Kashmiri Has A Glorious Past: Rather

Suggests Task Force of Prominent Writers To Follow The Matter Emerging From The Conference

Srinagar – A 2-day conference on Kashmiri Languages: Challenges and Opportunities opened here today with a galaxy of scholars and experts from within and outside the state attending it. It has been organized by the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages. A similar conference on Dogri will be held next month at Jammu.

The Conference was inaugurated by Finance minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, while noted poet, Prof Rehman Rahi, presided over the opening session. Those attending the conference included Prof Margoob Banhali, Bimla Raina, Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Ayaz Nazki, Prof Muhammad Zaman Azurda, Prof Bashar Bashir, Dr. Aziz Hajini, B.N. Betaab, Shujaat Bukhari, Prof Farooq Fayaz, Prof Majrooh Rashid, Dr. Rattan Lal Talashi, Prof H.K Khar, Manshoor Banhali, and Fida Rajourvi.

Rather called for collective efforts to meet the challenges to Kashmiri. He suggested a Task Force of prominent writers to follow the matter emerging from the conference. The language has a glorious past with rich literature, he said, adding that it was spoken by about 66 per cent people in the state, including Kishtwar, Doda, Bhadarwah, Poonch, Rajouri and Ramban and even in the Chamba valley of Himachal Pradesh.

Recalling the history of Kashmiri language from the period of Sufi poets, Lal Ded, Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani and Shams Faqir, Rather said the poetry of Lal Ded had been highlighted even by Time Magazine. Likewise about 19 books have been published on the poetry of Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Wali (RA) in Kanad language.

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He quoted verses depicting richness of Kashmiri in Sufism and mysticism, the legacy carried forward by Lal Ded, Sheikh-ul-Alam, Shamas Faqir and Rasa Javdani; romantic poetry of Rasool Mir and the revolutionary and patriotic poetry of G.A. Mehjoor, Abdul Ahad Azad and A.R. Rahi, like Walo Ho Bagwanoo Now Baharech Shan Paida Kar Pholan Gul Gath Karan Bulbul Tithi Saman Paida Kar who is not impressed by the Mathnavis of Wahab Hajni and Gulrez of Maqbool Shah Kralwari.

Rather lauded the initiatives taken by the Secretary, Culture Academy, Khalid Bashir to provide a platform to the think tank of Kashmiri language for seeking solution to the problems and challenges confronting Kashmiri language. He said struggle for promotion of Kashmiri language is a noble cause which needs to be pursued by the all stakeholders with more dedication and devotion.

The highlight of the post-inaugural session was an illuminating theme paper on the topic of the conference presented by noted poet and Gnanpeeth awardee, Prof. Rehman Rahi.

On the culminating day, six papers will be presented on topics Kashmiri language in the academic backdrop, Kashmiri language and journalism, Kashmiri language in the cyber age, Kashmiri language and lexicography, Kashmiri language and issues of translation and Kashmiri language and curriculum. Prominent writers and academics Prof Margoob Banihali, Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Prof Shafi Shoque, Prof H. K. Kher, Dr. Rattan Lal Talashi and Dr. Aziz Hajini will present their papers tomorrow. Each presentation will be followed by discussion and question-answer session.

Earlier, secretary Academy, Khalid Bashir Ahmad said that the objective of the conference was to take a holistic view of Kashmiri language in the backdrop of the challenges that were confronting with and the opportunities that lay in its way.

He said that most of the languages of the word that were not oriented with employment or science and technology today face the issue of survival and Kashmiri language could be no exception. It is very important to make the language relevant to the modern times to ensure its survival and promotion, he added and hoped that the conference would generate fruitful and healthy debate unraveling many positives that otherwise remain hidden from the eyes in a situation of disillusionment.

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