Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: A seminar was organized by Brahman Maha Mandal in coordination with Sharda Core Team to draw the attention of KP society towards the dilapidated condition of Sharda Temple situated on the banks of Kishanganga river in Neelum Valley, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Ravinder Pandita, founder & head of Save Sharda Committee, Kashmir was the chief guest on the occasion. A documentary on the history of Sharda temple was also screened to acquaint the jam -packed hall with the present deteriorated condition of the temple which bore the brunt of attack by invaders in past and also of the recent earthquake.
Despite the reverence of local villagers towards the sacred temple, the Government authorities in PoK have not undertaken any action plan to conserve and preserve the temple. Ravinder Pandita also apprised the audience through the documentary the efforts being made by his Team in collaboration with Civil Society of PoK, for reopening of Sharda Peeth. He has also approached the State and Central Governments in this regard and is in constant touch with people across LoC and Shankaracharyas of all mutts.
Rakesh Koul, coordinator, Sharda Core Group apprised the house about the initiatives taken by the Team in developing a software on Sharda Lippi which is still under finalization and will shortly be available to public.
Prof. Sushma Jatoo, Project Director and senior faculty at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi who is a renowned and dedicated scholar of Sharda Lippi informed about the geographical extent of the Lippi in historical past.
Prof. K.N. Pandita, Padma Shree opined that Sharda script is the heritage of Kashmiri Pandits and the pristine purity of the language should be maintained.
The dignitaries and invited guests also released the book titled ” Vitasta ki Thirakti Urmia” written by Late Dr. Badri Nath Kalla, presidential Medal awardee.
Ramesh Arora, MLC and Co-founder of Save Sharda Group was the guest of honour on the in the function.
The gathering appealed UNESCO to declare the Holy Sharda Temple situated on the banks of Kishanganga, Neelum Valley, PoK as World heritage site, to inscribe Sharda script in the “Memory of World Register” at UNESCO, to approach Archaeological Survey of India and its counterpart in Pakistan to undertake conservation and preservation, immediately, of the temple and site and to declare holy Sharda Temple as a pilgrimage site for J&K Hindus and permit them to visit the temple to pay obeisance at sanctum sanctorum, at least, once in a year.
The Committee has urged the Central Government to immediately take up the issue with Government of Pakistan.
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