The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages (JKAACL) concluded its Hindi Pakhwara celebrations with a grand valedictory ceremony held on Saturday at Tagore Hall, Srinagar.
The event highlighted JKAACL’s sustained commitment towards promotion of Hindi and its role in celebrating linguistic diversity across the region.
Principal Secretary, Culture, Suresh Kumar Gupta presided over the ceremony.
In his keynote address, Suresh Gupta lauded JKAACL’s pivotal role in promoting Hindi as a language of cultural unity and national pride. He stressed the importance of Hindi in uniting India’s diverse regions and appreciated the enthusiasm of participants, particularly the youth, who showcased their talents across various literary and cultural platforms.
As part of the valedictory program, Principal Secretary felicitated outstanding participants from various competitions organized during Hindi Pakhwara. The students from prestigious institutions like Tyndale Biscoe School, Mallinson School, Burn Hall School, and The Kashmir Valley School were awarded for their remarkable performances in events such as essay writing, poetry recitation and debates held as part of the Hindi Diwas celebrations.
In her welcome address, Secretary, JKAACL , Harvinder Kour emphasized the critical role of Hindi not only as a national language but as a bridge that fosters communal harmony and national integration. She expressed gratitude to the literary community for their dedication and active participation in making the Hindi Pakhwara programs a resounding success. She called upon the scholars and writers to continue their efforts to give Hindi its rightful place in India’s cultural landscape.
The event featured two scholarly papers presented by Dr. Mohammad Yaqoob and Toiba Alam, who highlighted the increasing relevance of Hindi in both academic and cultural arenas. Their presentations offered insightful perspectives on the role of Hindi in India’s multicultural framework and encouraged the audience to continue championing the language.
Another highlight of the day was the poetic symposium, which featured notable poets including Dr. Mudassir Bhat, Dr. Shabnam Showkat, Dr. Mukti Sharma, Dr. Sukhbir Kour, and Dr. Mohammad Yaqoob. Their passionate recitations of Hindi poetry captivated the audience, adding a layer of artistic expression to the day’s proceedings and exemplifying the beauty and power of the language.
Concluding the event, Sanjeev Rana, Additional Secretary, JKAACL, presented vote of thanks. He emphasized JKAACL’s commitment to continuing its efforts to promote Hindi and other regional languages of Jammu & Kashmir, ensuring that they remain integral to the cultural fabric of the region.
The event was expertly hosted by Nasreen Ali Nidhi, while Dr. Abid Ahmad served as the Program Coordinator.
