Dogri Sanstha celebrates platinum jubilee

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 23

The Dogri Sanstha Jammu organised a “sammaan-samaaroh” in connection with the celebration of its platinum jubilee year to honour Sahitya Akademi awardees of the Dogri language and officers who have qualified the KAS examination with Dogri as one subject.

Inderjit Kesar, a prolific Dogri writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee, was among those felicitated on the occasion. His novel “Bhagirath” was selected for Sahitya Akademi Award. He has written 21 books during his four-decade-long career.

Kesar’s book “Matreyan” is taught to BA students. At present, his novel “Moorto” is part of the BA course, while “Jaul” is being taught to MA students. Besides, he has compiled two other books for the Sahitya Akademi — “Dogri Geet” and “Ekkaani Natak”.

KK Sharma, Adviser to Lt-Governor, and chief guest at the function, felicitated the Sahitya Akademi Awardees. Siddharth Dubey and Sahil Randhawa were honoured for qualifying the KAS examination with Dogri as one of the subjects. Others honoured included Shailendra Singh, Dhyan Singh, Chhatrapal, Shiv Mehta, Veena Gupta, Yash Pal Nirmal, Chhatrapal, Krishan Sharma, Yash Raina and Narsingh Dev Jamwal.

Sharma spoke at length about the importance of the mother tongue, especially in education. He also commented that Dogri language had a lyrical quality in it, which not only makes it pleasant to listen but also creates an effect like meditational music.

Lalit Magotra, president of the Dogri Sanstha, in his welcome address, explained that the venue for this particular programme was selected this school only with the express purpose of attracting the younger generation to their own literature and language. Vijay Sharma, principal of the school, presented the vote of thanks at the conclusion of the programme.