Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, Dec 16 : Minister for Health, Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today released a Dogri book titled “Unbiddhe Moti” authored by Rattan Lal Bhardwaj at a function organized by the Dogri Sahitya Sabha here today.
The book is based on a collection of Dogri songs with special focus on the River Chenab and the importance of Akhnoor town and its periphery.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that writers are the valuable asset of the nation and they should be treated with due honor. He maintained that writers and intellectuals are instrumental for the development and promotion of country’s rich culture, languages and heritage and their contribution should be duly recognized in the society. He urged the writers, intellectual to work hard for reviving the age old culture and ethos with special focus on promotion of Dogri language and moral values amongst the younger generation.
Appreciating the effort of the author for highlighting the significance of Akhnoor town through his valuable work, the Minister said that the contribution will go a long way in creating awareness about the history of Akhnoor town amongst the general masses. He urged the author and other local writers to contribute for highlighting the importance of Akhnoor and other places of historical and religious significance. He said Akhnoor has remained a center of religious and spiritual activities where numerous sufi saints of different religions meditated. He asked the intellectuals to showcase the history and religious importance of this important town so that people visit here as pilgrims.
Listing the measures initiated to promote religious tourism in Akhnoor, the Minister said that Government has brought some important sites on the tourist map. He said recently the Government has sanctioned Rs. 5 crore for developing Sumah as tourist destination in view of its religious importance.
Similarly, the Buddhist site at Ambaran will be suitably developed for global religious tourist destination. The site has been visited by Dalai Lama last year. For the attraction of tourists, a complete facelift of Akhnoor town will be carried out. To begin with a tourist reception center has been developed with all basic facilities on the right bank of River Chenab for the facilities of tourists. He said that Dugger Library will be established at Akhnoor which will be named as Maharaja Gulab Singh Library. This will be a tribute to the first Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.
Among those present on the occasion included, prominent Dogri writer Narsing Dev Jamwal, President Dogri Sahitya Sabha Akhnoor, Rajpaul Sharma, Chairman Dogri Sahitya Sabha, Shakti Singh, social worker Satpal Saraf, prominent citizens and local writers.
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