news details |
|
|
| Aggression on Jammu’s culture -DD Kashir | | Writers says, why not name it ‘Duggar Channel’ | | Munish Gupta
Jammu | Aug 29
At a time when Jammu’s men, women and children cutting across all barriers have stood to raise a unanimous voice against the political and economic discrimination against the region, a small community but equally powerful is gathering momentum to raise the issue of cultural discrimination.
The littérateurs, writers and artists have hit the streets to question the state-sponsored aggression on the culture of Duggars. Doordashan’s ‘DD Kashir’ –a regional channel under the auspices of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and run by the money of tax payers across the country –is being seen as the most visible sign of cultural aggression against the Duggars.
Duggar comprises mountainous Jammu region having distinct cultural, literary and social identity which is defined as Duggariat. This symbolizes the social, cultural and literary traditions of the people living in this part of the country. All the people, irrespective of their religious faith, economic or occupational status and even caste factors, are very proud of their rich cultural heritage.
“The strong bonds of cultural values are held high, always and all across the Jammu region. The Duggariat symbolises the urges and aspirations of each and every individual citizens, young or old, man or woman, from remote rural area or urban centre, rich or poor”, says Mohan Singh, a famous Hindi and Dogri writer. “Kashir Channel promotes and portrays only one culture and blatantly ignores the Duggar”, he laments.
He also pointed out that seeds of discrimination have always sown by both the Delhi and state leadership. There is a need for setting up a full fledged "Duggar Channel" from Jammu for the projection and promotion of Dogri language which has been included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, says Singh.
“It has been given to understand that this Kashir Channel was meant for Kashmiris only and not for the artists from other communities in J&K including Dogras of Jammu, Ladakhis or the Gujjars and Bakerwals”, said a renowned urdu writer SS Anand Lehar. He alleged that there seems to be some conspiracy against the Dogri language. The Kashir Channel was in fact launched to counter Pak propaganda but its real purpose has been defeated. Poor quality programmes were being produced and allotment of programmes has become the scandalous procedure which needed to be exposed and probed by some Central agency.
He also shared his comments on the ongoing agitation which according to some Kashmir leaders have been projected as communal. He said that a peep into the history would amply reveal that some mosques were built by Hindu Rajas in Jammu region. And at the same time the followers of Islam too always protected the places of worship of Hindus, Sikhs and others. Invariably, these people frequent each others’ shrines to seek blessings and also participate in fairs and festival. They respect the sentiments of one another not by words alone but in actual day to day life for years together. This presents a good example of fellow feelings.
There are many shrines of Sufi saints spread all over Jammu Division. There is always perennial flow of pilgrims belonging to every faith. Some of the shrines like Shahdara Shrief in Rajouri, Peer Baba Budhan Shah and Nau Gaza, Pir Mitha in Jammu as also many others, are visited by large number of devotees. These, in fact, are really symbols of secular traditions.
A prominent TVArtist , Janak Khajuria held both state and centre Govt responsible for suppressing Dogras and Dogri Language right from the beginning. He said that Dogra region has been diluting since 1947. He also held two Kasmiri leaders Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru and sheikh Abdullah for discrimination with Jammu Province. Adding to it he said that people living in POK are not only Kashmiris but also there are Dogras , Paharis and Gujjars. Taking the example of present Generation he said that todays generation doesn’t like to speak this language and most of our generation are migrating toward s other states as they have been facing discrimination all phases of there life. He also added that administration of Kashir channel has considered it as its own property as there have been no programmes for the Dogras or paharis highlighting their culture.
The people from this part of Jammu and Kashmir have been nursing feelings of neglect and discrimination by both the State and Central Governments. Main grouse is that inspite of getting, Dogri language in the 8th schedule in Indian Constitution, Jammu has not been provided full-fledged Television Station despite long pending demands and their claim for Duggar channel too has been ignored told a renowned singer Suraj Singh.
More over launching of channel will provide a great platform to the upcoming artists of the state.
According to Harish Kela , New Delhi has not done the duty towards promotion of culture, linguistic requirements, economic needs and political empowerment of the people in this strategic part. No public sector industry, worth it name, has come up, though industrial climate is suitable. Duggariat is not regional concept but the sum total of common heritage of forward looking people in a secular and democratic spirit.
Dogras have glorious traditions. The residents of Duggar, land of gods and goddesses, saints and seers, pirs and faqirs, is dotted with numerous sacred shrines held in high esteem equally by the followers of all faiths. They have lived for centuries with proud traditions of communal amity and brotherhood sharing the common cultural heritage so there is need to highlight and promotion of our culture which can only be through the launching of Duggar Channel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
