Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 18: The J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages today presented the Best Book Award-2011 to seven authors in as many languages.
The Award, carrying a cash prize of Rs. 51,000, a memento, shawl and citation each, was given to N. D. Jamwal for his Dogri book ‘Triphala’, Abdul Gani Sheikh for his English book, ‘Reflections of Ladakh, Tibet and Central Asia’, Shiv Nirmohi for his Hindi book, ‘Kishtwar- Sanskriti Aur Parampara’, Makhan Lal Kanwal for his Kashmiri book, ‘Yath Aangnas Manz’, Urgyan Rigzin for his Ladakhi book, ‘Nubray Nas Shad’, Dr. Sushil Sharma for his Punjabi book, ‘Jammu Kashmir De Panjabi Geetan Wich Samkaleen Samaj Di Jhalak’ and Muhammad Amin Lala for his Urdu book, ‘Kitab ul Mousiqee’.
The Academy gives away this award annually in 10 languages. However, this time Gojri, Pahari and Dardi languages remained out of the competition as the minimum three books required for the completion were not received in these languages.
The awards were presented by Minister for Finance & Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather. Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Home, Tourism & Culture, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Commissioner/Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Atal Dulloo, a large number of writers, senior officers and lovers of literature were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rather described writers as players of social change and highlighted their role in socio-cultural transformation. He said writers have always played pivotal role in bringing positive changes in society. He said J&K has rich cultural and literary legacy which needs to be promoted and preserved and assured his Government’s full support to any initiative in this regard.
The Minister hoped that languages that did not make to the award this year because of lesser than the required number of entries would be part of the next Best Book Award of the Academy. He asked the writers of these languages to make sure that enough books are written and submitted for the competition next time.
Earlier, giving a resume of the Academy’s activities during the past one year since June 2012, Secretary, J& K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Khalid Bashir Ahmad said that, besides routine activities, many significant steps were taken to improve the functioning of the institution and promote art, culture and literature. He said a comprehensive website of the Academy was launched to disseminate information and keep viewers updated.
Unfolding the package of the forthcoming events, Khalid said that a 3-day Kashmir Music Festival, showcasing light, folk and sufiana music, will start from June 19 to be inaugurated by legendary singer, Raj Begum, 5-day All State Writers’ Camp will begin, first time in 24 years in Kashmir, from June 23. He said a major Kashmir Heritage Exhibition will be held in the first fortnight of July while All India painting Camp, All India Sculptors Camp, Conferences in Pahari, Urdu and Hindi languages, State level essay competition at school, college and university level, Play script competition, seminar on role of mother tongue in social reform and Children’s on-the spot painting competition are other activities scheduled for the coming months.
On the publication front, the Secretary said, apart from regular issues of periodicals, many special publications in different languages were published during the last one year.
He said several special publications that were lying in the press for a long time were also printed during the last year.
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