Sarvanand Premi remembered

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 1

The Kashmiri Pandits observed the 28th martyrdom day of prominent social worker and author Sarvanand Koul ‘Premi’, who along with his son was gunned down by terrorists in 1990 in the Anantnag town.

A programme was organised by the Pandit writers in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages.

Popularly known as ‘Premi’, Koul had authored more than two dozen books, which include the translation of world-famous ‘Geetanjali’, ‘Bhagavad Gita’, ‘Ramayana’ and Russian folk tales in Kashmiri.

Speaking on the occasion, Arvinder Singh Amn, Additional Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages, Jammu, said the academy had been organising a literary meet on this towering personality of the state and would continue to do so in future.

Rattan Talashi read out an exhaustive paper in Kashmiri, highlighting Premi’s contribution to the Kashmiri language and literature in particular. “He described his multifaceted personality who spent his whole life serving mankind as he was the follower of Gandhian philosophy with love for all and was a staunch secularist,” Talashi said.

Prof PN Trisal, in his paper, shed light on his pioneering role during the freedom struggle. He also mentioned Premi’s close association with famous Kashmiri poet Mehjoor.

Rattan Lal Shant, who presided over the function, threw light on the contribution of Premi to Kashmiri ethos and history. Rajinder Premi, the eldest son of the author, also spoke on the occasion and remembered the dark days of 1990 when terrorists killed several prominent persons belonging to the Pandit community.