Secretary, Culture inaugurate a day-long Dogri Conference to mark “Dogri Manta Divas”

Jammu, December 24: Deepika Sharma, Secretary in Department of Culture , J&K today inaugurated a
day-long Dogri Conference to mark “Dogri Manta Divas” at K.L. Saigal Hall, Jammu, in the presence
of a large gathering of artists and writers from across Jammu and Kashmir. The event was The Jammu
and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL)

The inaugural session was presided over by Padma Shri Mohan Singh, with Ms. Deepika Sharma as
the Chief Guest. The presidium included prominent personalities such as Darshan Darshi, renowned
Dogri poet; Dr. Om Goswami, eminent writer; Dr. Javaid Rahi, Divisional Head JKAACL Jammu; and
Ms. Reeta Khadyal, Editor Dogri.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Deepika Sharma emphasized the government's commitment to
promoting the Dogri language and culture. She stated that 32 new schemes have been approved to
advance art, culture, and languages in Jammu and Kashmir. She also directed JKAACL to organize a
week-long Dogri Theatre Festival to engage younger audiences and instill pride in their cultural roots.
Earlier, Dr. Javaid Rahi welcomed the guests and outlined the objectives of the event. This was
followed by a keynote address by Dr. Om Goswami, who presented an insightful paper on the
historical significance and evolution of the Dogri language.

The Guest of Honour D.K. Vaid, underscored the importance of preserving Dogri literature and culture
for future generations and called for collaborative efforts to sustain its legacy.
In his Presidential Address, Padma Shri Mohan Singh highlighted the cultural richness of the Dogri
language and stressed the need for greater efforts to establish Dogri’s rightful place in educational and
cultural institutions. He encouraged initiatives that actively involve the youth in preserving the
language.

The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Reeta Khadyal.
The event continued with a vibrant poetry session, presided over by Dr. Jitender Udhampuri. The
presidium included Sh. Prakash Premi, Sh. Om Prakash Sharma “Vidyaarthi,” and Sh. Inderjeet Kesar.
Renowned poets such as Sh. Vijay Verma, Sh. Balwan Singh Jamorhia, Sh. Raj Kumar Sharma “RAJ RAHI,” Smt.

Usha Kiran Sharma, Sh. Gopal Krishan Komal, Sh. Anand Khajuria, Randhir Singh Raipuria, Capt. Lalit Sharma,
Sh. Girdhari Lal “Rahi,” Smt. Vijaya Thakur, Dhiraj Bismil, Dev Raj Marehal, Sh. Kewal Kumar Kewal, Sh. Mohan
Lal Sharma, Abdul Quddir Kundria, Sh. Roshan Bral, Mohinder Panchervi, Sh. Ajay Singh, Neha Devi, Sh. Daleep

Singh, Priyanka Verma, and Sahil Badyal presented their works, enriching the session with their literary
contributions.

A musical evening followed, featuring mesmerizing Dogri performances. Highlights included a Dogri
song by Ravi Raghuvanshi, a Dogri Suhag by Ms. Reeta Khadyal, and a Dogri folk song by Smt. Asha
Kesar, among others. The ultimate highlight was a Dogri folk song mashup by Kusha Sharma and
Chinmay Sharma, which captivated the audience.

The performances were complemented by Sh.Rakesh Anand on flute, Sh. Vijay Anand on dholak, and music composed by Sh. Ravi Sharma.

The celebration of Dogri Manta Divas by JKAACL was a resounding success, marking a significant
step towards fostering love and pride for the Dogri language and culture among the people of Jammu
and beyond.