar Pradesh suffered from an inferiority complex to speak Dogri, same is being witnessed now-a-days also. DOGRI SANSTHA has to be on the war foot again with its different initiatives to safeguard mother tongue DOGRI and work with all innovation to preserve Cultural Traditions.
But only an organization cannot succeed unless the masses also realize their role. It’s a common journey towards a common goal. Let we all Dogras realize it and contribute our part of devotion with all dedication.
Let we all also take steps forward and be a part of this journey for a common cause.
What they say about sanstha
“Dogri Sanstha was formed in the year 1944 on the auspicious day of Basant Panchami. Those were the times when condition of Dogri was very bleak. Except for folk literature, Dogri Literature was almost non-existent, In general, others considered Dogras as illiterate and backward, suitable only to join army to fight wars on bidding of foreigners or to work as laborers in the plains of Punjab. Dogras felt hesitant to speak Dogri publicly because of deep rooted inferiority complex regarding their mother tongue. It was under these adverse circumstances that Dogri Sanstha was formed with an express aim of instilling pride among Dogras about their ethnicity and the rich cultural heritage. Sanstha took upon itself to make the Dogras aware of their great cultural traditions and artistic powers which had gone into dormancy. Sanstha also pledged to inspire and motivate young writers of the time who were already writing in Hindi and Urdu to write in their own mother tongue Dogri. Dinu Bhai Pant’s Dogri poetry played a catalytic role in this endeavor. To achieve these targets, Sanstha set upon a course in a consistent, meticulous and tenacious manner. Even at present times when it becomes impossible to hold offline programmes due to the covid19 pandemic Sanstha is holding regular online programs of Dogri Poetry, storytelling and seminars etc.”
___Prof. Lalit Magotra, President Dogri Sanstha
“In 1948 , Dogri Sanstha held first ever Exhibition of Dogra miniature paintings at Tikkri to be followed later at Jammu and Delhi. The immense popularity of these exhibitions made Dogras aware of their glorious artistic traditions. On the other hand through the efforts of Sanstha, a young crop of exceptionally talented writers emerged whose writings attracted thousands to large number of Mushairas which Sanstha organized throughout the length and breadth of Duggar land including Himachal Pradesh. Sanstha realizing the potential of theatre motivated its members to write Dogri plays which when staged attracted unprecedented number of audience. Within a span of one decade of its formation Dogri Sanstha had metamorphosed into a movement of renaissance of Dogri Literature and culture. To consolidate the literary achievements Sanstha embarked upon the programme of publication of books. It published the first collection of Dogri poems, first collection of Dogri Folk Tales and started publication of Dogri Magazine NAMI CHETNA followed by hundreds of other publications.”
____ Prof. Veena Gupta_ Senior Vice President Dogri Sanstha
“Since its inception and uptiil this date Sanstha has been following the policy of gearing its activities to meet the needs of the times for whole some growth of Dogri and to see to it that it remains evolving as a vibrant living language. The history of Dogri Sanstha bears a testimony to this fact. It was through the efforts of Dogri Sanstha that Dogri was recognized by Sahitya Academy and that it became a part of education system. Every milestone of Dogri has an imprint of Dogri Sanstha on it , be it publication of children’s’ comics, publishing representative works of Dogri in other languages, creation of Website, constructing a multipurpose auditorium, adopting computer software into Dogri etc. Sanstha has the unique distinction of having a complete library of Dogri literature also.
_____Prof. Shashi Pathania_ Vice President, Dogri Sanstha
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