By TwoCircles.net news desk,
New Delhi: Rich tributes were paid to legendry Gojri Poet and Scholar Chaudhry Israel Asar in a special programme held in Jammu. A galaxy of writers, poets and intellectuals of different regional languages of Jammu & Kashmir were present in the function organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages to highlight the life time contributions of famous poet who passed away on 9th of this month at Lamberhi in Rajouri District , 80 Km from Jammu, the winter capital of J&K.
Secretary Academy, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in his address said that Israel Asar was a legend who spent his whole life for promotion and propagation of Gojri language and culture and added that he was a poet of ‘tribal sensibilities’ and ‘nomadic dogma’ whose writings would prove a significant tool to understand the “tribal psyche viz-a-viz Gujjar mindset”.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, Dr. Javaid Rahi, Head of Gojri wing and Editor and Cultural Officer of the Academy stated that late Israel Asar was an icon of our literature who worked tirelessly for recognition of Gujjar identity at the national level. He was poet of thoughts and contents. Being pioneer contributor of Gojri movement in the sub-continent, Asar had contributed about one dozen books of poetry and prose to language, Dr. Rahi said.
Prominent Gojri short story writer Ch. Gh. Rasool Badhana Azad in his speech described Asar as a poet of nature adding that he was a great sympathizer of Gojri language and culture. Asar was the founder force in renaissances of Gojri movement in Northern India, Badhana said.
Eminent novelist of Gojri, Ch. Ghulam Rasool Asghar said that Asar was a movement in him-self that is why he led whole Gujjar tribe of Jammu and Kashmir State in the field literature.
Ch Hussan Prawaz read out a paper highlighting the life and contribution of Israel Asar.He revealed that Asar was crowned with highest National literary award in the field of literature ” Bhasha Samman” presented to him by Sahitya Akademi’ New Delhi , in 2001 . Asar had penned thousands of Ghazals, Si Harfis, Nazamas, Kafis and Dohas but his Geets brought him good name in the Gojri literature. His writing is marked by simplicity and a direct appeal to emotions as also humanistic outlook.
Other who spoke on the occasion including Ch. Ghulam Sarwar Chohan, Munshi Khan Chowdhary, Prof. Mohammad Zaman, Khalil Chowdhary, Mohammad Akram Chowdhary, Roshan Din and others.
Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gojri