Srinagar, June 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) Tuesday organised a Punjabi Kahani Goshti (short story session) at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, under the able guidance of Secretary JKAACL, Harvinder Kaur.
Dr Joginder Shan Kashmiri, Chairman, Guru Nanak College of Education, Awantipora, was the chief guest on the occasion. Mangat Singh Jugnu, President of Punjabi Sahit Sabha, Srinagar, presided over the programme, while Popinder Singh Paras, Editor of Sheeraza Punjabi, shared the dais.
Welcoming the gathering, Popinder Singh Paras emphasised that JKAACL aims to provide a vibrant platform for young writers and scholars to showcase their literary talents. He highlighted that such literary events foster communal harmony through the exchange of stories and ideas. He also commended the Academy’s ongoing efforts to promote Punjabi and other regional languages, noting that events have been organised even in remote parts of Jammu and Kashmir. A two-minute silence was observed to mourn the passing of Gurdeep Kour, a respected Punjabi short story writer from Jammu. Prayers were offered for the peace of her soul. During the programme, a session of Punjabi short stories was held, featuring readings by Dr Shan Kashmiri, Rattan Singh Kanwal, R. S. Rajan, M. S. Jugnu, Karan Singh Talib, and Harpal Singh Pali. The stories touched on diverse themes including contemporary social issues, the highs and lows of life, and personal experiences. In his address, Dr Joginder Singh Shan Kashmiri lauded the JKAACL’s initiatives to preserve and nurture regional languages, particularly Punjabi, which he described as a globally spoken and culturally rich language. He underscored the importance of such events in reflecting the present-day societal landscape. Mangat Singh Jugnu also shared his insights during the event
