Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 9: Jammu based Kashmir Cultural Trust organized Samanbal 2024 – a two days literary and cultural festival at here, today. The festival will culminate tomorrow.
Kashmiri writers, scholars and cultural personalities from across the country are participating in the festival.
The programme started by paying homage to all those writers and cultural personalities who passed away during last one year. Dr.Roop Krishen Bhat, Managing Trustee of KCT and co-ordinator of the programme read the welcome address. He highlighted various important programmes conducted by the Trust during past two decades and few important publications and digital courses prepared by it.
Prof R.L. Shant an eminent scholar inaugurated the programme. He said that since exile of 1990,when large number of writers and cultural workers were pushed out of Kashmir and got scattered in the country and outside, Kashmir Shaivism, Abhinavgupt’s scholarship, Kalhan’s historical achievement and Lal Ded’s literary pursuits guided and helped writers, resettle and reclaim their lost cultural roots.
“Our connect with Kashmir, its language and culture needs a rethink on an additional alternative script for Kashmiri .This will help our language to save it for present and future generations, Prof Shant said.
Samanbal 2024 raises the voice of Kashmiri writers living in the Valley, Jammu, Delhi etc. for its rights as equal participants in the pan Indian post 1990 scenario.
Kashmiri literay organizations like Samprati, Nagrad and Kashmir cultural Trust be represented in the literary affairs of the Sahitya academy, he said.
Bal Krishan Sanyasi an eminent poet presented the key note address. Vijay Bakaya former Chief Secretary and Ex. MLC who Presided over the inaugural function said that unless we speak Kashmiri in our homes we can’t preserve it.
Two books Kashmir: Nirvasansahitya edited jointly by Roop Krishen Bhat and M.K Santoshi and a drama book originally by Shakepeare in English and translated into Kashmiri by Gauri Shankar Raina were released on this occasion. Promila Kaul anchored this session.
In the first session two papers on Kashmiri language and literature were presented by Kanwal K. Lidhoo and R.L. Jowhar.
Dr. Sudhir Mahajan eminent theatre personality of Jammu and owner Director of Samoh Theatre gave a detailed account of Drama groups of Kashmir and Jammu.
The session was jointly presided by Prof. R.L. Talashi and Prof. Farooq Fayaz former professors of University of Kashmir.
Next session on “Mother Tongue ,social bonding, literature and culture :current scenario was moderated by Arvind Shah author and translator and presided over by Aseer Kishtwari”an emient scholar.
The session four of the day was short story readings in Kashmiri.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
