JK Chief asks Cultural Academy to prepare & publish Kashmiri-English dictionary

           Srinagar, August 6 (Vijay Kumar) –   The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdulla asked the J & K Cultural Academy to prepare and publish pocket size version of Kashmiri-English dictionary for the benefit of students and general people. This would help non-Kashmiris to learn Kashmiri language.

Highlighting the importance of an integrated Cultural Centre with all modern facilities and auditorium at Srinagar, Omar Abdullah Thursday asked the Cultural Academy to formulate a plan and identify potential site for the said Centre.

            The Chief Minister, who is also president of Cultural Academy, was chairing 17th Central Committee meeting of the Academy in Srinagar on Thursday. He underscored the need for applying modern techniques for preserving and disseminating state’s rich cultural ethos, literary, art and historical works. He suggested digitalization of the important books so that these could be placed on website and the interesting persons read on line. “There is also greater scope for voice versions of rare books and poetic works which could be preserved in DVDs and CDs”, he said.

            Chief Minister asked the Cultural Academy to introduce mobile library and said that he would make available two appropriate vehicles for the said mobile library. “You can benefit the people at the districts, tehsils and blocks and even in villages by providing reading facilities to them at their doorsteps”, he said and added that the moving library can be stationed  at a place for about at a week or ten days, during which cultural week in that area could also be organized.

            Mr. Abdullah directed the Academy to design festival cards with miniature paintings of Jammu and Kashmir and make these available to the people and government departments for using on special occasions.

            The Central Committee discussed various issues and took decisions regarding the publication of monographs, dictionaries, encyclopaedia, awards, celebration of cultural events, visual documentation of folklore, etc.

            Mr. Manhas, at the outset welcomed the Chief Minister and members of the Central Committee, giving resume of the activities of Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages. He said presently 100 publications are under print in the Academy whereas it regularly publishes Sheeraza in 9 languages.        

            The meeting, among others was attended by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Commissioner Secretary Finance, Sudanshu Panday, Secretary Tourism Mrs. Tanveer Jaha, Prof. Rehman Rahi,. Lalit Mangotra, Miss Hawa Khan and Secretary Cultural Academy, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas.

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