Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Feb 22: The ‘Katha-Sandhi’, organized by Sahitya Akedami, New Delhi, at K L Saigal Hall, here today, was a kind of public acknowledgment and appreciation of the literary merit of Nirmal Vikram, who in recent years has emerged as one of the leading contemporary Dogri women short story writers.
One who has already published an anthology of short stories titled ‘Retu Da Ghar’, Nirmal Vikram through her literary works has emerged as representative of new thinking which could broadly labeled as feminist. Her stories that portray Dogra women of contemporary times as the one who while exhibiting a renewed sense of freedom and independence also yearn to be treated as equal partner in the so-called business of life.
The highlight of today’s program was an intimate account of her literary journey by Nirmal Vikram. Speaking on the occasion, she said that she owes her love for Dogri to her elder brother Vijay Puri, who made her and others in the family to read stories of well known writers like Narendra Khajuria. His letters in Dogri and their replies by her were instrumental in cultivating the facility with the language.
She said her family resided in Pacci Dhakki, which was full of writers many of whom were also friends of her brother. Encouraged by all of them she wrote poetry in Dogri and which was published in Sheeraja and was appreciated by poets like Kunwar Vijogi.
She said from 1975 onwards, she got associated with theatre as an actor and later with Radio and Television as news reader, actor, interviewer etc. But it was her experience as editor of Dogri Times in 1993 which proved to be pivotal in her development as a writer and critic.
The audience had a firsthand experience of the excellence of Nirmal Vikram’s art of short story writing when she read her latest stories titled ‘Kajjal’ and ‘Mera Desh Mahan’ on the occasion.
Well known Dogri short story writer and convener of the Akedami’s advisory committee on the Dogri literature Prof Lalit Magotra introduced the women writer while Shantanu Gangopadhayay, Assistant Secretary, Sahitya Akedami, New Delhi, presented the vote of thanks.
Those present on the occasion included eminent scholars, writers, poets and theatrists and artists including Padamshree Prof Ved Ghai, Padamshree Nilamber Dev Sharma, Prof Reeta Jatinder, Prof Archana Kesar, Puran Chand Badgotra, Mohan Singh, Deepak Kumar, Baljit Raina, Nirmal Vinod, Prof Raj Kumar and others.
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