Weekend Notes

JKAACL observes Mother Language Day

Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in connection with World Mother Language Day organised a function in which importance of mother language was highlighted. 

   

The function was organized at the seminar hall of the JKAACL headquarters which was presided over by noted writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Mushtaq Ahmad Mushtaq, while Prof Aijaz Mohammad Sheikh Head PG Deptt of Linguistics, University of Kashmir, and Prof. Bashar Bashir and M. Ashraf Tak, Chief Editor JKAACL were also in the presidium.

In his welcome address, M. Ashraf Tak highlighted the importance and significance of mother tongue, and responsibilities of common masses to preserve the languages. Prof. Bashar Bashir presented a detailed paper about importance of mother languages particularly Kashmiri.

Prof. Bashar Bashir in his extension lecture provided a detailed account of the languages and its importance in civilisation. Prof. Sheikh Aijaz Mohammad also highlighted importance of mother languages particularly that of Kashmiri. Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Mushtaq in his presidential speech congratulated the Academy for organising this function to highlight importance of mother languages of World Mothers Tongue Day.

A large number of language lovers and writers were present on the occasion. The participants include Shakeel- ur-Rehman, Imdad Saqi, M.Y.Miskeen, G.N.Shakir, Jeelani Kamran, Saleem Salik, Dr Syed Iftikhar, Maqbool Sajid, Saleem Sagar, Ab Salam Kousari, Inayat Gul, Anwar Shah Lolabi and many more.

Dr. Gulzar Ahmad Rather conducted proceedings of the function while Jawaid Iqbal, Editor Kashmiri presented vote of thanks.

Play on Kashmir cancelled after right wing protest in Jaipur

A play revolving around stone-pelting and associated aspects of conflict in Kashmir, scheduled to be performed in Jaipur, was cancelled after protestors stormed the venue, intimidating the organisers.

According to media reports, the protestors alleged that Eidgah ke Jinnat, written and directed by Abhishek Majumdar, called the Indian Army in Kashmir “draconian” and depicted security forces in a “bad light”, India Today reported.

This performance of Eidgah ke Jinnat was part of Jaipur’s Navras Festival.

A known director, Abhishek Majumdar has written and directed several critically celebrated plays including An Arrangement of Shoes, The Djinns of Idgah, Afterlife of Birds, Rizwan and Kaumudi, and has won the Hindu MetroPlus Playwright Award as well as the first-ever Shankar Nag Theatre Award. He is the founder of theatre group Artistic Ensemble in Bangalore.

“In such an atmosphere, the government-run Jawahar Kala Kendra has run a play which shows Kashmiri stone pelters as right,” one protestor was quoted by India Today. “Inappropriate and insulting comments have been made about the security forces in the play.” They also demanded that sedition cases be filed against Majumdar and others associated with the play.

The director termed the cancellation “yet another attack on freedom of expression. There was nothing anti-national in the play and its narrative.”

The local police had to intervene and they stopped the play, citing public sentiment following the February 14 Pulwama attack. “We have read in newspapers how this play can incite the sentiments of people and hence we started investigating the matter,” an official was quoted as saying. “However, the play has been cancelled by Jawahar Kala Kendra sensing its after effects.”

Well-known playwrights, authors and others, have condemned the incident by saying the protesters have not seen they play and do not know what it is actually about. In a petition to the Rajasthan government to protect artistic expression, Sudhanva Deshpande, Sunil Shanbag, Darshana Dave and others wrote,

Today more than ever before there is need for all to consider Kashmir issue with compassion and sensitivity, not aggression and jingoism. Abhishek’s play does exactly that.

This play has been performed several times across the country in many places over the past few years and received critical acclaim and heartfelt applause from the audience.

Kashmir video makes it to Game of Thrones’ Official fan anthem 

A Kashmiri fan film called “The Cure – Game of Thrones Kashmiri Tribute” has made its way to the official fan anthem of the famed HBO series. The single Indian entry in the entire video stands out, because it was shot in the snowy valleys of Gulmarg, very similar to the the actual setting of Game of Thrones.

The video can be seen as part of the official tribute compilation posted on the show’s Twitter handle.

