Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 24: Member of Parliament, Mian Altaf Ahmad, today inaugurated a two-day Gojri Cultural Conference at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, in a selected gathering that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Gujjar community. The event has been organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and witnessed participation from a large number of tribal writers, poets, and artists from across the J&K.
A distinguished panel comprising Er. Khursheed Ahmed, Member of Legislative Assembly, Dr. Javaid Rahi, Chief Editor (Gojri) and Divisional Head of JKAACL, and G.D. Tahir, former Director of Doordarshan Srinagar shared the presidium.
In his presidential address, Mian Altaf Ahmad emphasized the cultural importance of Gojri language stated that it as the third-largest spoken language in Jammu and Kashmir. He called for its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and pledged to raise the matter with the Government of India. He highlighted the wide presence of the Gujjar community across all districts and acknowledged the significant contributions made by Gojri poets, scholars, and artists. Commending the Academy's initiative in reviving such a crucial cultural event after a long hiatus, he expressed hope that the conference would help bridge regional and cultural gaps within the Gujjar community . Dr. Javaid Rahi, in his welcome address, shared that over 200 Gojri writers, poets, and artists from various parts of J&K are participating in the conference. He emphasized that the event aims to provide a platform for tribal voices to share, discuss, and reflect on their literary and cultural contributions, as well as the challenges facing the preservation and promotion of Gojri.
Speaking on the occasion, Er. Khursheed Ahmed underscored the importance of documenting the traditional knowledge systems of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, calling on institutions like the Tribal Research Institute and JKAACL to act swiftly to preserve this invaluable heritage.
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