Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta inaugurated 2-Day All India Punjabi Writers’ Conference, here today.The Conference was organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages on the theme ‘Vartmaan Daur Te Punjabi Sahit’. Eminent scholar, writer and former Head of Department of Punjabi, University of Delhi, Prof Jagbir Singh, prominent Punjabi writer, intellectual and scholar, Dr Jaswinder Singh, Secretary JKAACL Dr Aziz Hajini, Additional Secretary, Dr Arvnider Singh Aman, S Popinder Singh Paras and writers attended the conference.While speaking on the occasion, Kavinder Gupta lauded the efforts of JKAACL for organizing this conference and said in the present changing scenario, it becomes more relevant to focus and think over the preservation, development and documentation of the languages. He said today’s youth is under the influence of the westernized culture and may get diverted from the regional identity, culture and regional languages in context of mother tongue.
Prof Jagbir Singh said in the era of globalization, a big challenge is expected to the languages and regional identities but because of its diverse beauty there can be no threat to Punjabi language and culture but it is more important to review our education policy at national level to provide more space to the regional languages and regional cultural identities.Dr Jaswinder Singh nationally acclaimed scholar of Punjabi from Patiala said that the literature in Punjabi being written in outside the Punjab and country enriched the Punjabi literature through their writings reflecting the regional impact of the respective area, region, state and country. He also hoped that the authorities and the State Government should initiate the efforts to strengthen the Punjabi section as full fledge section.
Dr Aziz Hajini informed that soon the construction works of Writers’ club in the Academy premises will be initiated fulfilling the long pending demand and requirement of the Jammu region. The latest publications and special numbers of Sheeraza Punjabi were also released in the inaugural session. A Punjabi play Sach Ki Bela directed by Mr T S Premi was also presented by Manoranjan Kala Kendra, Jammu.Among others, Padmashree Dr Jatindra Udhampuri, Khalid Hussain, Prof Lalit Mangotra, Surinder Goel, Padmashree Balwant Thakur, Prof Nirmal Vinod, Arsh Sehbai, Vijay Sharma, C S Katal, Mushtaq Kak, Prof Raj Kumar, Dr Baljit Kaur, Tapeshwar Dutta, S Ajab Singh, Ajit Kumar, teaching faculty, scholars and students of PG Departments of Hindi, Punjabi, Dogri, writers and artists of the Jammu region and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.