Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 4: A galaxy of over 60 eminent Dogra personalities was invited by Senior Citizens Support Service Club, Chowadi to discuss the declining status of Dogri language.
These personalities included Padma Shri Mohan Singh; Prof R D Sharma, former Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Inder Jeet Kesar, Sahitya Academy Award winner besides others including senior academic fraternity of Dogri language.
Dr Kasturi Lal, Chairman of the Club, apprised the dignitaries about the declining status of Dogri language. Ashok Gupta, President of the Club, spoke at length and sought help of everyone to restore status of our mother tongue, Dogri.
Maj Gen S K Sharma, General Secretary of the Club, gave the factual details. He said Dogri was made a national language in 2003 but not included as a compulsory subject in schools. Similarly, it was made an official language of UT of J&K in 2020, but state in schools is still the same.
“Now even the National Education Policy, NEP-2020 stresses on teaching of mother tongue in classes 1 to 5 but JKBOSE/JK SCERT had not made it compulsory for the school students,” he added.
Padma Shri Mohan Singh gave a hint to the public to be ready to launch a province level rally in case Dogri is not given its status. Jeyesh Gupta, Dogri film maker, said that a Dogri TV Satellite Channel was promised a decade ago, equipment purchased but the channel is yet to start, and the equipment purchased for it has been transferred to Himachal Pradesh.
Others who spoke on this occasion, included professors from Jammu university, Cluster University Jammu, Indian Institute of Mass Communication and teachers from colleges and schools. Raman Gandotra, a social activist, S K Jain, Vice President of the Club, H C Vaid, Treasurer also gave their suggestions.
Dr Vijay Sharma, former Technical Director Doordarshan Jammu captured the event in the camera.
Meeting came to an end with a resolution to constitute a hi-level committee of all Dogri organizations, under the umbrella of Senior Citizens Support Services Club, Chowadi and work in direction of saving Dogra culture and Dogri language.
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