Srinagar, Sep 15: Kashmir University’s Department of Hindi on Thursday celebrated ‘Hindi Divas’, an annual feature of the department, with great fervour and enthusiasm.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan chaired the inaugural session as chief guest.
In her presidential address, Prof Nilofer said the Department of Hindi is one of the oldest departments on the campus which has a legacy of performing well in academics and research ever since its inception.
Asserting that University is ever-committed to the development and promotion of Hindi language, Prof Nilofer expressed her happiness to see more girl students enrolled for different academic programmes at the Hindi Department.
“It is an encouraging sign,” she said, adding that the University administration will do whatever is possible for further progression of the Department vis-a-vis academic and infrastructure development.
In his message, Registrar Dr Nisar A Mir underlined the vital role of Hindi language and literature in the global scenario and appreciated the academic work undertaken by the department. He said some of these works could be taken up for translation into other languages.
Dean School of Arts Languages and Literature Prof Adil Amin Kak called for doing away with the “parochial mindset of looking at a language from any other prism other than the sole prism of language”.
Tracing the evolution and origins of Hindi language, Prof Kak said learning a new langauge broadens an individual’s mindset apart from leading him towards a “new identity”.
Head Department of Hindi Prof ZahidaJabeen highlighted the history and importance of Hindi Divas, while underscoring the achievements of the Department.
“We have produced more than 75 PhD and 65 M.Phil scholars, even as the admission strength to our diploma programme is full,” she said.
Prof Ruby Zutshi presented a vote of thanks and Ms Nairah Qureshi conducted proceedings of the inaugural session.
Several literary activities including paper-reading, poem symposium and essay competitions were held during the day-long event. 12 prizes were distributed among the winners. The competitions (for students aged under and above 20 years) were adjudged by Dr Meraj Ahmad, Ms Syed Shabana and Dr Neelofar Hamid.
