Satish Sharma releases Dogri books at Jammu; calls for promotion of mother tongue

JAMMU : Reaffirming the government’s commitment towards preservation and promotion of regional languages, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports, and ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma, on Tuesday released four Dogri books at a function organised by the Dogri Bhasha Academy, Jammu, at K.L. Saigal Hall, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), Jammu.

The books released by the Minister included “Manush” translated by Dr. Rattan Basotra, “Atte Dian Chidiyan” authored by Sh. Chandu Bhau, “Sanehra Kall” by Dr. Sunita Bhadwal and “Khidde Moti” by Pt. Mohan Lal.

Addressing the gathering, Satish Sharma underscored the vital role of language in preserving the cultural identity and heritage. He stated that promotion of mother tongues like Dogri is essential for maintaining the rich cultural legacy of Jammu and Kashmir, nurturing a sense of pride and belonging among the younger generations.

The Minister appreciated the sustained efforts of the Dogri Bhasha Academy in nurturing wliterary talent and organizing meaningful platforms for the writers and scholars. He emphasized that literature serves as a powerful medium to reflect societal values, traditions and contemporary issues and initiatives like these significantly contribute towards strengthening the cultural fabric of society.

Highlighting the government’s vision, Satish Sharma said that special focus is being laid on encouraging the regional languages through institutional support, literary activities and youth engagement programmes. He stressed that greater outreach is needed to connect the young minds with their linguistic roots and inspire them to contribute to the growth of indigenous languages.

Congratulating the authors, the Minister lauded their dedication and contribution towards enriching Dogri literature. He noted that such literary works not only preserve language but also document the socio-cultural narratives of the region for future generations.

Earlier, the function was presided over by eminent writer Dr. Nirmal Vinod.

Secretary, JKAACL, Harvinder Kour besides Dr. Arvinder Singh Aman and Founder of Dogri Bhasha Academy, Yashpaul Nirmal, along with the authors were also present.

In his welcome address, Yashpaul Nirmal highlighted the objectives and activities of the Dogri Bhasha Academy and its contributions over the past decade in promoting Dogri language and literature.

Dr. Nirmal Vinod, in his presidential remarks, appreciated the Academy for its continuous efforts in strengthening the Dogri literary culture and extended his support for such initiatives.

Harvinder Kour and Dr. Arvinder Singh Amn also lauded the Academy and the authors for their contributions.

On the occasion, research papers were presented by Dr. Ashu Sharma, Dr. Deepika Mehra, Dr. Chanchal Bhasin and Dr. Rattan Basotra, which were well received by the audience.

The authors also shared their literary experiences and recited excerpts from their works, adding to the richness of the event.

The programme was conducted by General Secretary of Dogri Bhasha Academy, Rajinder Ranjha, who also presented the vote of thanks.

A large number of writers, intellectuals, media persons and literature enthusiasts attended the function.