| Dogri writers resolve to sit on Dharna, boycott academy functions | | | Early Times Report
Jammu Nov 29: In an emergently convened meeting , in which Dogri writers, writers of other languages, Dogri lovers ,prominent members of civil society and representatives of various social and cultural organizations participated in large number, it was unanimously resolved that a sit in Dharna would be stayed on 5th December outside the office of the Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and languages to register protest against the non-inclusion of any Dogri writer in the newly constituted Central Committee of the Academy. The Central Committee is the apex high power body which takes final decision regarding the functioning, policies and planning of the Academy.
Chhatrapal, president of Dogri Sanstha and a noted Dogri writer complained that in the recently reconstituted Central Committee all members are from Kashmir division except one and none even one member is Dogri speaking or Dogri knowing .
No Dogri writer has been included in the Central Committee in spite of the fact that Dogri is the second largest language of the state and is included in the 8th schedule of Indian constitution. This speaks of the sheer discrimination meted out to the Dogri speaking people of Jammu region.
Lalit Magotra, convener Dogri Advisory Board in Sahitya Akademi and prominent writer shared with the audience that the Dogri writers had earlier planned to stage dharna on 7th Nov 2016 but agitation and Dharna was put on hold on the assurance of Dy Chief Minister that the grievances of Dogri writers and Dogras will be addressed very soon and urged the agitating writers to allow some time to the Government to resolve the matter.
But in spite of a long wait no corrective measure has been taken as promised. Because of the non-initiative and callous attitude of the Government, the writers and the Dogri speaking public is being compelled to adopt agitational means to get even their legitimate and rightful representation, he added.
Others who spoke on the occasion included H. Jalmeria, Ashok Khajuria , Shashi Pathania, Randhir Singh Raipuria and Veena Gupta.
It was also resolved in the meeting that henceforth the writers would boycott all functions of the Academy. Dogri Sanstha fervently appealed all the social, religious, cultural and political organizations to support this common cause, which is a related to the identity of all Dogras and Dogri loving populace and defeat the nefarious designs of those who conspire to denigrate this language and create a wedge between Jammu region and Kashmir valley. |
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