Requests him to establish Dogri Academy, Dogri Depts
No less than living treasures of Jammu and Kashmir, the recipients of Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi demonstrated at Patnitop how high hopes they have from Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor, for establishment of an Academy of Dogri language, and opening of Dogri Departments in Universities.
One of the twenty-two odd official languages of India, Dogri, which has an established tradition of poetry and prose, doesn’t have a dedicated Academy, Media Channel or Department in Educational Institutions of Jammu and Kashmir. Reflecting on such state of affairs during literary festival at Patnitop, stalwarts of Dogri literary world requested Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to do the needful.
Lieutenant Governor, J&K was in Patnitop on Thursday to inaugurate the Regional Literary Festival as part of the ongoing Iconic Week Celebrations in Jammu Kashmir, which showcased the accumulated talent of Dogri and other regional languages on one stage. In his address, he remembered Padma Shri Padma Sachdev and paid tributes to her, followed by felicitation of the Narsingh Dev Jamwal, Dr. Jitendra Udhampuri and Prof Shiv Nirmohi, who have also received Padma Shri.
Recipients of Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award from Jammu region, who’ve made valuable contribution to the Dogri literary tradition, heavy-heartedly requested LG Sinha in unison on the occasion.
In his nineties now, Narsingh Dev Jamwal, who received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978, and India’s fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri in 2019, got on the stage using a walking stick, and said that he’s humbled by the first-of-its-kind platform being provided to Dogri Wordsmiths with the organizing of a Literature Festival.
“I’ve got more than what I deserved during my journey to serve our mother tongue. I have never asked for anything but today, I would like to take the opportunity to request LG Sinha to start Dogri dedicated department in universities of Jammu region, and help it prosper among generations to come,” he said in a shaky voice.
Jitendra Udhampuri, the second Padma Shri (2010) and Sahitya Akademi Awardee (1981) to be felicitated during the festival, emphasized that Dogri is dear to us more than our life, and the dharti which gives birth to Dogri speaking Duggars is exceptional.
Filled with enthusiasm and passion for his motherland and each of its offerings, Prof Shiv Nirmohi extended his greetings to the organizers for choosing Patnitop for the literature festival to celebrate languages, culture, of Jammu region, as he elaborated on the significance of the place.
“Famous since ages for its richness in terms of Vedic Literature, and discovery of oldest shilas and scripts, the festival has helped to etch forever that this region of Rishi-Munis, litterateurs, intellectuals. It has given momentum, rather a new birth to the andolan for identity of Jammu region and Dogri language,” he roared from the dais.
He added, “This region is historic, filled with rich and rare literature, and heritage. It breaks my heart to see that we have three-four universities in Jammu region, but only University of Jammu has made some appreciable effort to open ‘Dogri Excellence Department’. LG Sinha is requested to give Dogri what it deserves, and start Dogri Departments in Central University of Jammu, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and other educational institutions, in addition to an Academy for Dogri.”
Sahitya Akademi Awardee, Mohan Singh also filled the atmosphere with his energy and love for Dogri, as he supported the latent demand. Hundreds of people attending the Literary Festival applauded loudly hoping for some immediate and positive announcement from LG Sinha.
Pertinently, spoken by millions of people from Jammu region, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and some parts of Pakistan, Dogri has got official recognition quite gradually. On 2 August 1969, the General Council of the Sahitya Academy recognized Dogri as an ‘independent modern literary language’ of India, based on the unanimous recommendation of a panel of linguists. It was added in the 8th schedule of the Indian constitution in 2003, and then it became one of the state languages of UT of J&K. However, it awaits its due in its own home.
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