Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 15: Up in arms against alleged discrimination meted out to the language of Jammu in the newly constituted Central Committees of Jammu Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), Dogri Sanstha Jammu has warned protests and non-cooperation by the Dogras if the Academy does not take immediate corrective measures in this regard.
“If corrective measures are not taken immediately, the situation may escalate completely out of control and we the writers will fight to the end to stop this injustice perpetrated against the Dogri language and Dogras,” said prominent writer and president of Dogri Sanstha Jammu, Chhatrapal, while addressing a press conference, here today.
He alleged that the decision of Kashmir centric bureaucracy to have no member from Dogri language in the apex decision making body of the Academy, was another obtrusive example of the quantum of injustice and high-handedness unleashed by the top brass of the State administration against Dogri language and Dogri literature. “None of the members of newly constituted Central Committee is Dogri speaking or represent Dogri language. Therefore this committee can not do justice to the aspirations of Dogri speaking people of Jammu Region,” he said.
Describing it unfortunate and detrimental to the development of the language of Dogras, Prof Lalit Magotra, eminent littérateur and Convener, Dogri Advisory Board , Sahitya Akademi New Delhi for Dogri, said that ideally, the Central Committee should be constituted to give representation to all regions, communities and all aspects of Language, Art and Culture, which the newly constituted committee fails to do. “It appears that the Government has unwittingly fallen prey to certain forces, which conspire to create a wedge between the people of Jammu region and Kashmir valley and between the people speaking Dogri and Kashmiri languages,” he added.
Sahitya Akademi awardee and vice-president of Dogri Sanstha, Gianeshwar, announced that besides staging protest dharnas and demonstrations, the Dogri Sanstha members would resort to non-cooperation to the JKAACL till the Dogri is given its due share. “We also appeal the leadership of Jammu, irrespective of party affiliation, to come forward for safeguarding language and culture of Dogras,” he added.
Dr Nirmal Vinod, Prof Baldev Singh, Shiv Mehta and Madan Padha were also present in the press conference.
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