- Prominent participants among leading Dogras of POJK settled in UK
A special meeting of the executive committee of the Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) the 113 years old, historic and democratic organization (the sole representative body of Dogras founded by our fore-fathers) was convened by the Senior Vice President Prof. Dr. NK Dogra at the Dogra Bhawan in the DSS complex to accord warm welcome to the Sabha president Th. Gulchain Singh Charak on his return from United Kingdome after a three week long tour. He had gone there on invitation from the Dogra society settled in London and other cities of UK. He was received back by the office bearers and members of the Sabha at the Sabha Bhawan. During the visit Th. Gulchain Singh Charak met a number of social groups and eminent Dogra personalities from both sides of the LoC of the J&K State. He was deeply impressed with the warmth of feelings and affections displayed by the Dogras across communal lines and their urge to connect with the roots in J&K with particular reference to the Jammu region and other areas of Duggar Pradesh with concentration of Dogras.
Briefing the executive committee members, Th. Gulchain Singh Charak intimated that he along with Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal addressed series of meetings at central London, Hounslow, Leeds/ Bradford, Waltham Stow and Osterley.
He particularly recalled the affectionate moments with the Dogras from Mirpur Jhelum, Bhimber, Kotli, