Nagpur: In order to educate the people of Nagpur about various aspects related to Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir regions of the country, the Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) organised a four-day ‘Jammu Kashmir Ladakh Maha Utsav’ from March 15 to 18. The Utsav was a combination of various cultural and academic presentations relating to all three regions. The Utsav witnessed two other events simultaneously – an exhibition displaying paintings and photographs, which showcased rich history of the state, and a Yatra to mark the centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Lobzang Thupten Chognor. The Yatra will spread out in four different directions across the length and breadth of India and culminate at Leh on May 19, 2018.
Inaugurating the function on March 15 in the presence of Mizoram Governor Shri Nirbhay Sharma, RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat said Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan are all integral areas of Bharat. “Jammu Kashmir is not a ‘problem’. The actual ‘problem’ lies within us, because we have accepted the definitions given to us by outsiders who have always worked on the agenda of weakening Bharat by creating divisions and differences. We have forgotten the elements of our unity. Our nation is so diverse that if one goes looking only for differences, one can even prove how different east Vidarbha is from West Vidarbha or even one small locality from its neighbouring one,” he said at Vasantrao Deshpande Sabhagruh.
He said the issue of J&K affects entire India. We do not need to keep announcing that we are one – it is an indisputable fact. We need to remember that this is the land of Acharya Abhinavagupta, who was one of the greatest proponents of Shaiva philosophy. There are those who will use terminologies like ‘Kashmir Shaivism’. Shiv Bhakti is one – there cannot be any differentiation between one Shaivism and the other,” he said. Truth needs no proof. But sometimes it is essential to support it with strength so that the negative powers cannot overshadow it,” he added while referring to the role of the security forces in fighting terrorism in the state.
Shri Nirbhay Sharma, a former Army officer who was posted in Jammu & Kashmir for almost two decades expressed regret that young minds were being strategically brainwashed in Kashmir.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony on March 18, Jammu-Kashmir Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi said J&K is the crown jewel of India, but unfortunately some people have turned it into a ‘problem’. “Our integral areas have been occupied by Pakistan… I completely agree with Shri Mohan Bhagwat that both power and diplomacy have to be used to bring together the people of entire India. She commended the efforts of JKSC to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the state. She awarded students from class 3rd onwards, who participated in Painting and Essay Competitions organised prior to the Utsav.
Experts from JKSC’s team spread out across Nagpur city during the four day event to create awareness about different aspects related to the state of J&K. Over 30 different events were organised in this duration. Some of the speakers included Supreme Court advocate Dileep Kumar Dubey, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Ravindra Thodge, Shakti Munshi, Alok Bansal, Prof. Niraja Arun, Kashmiri writer Vina Budki, Giridharilal Nanda, Rajneesh Shukla, etc. “The culture and philosophy identified as Indian culture and philosophy originated from the valleys between river Sindhu (Indus) and Saraswati – called Saptsindu. From there it spread to south and South-East Asia. This is an
expedition to understand our roots. We forgot our roots, and separatism got the opportunity to spread its tentacles. Now we have to reconnect,” said JKSC director Shri Ashutosh Bhatnagar.
During the Utsav the problems of displaced persons and some other issues like Article 35A were also discussed in detail. Shri Dileep Dubey focused on these issues. He said the clear cut victims of Article 35A are women, West Pakistan refugees, Valmikis (safai karamcharis) and Gorkhas of J&K. “In a country where Dalit-upliftment is a social movement, can we allow a situation where even a PhD degree holder is forced to work as a safai karamchari?” he asked. MLC from J&K Shri Ajay Bharti addressed the teachers and students of 11th-12th class at Kidwai Junior College in Aasinagar. He addressed the ground situation in Kashmir. Many academic sessions were also held on various topics.
— Pramod Kumar
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