Opinion | Review of Women’s Contribution in Gojri Literature (PART-5)

Under the supervision of Dr. Jai Singh from Shikarpur UP.  Magazine “Gujar Gorbh” in 1990 also published. The annual magazine “Sajra Bol” of the late Israel, which is the first full magazine published in Gojri language in 1995, the monthly magazine “Awaz e Gujjar” published under the supervision of Masood Choudhary, whose editor is Shaukat Javed, in 2003, Choudhary Abdul Ghani. Kohli’s former minister-supervised monthly magazine “Koh e Sheen” mentionable are those who have enhanced the prestige of Gujri journalism, through these monthly, fortnightly and weekly magazines, they have done an unparalleled job of awakening and mobilizing the Gujjar nation and creating mental awareness.But women’s literature and women’s writing have not been a part of them, whether it is prose, poetry, research, essay writing, dialogue writing or fiction writing, women have not written anything in these magazines, although Sarwari Kisana’s “Nawa e Qaum” and Gujjar Desh, Masood Chaudhary’s monthly Awaz Gujjar is considered to be a bridge connecting Gojri journalism, but these bridges also failed to become a bridge for women’s literature.

In the year 2018, a ray of hope woke up again when once again the history of Gojri journalism, which had been sleeping somewhere in the cycle of time, stood up and on 5th July 2018, the first complete Gojri weekly newspaper “Rodad e Qom” was launched under the patronage of Shoket Naseem. For Gojri language and literature, this newspaper is an invaluable pearl, but for women it has proved to be a platform that has quenched the literary thirst of women. It has been done well. This newspaper has given women an opportunity not only in the field of literature but also in the field of journalism. Through this newspaper, new and young writers have come forward in prose and poetry as well and have presented research papers. There are some women who have started writing from the platform of the newspaper Rodad e Qom such as Akhtar-ul-Nisaa Choudhary, Shamima Siddique Shami, Choudhary Shazia Kouser, Zahida Khanum, Samina Sehar Mirza ،Razina Gul, Naseem Akhtar, Kulsoom Choudhary ٫Shazia Iqbal and undersigned Shazia Chowdhary

Some of their research papers, fiction stories and poetry have become the adornment of this newspaper. Nikhat Choudhary has also written several research papers in this newspaper. Apart from this, many new women from across the border have come to the public through this newspaper. In which Shamaila Choudhary, Ambreen Khathani, Rifat Rafiq, Sajida Rafiq, Shahida Choudhary etc. are included. Many research dialogues of Safoora Zahid have also been published.

It can be hoped that just as this newspaper has given enough attention to women’s literature in the early period, in the future it will continue to encourage women’s language and literature and invite new faces to come forward.

Social Media and Women in Gojri Literature

The modern age of the internet is different, from the internet many Social sites are through which people have increased in mutual communication and communication has become possible in any corner of the world in a few seconds.

Social media has also led Gojri literature on the path of development, publication and promotion. Today we can see that there are thousands of pages, groups, YouTube channels and websites in the name of Gojri language on social media. There are web portals dedicated to the publication and promotion of Gojri language and literature, there is no doubt that social media has increased the number of people reading and writing Gojri like wild grass grows in a forest after rain .Not only that, social media has brought to the fore many quality and capable poets, writers and researchers who used to write quality and could not publish their works due to economic and social difficulties, social media has proved to be such a platform for them. By means of which they can convey their writings to the world and gain recognition.

As far as women’s Gojri literature is concerned, it can be said that social media has inspired women to write and read Gojri. Because of that they had to leave the house, which was difficult. Now, through social media, women have become famous in any corner of the world while sitting at home.

Nowadays, many pages and channels are active on social media, which are working hard to promote the literature of women, for example Awaz e Gujjar page gave women a chance to come forward. Before this page, Dia Chaudhary used to do a program on a page called “Gojari Zaban” in which she used to present social issues. Let’s talk about the Awaaz Gujjar Facebook page and channel that first gave women an opportunity to come forward. Awaaz Gujjar page was started in 2017 by Shoket Naseem, Mushtaq Khalid Chaudhary, Shabbir Paswal, Tariq Abrar, Ishtiaq Ahmed Misbah, Younis Abrar, Farah Chaudhary, Nusrat Jabeen, Nikhat Chaudhary and undersigned Shazia Chowdhary . And then Ishtiaq Ahmed Misbah started the series of weekly Gojri news from this page and the honor of bringing this series to its peak belongs to undersigned. Before this, Safoora Zahid also started a series of Gojri news on social media on the other side of the border in 2015.

Among the women, Farah Chaudhary is a name who has inspired Gujjar women to enter the field by reporting live programs on the Awaz Gujjar page, especially the problems of the Gujarbakrwal nation. Nusrat Jabeen and Shaheen Rehman Chowdhury also organized several social and literary programs to force women to think for Gojri language and literature. Similarly, Nikhat Choudhary Kulsoom, Choudhary Tahmina Jabeen, Farzana Fayyaz, Choudhry Shazia Kausar and Shamayla Chaudhry also participated in the programs of this page whether they were written or audio. They have contributed to the development and promotion of Gojri language and literature by taking part in it. This is the first Facebook page and YouTube channel in the history of Gojri language and literature, which inspired all other pages and channels to bring women towards Gojri language and literature. By organizing online Gojri Mushairas, many new women writers were introduced and encouraged. The women who participated in these Mushairas are Nikhat Chaudhary, Kulsoom Chaudhary, Shakeela Tabsum, Samina Sahar Mirza, Shamima Siddique Shami, Shabnam Naz, Razina Gul, Shamaila Choudhary, Shazia Kouser and undersigned Shazia Choudhary, all these women have a place not only in poetry literature but also in prose literature and Awaz e Gujjar page has played an important role in motivating them. (To be continued)

– The writer is Editor Gojri Magazine Rudaati Qoom, Educationist and columnist from Rajouri Jammu and Kashmir. She can be reached at shaziachoudhary799@gmail.com