Jammu, Mar 04 (KNS): In a first, J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages launched here today a mega 2-day J&K Young Writers’ Festival, first such event in the history of the institution. The event features many elements with focus on youth and their prospects in contemporary writing.
Describing the event as timely celebrated lawyer, member parliament and former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffar Hussain Beigh said that organizing events like this was long overdue.
“Such events should be held from time to time as these afford us opportunities to communicate with our youth in a direct and unhindered manner,” he said.
Echoing his views about JKAACL as an institution Beigh said that the framers of Constitution of the State purposely conferred on it a constitutional status so as to allow it to grow independently.
“Cultural Academy is not an ordinary autonomous body. It is a constitutional body endowed with the trusteeship of upkeeping the long cherished traditions and culture of the state,” he said adding people must try to benefit from its resourceful in terms of rich treasure trove of literature and arts that Academy has.
Appreciating revival of literary and cultural activities by the Academy the noted jurist said that Academy had now become an academic institution.
“As an institution Academy has grown. It has gone beyond recreation and amusement,” he said.
Beigh also lamented the growing trend of consumerism, pervasive technology and fanaticism across the globe moreso in the Asian peninsula and said that this must be reversed.
Earlier in his welcome address Secretary JKAACL, Dr. Aziz Hajini said that youth are the torch-bearers of future and the society at large must work collectively for uplifting their morale.
“Youth are our real heirs as it is through them that the world will know us and remember us,” Hajini said, adding for him young writers are like his progeny who would promote and propagate writings of writers like him for all times to come.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The Young Writers’ Festival cum Conference which opened today will continue for two days. During the days of the event, myriad young writers and scholars will present their papers on different aspects of writing in J&K giving an overview of their tryst with modern writing.
In the inaugural session today, Sahitya Akademi Yuva awardee Kashmiri writer, Farooq Shaheen presented his keynote address. He spoke about the need to promote young writers and suggested ways of embarking on the journey.
Noted Hindi writer and Bharatiya Jnanpith Navlekhan awardee Yogita Yadav was also in the presidium. Celebrated lawyer, member parliament and former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffar Hussain Beigh was the chief guest on the occasion.
A large number of young writers and poets from across the length and breadth of the State were present. Before the formal start of the festival, Yadav recited one of her short stories before an appreciative audience in jam-packed Abhinav Theatre.
The inaugural session culminated with vote of thanks by Additional Secretary of JKAACL, Dr. Arvinder Singh Amn.
The pre and post-lunch session was marked by presentation of papers by Ashu Sharma (Dogri), Sibte Hassan (Balti), Nighat Choudhary (Gojri), Adil Mohiudin (Kashmiri), and Jamyang Tsering Namgial (Ladakhi) who respectively dwelt on various facets of modern writing among youth. Third and final session of the day was marked by a multi lingual mushaira.
The culminating day of the festival will be marked by events like Sham-e-Ghazal, traditional music and bonfire. (KNS)