The inaugural edition of ‘Izhar’, an annual series highlighting the quintessence of communication, was conducted at Institute of Hotel Management in Rajbagh on Saturday.
The series has been launched in memory of Kashmiri journalist Izhar Wani, who died of cancer on 4 April 2012 at the age of 46. He was Bureau Chief of Agence France Presse (AFP) in the region.
The event was attended by journalists and close friends of Wani who remembered his dedication to journalism and his helpful and jovial nature.
He was credited by the gathering as being one of the driving forces in field of English journalism in Kashmir.
The event was organized by SPACE Communications, under purview of its CEO, Dr. Amit Wanchoo. The gathering included people from fields of journalism and others. On the occasion Wanchoo laid out prospective plans for future editions of the series such as institutionalizing the event, initiating awards for academic excellence in journalism studies, as well as creating a platform for uninhibited discourse among journalists in the state.
The event was followed by a discussion among the attendees which underscored the importance of discourse without preconceived notions of perspectives which differ or present something new, and highlighted the importance of willingness to listen impartially.