Jammu, Feb 21 (KNS): Governor N.N. Vohra, who is also the Patron of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, inaugurated a three-day Jammu and Kashmir Literary and Cultural Festival here on Wednesday. Minister of State for Tourism, Education and Culture, Priya Sethi attended the event as the guest of honour.
Coinciding with the International Mother Tongue Day the three-day festival is celebrating and showcasing the rich linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity of Jammu and Kashmir with multiple simultaneous literary and cultural events being held across various venues of Jammu city.
During the inaugural day today the Governor N.N. Vohra released Directory of Writers and Artists of Jammu and Kashmir besides Annual Report of the JKAACL for the year 2017.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor described the Writers and Artists Directory as a benchmark and a useful reference book. He also lauded the effort of the Academy in publishing its Annual Report. Echoing his remarks about functioning of JKAACL, Vohra said that during the past more than two years, the Academy had become more vibrant.
Appreciating the work of present Secretary JKAACL, Dr. Aziz Hajini, the Governor said that Dr. Hajini was able to activate the Academy and had been instrumental in making it visible in all the three regions of the State.
The Governor laid emphasis on appreciating the worth of mother tongues by giving them due space in day to day discourse.
In her speech, Minister of State for Tourism, Education and Culture, Priya Sethi appreciated the work done by the present Secretary vis-à-vis revival of cultural activities and said that over the past two years the Academy was able to keep its auditoria and other such venues busy with artistic activity.
She also impressed upon the civil society to work with collective zeal in promoting and propagating mother tongues.
The programme started with keynote address by noted Dogri writer and Convener Dogri Advisory Board of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi Darshan Darshi. This was followed by a brief speech by noted Kashmiri poet-academic, Prof. Naseem Shafai. Both of them stressed the need to promote and preserve mother tongues.
Earlier in his welcome address Secretary JKAACL, Dr. Aziz Hajini spelt out the newer initiatives of the Academy. He made a special mention of some of the milestones achieved by the Academy during his tenure.
“Apart from taking up work on the much cherished Jammu Writers Club, the Academy has also been able to complete the Kashmir Cultural Centre at Srinagar,” Hajini disclosed adding more was in the offing.
Announcing hosting of a segment of theatre Olympiad in Jammu Hajini said that it was a matter of privilege for the Jammu and Kashmir State that twelve plays out of the total bouquet of plays of the Olympiad will be staged at the Abhinav Theatre Jammu in the month of March this year.
During the inaugural day today a photo exhibition was held in the foyer of Abhinav Theatre Jammu. Simultaneously, a panel discussion, mushaira of young poets of the State and a musical evening was also held. Nukad Nataks were also performed at Rani Park, Mubarak Mandi, Purkhu Camp and at some other places of Jammu city. The event culminated with a bonfire.
Prominent among those who attended the inaugural session today included Kachi Ahmad Ali Khan, CEC, LAHDC, Kargil, Farooq Nazki, Prof. Farooq Fayaz, Wali Mohammed Aseer, Nirmal Vinod, Mohan Singh, Phunsok Ladakhi and Veer Munshi.
The second day of the festival will begin tomorrow with inauguration of a 2-Day Art Exhibition at Kala Kendra Jammu. The art exhibition will be thrown open by Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Lone Hajoora. (KNS)