Early Times Report
RAJOURI, July 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, in collaboration with the Himalayan Education Mission Rajouri, organized a one-day Pahari literary conference at the Himalayan College campus in Thandi Kassi, Rajouri. The event brought together Pahari poets, writers, literary scholars, researchers from Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri, students, dignitaries, and literature enthusiasts from Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Kashmir, and other regions. The Chief Guest on the occasion was Rajouri MLA Iftikhar Ahmed. The conference was presided over by Dr. Farooq Anwar Mirza, former Head of the Pahari Department at the Cultural Academy. Other distinguished guests on the dais included educationist Nazir Ahmad Qureshi, renowned poet and writer Ahmad Shanas, Patron of the Himalayan Education Mission Rajouri Farooq Muztar, Sheikh Azad Ahmad Azad, Rashid Qamar, Azam Shah, former Deputy Commissioner Talib Malik, Iqbal Shal, and former Principal Shakeel Raina. The welcome address was delivered by Principal Saleem Wani, while the proceedings were conducted by Waheed Manhas, In-charge of the Pahari Department at the Cultural Academy. Following the inaugural session, parallel sessions of a Mushaira (poetry symposium) and short story reading were held. Four short story writers Zanfar Khokhar - Kokri Ni Bang, Altaf Hussain Janjua - Wotan Ni Fasal, Aslam Mirza and Iram Nawaz presented their works. Around 22 poets presented their Pahari poetry. These included Sheikh Azad Ahmad Azad, Rashid Qamar Darehalvi, Imtiaz Naseem Hashmi, Swami Antar Nero, Anwar Khan, Mahmood Ahmad Tahir, Bashir Ahmad Lohar, Siddiq Ahmad Siddiqui, Khalid Awan Rahat, Sameena Sehar Mirza, Saleema Malik, Al-Haj Mohammad Yaqeen Fani, Zakir Khaki, Umar Farhat, Mumtaz Chaudhary, Parvez Malik, Arif Malik, Wakeel Hayat, Sadiq Shad, Rafiq Soz, Fazal Ahmad Sheikh, and Barkat Hussain Barkat. Earlier in the program, the Pahari novel "Muhajir" by Mohammad Iqbal Shal was formally launched. On this occasion, Dr. Farooq Anwar Mirza presented a detailed paper on the novel, which had been written by Ratan Singh Kanwal. The hall remained packed throughout the event with students, researchers, and young participants, who highly appreciated the literary program. |
