Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: As part of a series of language conferences recently launched by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, a 2-day conference on ‘Punjabi Language; Challenges & Opportunities with Special Reference to J&K’ began here today with speakers highlighting the need for making the language more relevant to the present times. Earlier, the Academy held similar conferences on Kashmiri and Dogri languages.
The conference was inaugurated by Minister for Housing, Horticulture & Culture, Raman Bhalla while Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Dr. Mohanpal Singh Isher presided the inaugural session.
The conference will have four sessions, besides the inaugural. The keynote address was presented by Prof Rajinderhpal Sinigh Brar of the Punjabi University Patliala. In the first session today, four papers were presented by Kanwal Kashmiri, Dr. Rajnesh Singh Bahadur, Dr Baldev Singh Dhaliwal and Dr. Sharma.
In the evening, a scintillating cultural programme was presented by the students of Punjabi University Patiala who had been specially invited for the occasion. The audience was delighted by the high voltage Punjabi cultural programme.
A Book Exhibition of the Academy’s Punjabi publications was also organized at the venue.
On the second day of the conference tomorrow, three more papers will be presented by Dr. Baljit Singh Raina, Prof Rattan Singh Kanwal and Swami Anter Neerav. In the second session prominent Punjabi short story writers including Khalid Hussain, Harbajan Singh Sagar, Balbir Parwana and Kamal Deep Singh will present papers.
In his inaugural address, Minister for Housing, Horticulture & Culture, Raman Bhalla said that the Government was keenly involved in the promotion of different languages including Punjabi that are spoken in the State. He said Punjabi language is spoken not only in several states of India but also in different countries. He said conferences help in identifying issues and finding solutions and asked the writers and intellectuals to link the language with employment opportunities to ensure its further growth.
The Vice Chancellor spoke at length about the richness of Punjabi language and its role in creating awareness among masses. He said Punjabi writers of Jammu & Kashmir have made a niche in the larger Punjabi literary circles.
Welcoming the participating writers, Secretary Academy, Khalid Bashir Ahmad said that the Academy is actively engaged in the promotion of various languages including Punjabi. The Punjabi Conference, he said, was held after a gap of six years even as the Academy has now started a series of language conferences to indentify challenges and opportunities for these languages. The Pahari Conference, he said, is now next in the Academy’s schedule.
Among others, prominent writers and intellectuals of Punjabi languages including Dr. Jagbir Singh. Dr. Satish Verma, Saran Singh, Dr. Rajnesh Bahadur, Dr. Sukhdev Singh, Dr. Deepak Manmohan, Prof. Tejinder Kour, Dr. Lalit Magotra, Prof. Archana Kesar, Khalid Hussain, Baljit Raina, Arsh Sehbai, Sham Taalib, Chand Deepika Kour, students and staff of Punjabi Department of Jammu University were present.
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