The J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) and Radio Kashmir, Srinagar today held an interactive session with Professor Neerja Mattoo as part of its monthly programme ‘Naamwar’.Mattoo is a professor of English Literature with many acclaimed works of translations (from Kashmiri to English) to her credit. Her contributions in translations are considered valuable, having translated into English a large number of acclaimed fiction works, including short story collections, written in Kashmiri. Her knowledge of cultural context offers her translations richness that is unique.During the session, Professor Mattoo shared her experiences with the audience and responded to a number of questions on the occasion.She said contemporary Kashmiri literature lacks depth and maturity, specifying lack of knowledge of Kashmiri language as one of the main reasons. She also said there is also limited historical sense among the contemporary Kashmiri writers and that is another reason for decline in quality of literature produced today.
She said literature is universal and classic and helps develop a comprehensive view of problems facing societies and that recourse to it by Kashmiri youth can help rise above political dilemmas found in present-day Kashmir. She said literature has a unique ability to protect one from depression or pessimism in the worst of times.Pertinently, Prof Mattoo started translating Kashmiri works to English with Amin Kamil’s Koker Jung. Besides her acclaimed ‘A Stranger Beside Me (1994)’, her translations also include ‘Contemporary Kashmiri Short Stories’ and the upcoming ‘Kashmiri Women Poets’. She has translated some of the acclaimed works of literature written in Kashmiri including those written by Amin Kamil, Ratan Lal Shan, Hari Krishan Koul and Nazir Jehangir.Speaking on the occasion, Director Radio Kashmir, Srinagar said the programme ‘Naamwar’ continues to get positive feedback from growing number of listeners.Earlier, Professor Shafi Shauq presented a paper on Professor Neerja.The ‘Naamwar’ series has been started with an aim of providing people avenues of idea exchange with eminent persons from various walks of life and in order that new generations know about inspirational Kashmiri personalities.