 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL) today organized a prestigious literary interaction titled "Ek Malati", featuring eminent Dogri author and Padma Shri awardee Prof. Lalit Magotra. The event was held at KL Saigal Hall, Jammu, and drew an impressive gathering of academicians, writers, cultural personalities, and students from across the region.
Harvinder Kour, Secretary JKAACL, in her remarks, described Prof. Magotra as a trailblazer in Dogri literature, stating, "Featuring Prof. Magotra in this programme is both an honour and a recognition of his unparalleled contribution to Dogri language and culture."
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Lalit Magotra-recently honored with the Padma Shri Award-shared personal stories from his seven-decade-long life, spanning childhood to the present. In a heartfelt and philosophical 90-minute address, he spoke about his literary influences, the evolution of his writing style, the ideological framework of his work, and his contribution to the Dogri language movement, including efforts toward Dogri's inclusion in the Eighth Schedule, issues related to script, and the journey of the Dogri Sanstha.
Welcoming the guests, Dr. Javaid Rahi, Divisional Head of JKAACL Jammu, stated that the "Meet the Author" programme aims to document self-narrated accounts of literary icons regarding their life, philosophy, and creative journey. He also shared that an audio-visual record of the programme will be preserved, and an excerpt of the event will be published in Sheeraza, the Academy's flagship literary magazine.
The highlight of the event included a scholarly paper presentation by Prof. Veena Gupta, who offered an analytical exploration of Prof. Magotra's literary journey, highlighting his role in shaping the socio-cultural narrative of the region. Prominent personalities who participated in the interactive session included Khalid Hussain, Liyaqat Jafri, Dr. Arvinder Singh Amn, Vijay Saraf, and Dr. Parveen Yograj, among others. Their thoughtful questions added richness to the dialogue and were met with detailed and reflective responses by Prof. Magotra.
The event was gracefully conducted by Rita Khadeal, Editor Dogri, JKAACL, who ensured the programme maintained its literary vibrancy and decorum. |
