Gurez, June 04 (KNS): A day-long Shina Conference, organized by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, started at Dawar here on Saturday with participating writers and scholars stressing on popularization and promotion of the language and its literature.
The literary event was first of its kind in Gurez organized by the Academy since its inception. The conference began on a positive note with speakers sounding optimistic about the richness and development of the language and appreciating the Academy’s initiative to focus on the challenges and opportunities for regional languages like Shina.
During the day-long deliberations a paper reading session, mushiara and music programme were held and issues relating to Shina language and culture thoroughly discussed and debated.
During the paper reading session Mohammed Ramzan Khan, Amjad Raza and S. Gyalson read papers on various cultural and literary aspects of Shina. The paper readers mostly focused on historical aspects of Shina language with special reference to contemporary challenges confronted by it.
The opening session of the conference was presided over by Abdul Jabbar Chakat. Secretary Academy, Dr. Aziz Hajini, Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Sajjad Hussain, former member, J&K Public Service Commission, Masood Samoon, prominent writers, poets and a large number of lovers of Shina language and literature attended the conference.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelOn this occasion latest book of Masood Samoon titled ‘Shina Mohawarey’ was also released.
In his presidential remarks, Abdul Jabbar Chakat referred to the richness of Shina language and urged new generation to carry forward the mission of its development.
Addressing the conference, chief guest and Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Sajjad Hussain termed writers and poets as valuable assets for any society and said that through their writings they give direction to people. The keynote address of the conference was delivered by Masood Samoon.
In his address, Samoon dwelt on the efforts of individual writers and literary groups in bringing Shina language and literature to its present level and hoped these efforts would continue. He also appreciated the contribution of the Academy to development of regional languages and culture.
Earlier, while welcoming the participants, Secretary Academy, Dr. Aziz Hajini, spoke about the importance of the conference in identifying challenges and opportunities for a language like Shina and hoped the participants would come up with a roadmap for its promotion.
He also dwelt in detail on the role of the Academy in the development and promotion of regional languages and culture. Dr. Hajini also briefly highlighted some major steps taken by the Academy since last year to improve the functioning of the institution. (KNS)