 Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 1: To mark the 35th death anniversary of the eminent poet, freedom fighter, and cultural icon Sarwanand Koul Premi, the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages organized a literary meet at K.L. Saigal Hall, Jammu. The event was graced by Sh. Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary, J&K, as the Chief Guest, with Sh. Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary, Department of Culture, and Prof. Ratan Lal Hangloo, former Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University, attending as Guests of Honour. The program commenced with floral tributes offered by the dignitaries in honour of Sarwanand Koul Premi, paying homage to his multifaceted contributions to literature and society. In his keynote address, Chief Secretary Sh. Atal Dulloo highlighted Premi Ji's unparalleled legacy as a literary luminary and a symbol of social harmony and resistance. Recalling the honours conferred upon him, he mentioned the Sharada Award (2006) and the First Alag Samman (2016), along with the monograph published by Sahitya Akademi in 2008 and the special felicitation by JKAACL in 2018. "He was a voice of resistance and unity, embodying truth, duty, and deep humanism," said the Chief Secretary. Quoting Dr. Sohan Lal, he added, "Death is not an end but a transformation - what is true lives on forever." Sh. Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary, Department of Culture, in his address, underlined the importance of preserving and promoting the ideals Premi Ji stood for, especially in today's context of cultural resurgence. Prof. Ratan Lal Hangloo lauded Sarwanand Koul Premi's commitment to inclusive values and intellectual integrity. He stressed the need for young scholars to revisit the works of such towering figures to understand the interplay of literature, activism, and cultural identity. Earlier, Smt. Harvinder Kour, Secretary, JKAACL, extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries and attendees. She spoke on the inspirational life of Sarwanand Koul Premi, emphasizing his enduring impact on the cultural ethos of Jammu and Kashmir. The literary session featured a detailed paper presentation by Dr. Sohan Lal Koul, Sahitya Akademi Awardee, shedding light on various dimensions of Premi Ji's literary oeuvre. Sh. Avtar Mota also presented a paper, exploring Sarwanand Koul Premi's life as a social activist, poet, and visionary thinker.
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