Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 12: Rich tributes were paid to Pt Prem Nath Shastri, the doyen of Kashmiri culture and a scholar of Shastras on his 97th Jayanti at a simple but impressive function held here, today.
The function was organized by Pt. Prem Nath Shastri Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan in which the founding Vice Chancellor of Vishwakarma Skill Development University, Guru Gram (Haryana) Raj Nehru was the chief guest while BJP MLC Surinder Ambardar was the guest of honour.
The function among others was attended by Swami Kumar Ji, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president Panun Kashmir, Kuldeep Khuda former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Kiran Wattal former Commissioner JMC, Prof A K Ogra former Director Science and Technology and a socio religious leader, Ramesh Hangloo founder Director Radio Sharda 90.4 FM,A K Raina senior vice president AIKS, Virender Raina national spokesman PK, B L Bhat, Jyotshi Bushan Lal, Jyotshi Avatar Krishan senior community leader, Ashok Kangan, Dr SushilWattal, Comrade Mohan Lal, P K Kaul, Kuldeep Raina general secretary PK and Satish Sher.
Paying tributes to Pt Prem Nath Shastri, Raj Nehru said his contributions in tying the community into a single chord can’t be forgotten. He said the Kashmiri Pandits have a cultural history of over 5000 years and this community survived through many odds in past and it will surpass the present turmoil too.
Nehru said that there are five communities in the world which are old and they continue to face threat to their survival but that community only survives which has pursued its culture and history while those who ignored them they have perished with the tides of time. He said many communities who forgot their history and culture exist nowhere.
Nehru said that for keeping its culture and language intact the community needs to built an anchor and Jayantri (Vijeshwar Panchag) has performed this role for Kashmiri Pandits for thousands of years. He termed Jayantri a big anchor for the community.
He stressed on connecting the younger generation with the Jayantri as every community needs an anchor during adversities. He stressed on populating the Jayantri for populating the culture.
Addressing the gathering Surinder Ambardar termed Shastri Ji a great philosopher and a thinker ahead of his time. He said the community can’t forget his contribution. He said Pandits are united as the community believes in unity of purpose.
Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo in his address while paying tributes to Shastri Ji said that this great man from today should be called a Shoor Veer (a great warrior). He asked the community to come forward and intensify the struggle to achieve the goal as envisaged in Margdarshan resolution of 1991.
Quoting various religious scriptures, he said Hindu gods have also taken to arms against the evil to restore order in the universe and struggling for ones right is great karma as per Hindu philosophy.
Ramesh Hangloo while paying tributes to Shastri Jai highlighted the role of Pir Panchal which along with Shodh Sansthan worked tirelessly to take the message to younger generations. He termed Shastri Ji a great saint and socio-political scholar.
Swami Kumar Ji also paid tributes to Shastri Ji and highlighted his role.
In his welcome address Pt. Omkar Nath Shastri highlighted the functioning of Shodh Sansthan and said that it will carry forward the unfinished task of Shastri Ji. He also highlighted the role of Vijeshwar Panchang published by the Jyotshi Karyalya for over last 300 years in linking the community to its roots. The stage was managed by Kuldeep Pandita of Thinkers Forum.
A hawan (Pusharchana)was also performed on the occasion and later the devotees were served with prashad.
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