The compilation includes some of the most popular tributes paid by fans from across the globe. The director and editor of ‘The Cure,’ Ruman Hamdani, shared it on Twitter and the post went viral in no time. Many on the micro-blogging site appreciating the superfan’s efforts at recreating some of the iconic scenes of GoT.

The beautiful rendition of the theme music features traditional Kashmiri instruments like the rabab and no’t. The tune has been played by musicians Sufiyan Malik (rabab), Hujat Kirmani (piano) & Zakir Bakshi (no’t & guitar).

Although many Indians might have liked to see the group for longer, the sound of the rabab is haunting despite the short duration for which it features.

Even from former Chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah could not resist but share the video.

The first episode of Game of Thrones had aired in April 2011 on HBO. But despite eight years since the show’s release, fans have not stopped fawning over it as can be seen in the sheer volume of fan tributes of the show that exist on the internet. To show its appreciation for these fans, Game of Thrones has released an official fan anthem compiled from some of the fans in the world so far. 

Poets Vidya Rattan, Amjad Hussain Kazmi pass away

Poets, writers and art lovers have expressed their condolences over the demise of popular Urdu poet of Jammu, Vidya Rattan Aasi, and Pahari poet, broadcaster and writer of Uri, Syed Amjad Hussain Kazmi.

Various cultural organisations hailed the contributions of the duo and expressed their grief over their demise. They said that the contributions of these two eminent personalities will be remembered for a long time. 

Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Dr. Aziz Hajini in his condolence message has highlighted the contribution of Aasi towards Urdu language and literature.

Upon hearing the news of Aasi’s death Dr. Hajini announced that “efforts shall be put in by the JKAACL to publish his unpublished poetry as early as possible”. 

Congress leader Taj Mohiudin has also expressed his condolences on the demise of Kazmi. He termed it as a big loss for the cultural society of Uri.

Release of Kashmir based movie postponed after Pulwama attack

Following the recent Pulwama attack and charged atmosphere in various States of India, the release date of Aijaz Khan’s Kashmir-set film Hamid has been postponed, the makers of the film announced on Saturday in a press note.

The Yoodlee Films production was supposed to have been released on March 1. The film, starring Rasika Dugal, Vikas Kumar and Talha Arshad Reshi, explores the Kashmir conflict through the friendship between an eight-year-old Muslim boy and a CRPF soldier. The makers of the film were hoping to screen the film for CRPF personnel on Monday, they said.

While Hamid carries the message of “hope and peace,” this is not the time to release the film, Siddharth Anand Kumar, a producer at Yoodlee Films, said in the press note. The new release date has not been announced.

“We at Yoodlee Films stand in solidarity with the families of the Soldiers whose lives have been so cruelly erased,” Kumar said in the press note. “We are under attack now and this is neither the time nor the right atmosphere for us to release our film or for people to absorb the narrative of the film.”

Hamid follows eight-year-old Hamid (Reshi), who, on hearing that 786 is “god’s number”, assumes it to be the direct phone line to Allah and calls up with hopes of speaking to his deceased father. Instead, he reaches a troubled soldier (Vikas Kumar) who is posted in the state.

Poetry session organised in Sumbal

District Information Centre Bandipora on Thursday organised a day-long Mushaira to celebrate the World Mother Tongue at Sumbal in collaboration with Nargis Bazm-e-Adab.

The programme was presided over by senior educationist Mohammed Ramzan while people from different areas were present in the programme along with the other literary figures of the district besides students.

On the occasion, prominent poets including Ibrahim Sumbli, Saleem Yousuf, Gh Hassan Haqnawaz, Showkat Shahbaz, Towfeeq Taalib, Mir Rafiq Hajini, Haqer Shabir, Dilshad Mustafa, Yaseen Sumbli, Farooq Sumbli, Gh. Hassan Gowhar, Syed Assadullah Safvi, Qayoom ahmad, Ghulam Hassan Hassan, Majed Majid, Sagar Nazir, Jahangir Bashir, Mehraj Nargis, Ghulam Rasool betaab and Qaiser Ferooz enthralled the audience by their poems that was appreciated by the audience.

While addressing the gathering, the chief guest appreciated the efforts of the Information Department for organising Mushaira. He further added that the interaction of young poets with established poets of the district would go a long way in shaping students’ talent in poetry.

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