Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: In its endeavour to promote higher standards of education, health and social awareness among the masses a guest lecture was organized in the memory of Late Prof D K Rampal today in the MCA (Computer Sciences) Seminar Hall, University of Jammu.
Prof (Dr) B S Dhahiya Ex. Vice-Chancellor University of Kurukshetra delivered the said lecture on the topic “Literature and Society”.
Sham Lal Sharma Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu and Kashmir was the chief guest on this occasion, while Prof MPS Ishar Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu presided over the function and the special guest of honour was Justice JP Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister stressed on the importance of literature for improvement of standards which are showing a downhill course. He wanted a necessary inclusion of morality and spirituality in the curricula so that the youth of today is more oriented to moral values than materialism. He wanted the institutions to inculcate the habit of discipline and dedication among the youth and the need to be truthful and responsible in work, spirit and deed.
Prof Dhahiya while commenting on the contribution of late Prof D K Rampal who was a renowned academician, litterateur and former head of the English Department told that he joined the university as a lecturer and rose to be the head of the English Department in 1988. The credit for organizing the 1st International Conference on T S Eliot on whom he was considered an authority goes to him. He was also the founder director of the Centre for New Literatures in the Jammu University. Besides guiding research work to numerous M.Phil and Ph.D Students which include the Heads of Departments in Jammu University and Principals of Colleges he also authored many books and organized many conferences.
Dr. Dhahiya stressed on the need of literature to guide the progress of the society. Starting with the example of birds and animals he recounted how a society is built on the scaffold of literature, which teaches them to behave. The more literary a society the more well behaved and civilized it is.
Justice J P Singh also stressed on the importance of literature in the fabrication of a civilized society and the need for its compulsory inclusion in the curricula to build a civilized society.
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