New Delhi, Feb 23: The All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture, organized a special event to celebrate International Mother Tongue Day at the Umang Auditorium, IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi.
The event, aimed at promoting and preserving the Kashmiri language, witnessed an enthusiastic turnout. Dr. Rashmi Singh (IAS), Principal Resident Commissioner, Government of J&K, presided over the function, with Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, and Sadaf Munshi, Professor at the University of North Texas, USA, as guests of honor.
Welcoming the dignitaries, AIKS President Ravinder Pandita highlighted the importance of linguistic and cultural preservation. On this occasion, the Pt. Omkar Koul Award was conferred upon T.N. Kundan, an eminent writer, in recognition of his contributions to Kashmiri literature.
Symposium on Language Preservation
A symposium titled “Preservation of the Mother Tongue & Kashmiri Culture: Challenges and Solutions” featured distinguished speakers who shared their insights on safeguarding the language. Among them was Khawaja Abdul Ghani from PoK, who addressed the gathering via live streaming. The speakers expressed deep concerns over the declining use of Kashmiri, both in written and spoken forms, and emphasized the need for collective efforts to ensure its survival.
Mushaira and Musical Performances
The second session of the event featured a vibrant mushaira, where poets and writers from Delhi-NCR and the Kashmir Valley, including Sufi Shauqat, Prof. Meem Hai Zaffar, Fayaz Dilbar, and Shahi Shahbaz, presented their literary works.
The audience was also captivated by soulful Kashmiri musical performances by renowned singers Pt. Dhananjay Koul, Vanshika Bhat, and Upasana Pandita.
Special Releases and Closing Remarks
As part of the event, a special edition of “VAAKH,” the only Kashmiri magazine in Devanagari script, along with the monthly “Naad” magazine, was unveiled.
In his concluding remarks, AIKS President Ravinder Pandita extended his gratitude to the organizing team, including Roop Krishen Bhat, head of CKLLC, and IGNCA, for making the event a resounding success after a gap of several years. He also urged authorities to recognize Devanagari script as a co-script for the Kashmiri language, ensuring broader accessibility and preservation.
Speakers and participants unanimously voiced their concerns over the dwindling status of Kashmiri and called for urgent measures to revitalize the language and its rich cultural heritage.
