Writers, poets in exile demand equal attention from Academy

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 1: The writers and poets in exile during a literary meet here, today have urged the Cultural Academy to provide the share in the grant to displaced writers also besides purchasing their books.
The demand was made by president Kashmiri Hindu Conference (KHC) and a well known Urdu writer who is author of several books P L Kaul Badgami on the occasion.
Badgami who was the chief guest said that Cultural Academy is duty bound to provide equal attention towards the writers and poets in exile who despite odds worked tirelessly during the last 28 years of turmoil to keep the ancient culture and civilization of Kashmir alive by taking on the disruptive forces who tried to put a bad and distorted picture of Kashmir before the world.
Badgami said keeping the contribution of the exiled writers in view the Governments both State and Centre need to encourage them as they are the main pillars who kept the values of pluralism intact.
The literary meet was organized by J K Raina Maktoom (Master Ji) at Milchar Bhawan Gurah Brahmanah Bantalab. The writers and poets alleged that the literary activities of writers in exile have been neglected by the Cultural Academy and no activity is being carried for the displaced people. They said the literary meet has been organized as a mark of protest against the discriminatory attitude of the Academy.
The writers and poets who attended the meet and read their poems included P N Shad, Brij Hali, B N Abilash, J K Raina Maktoom, M L Pandita, M L Masroof, A K Naz, Prem Nath Prem, Raj Nath Raina (Sharma),  Avtar Hugami, Kanya Lal Pardesi, Rajinder Agosh, Ashok Gowhhar, Tej Sagar, Kunal Kundan and Pinki Pandita. It was presided over by Brij Hali.
Representatives of AIR and Sharda Radio led by its founder director Ramesh Hangloo also participated in the programme.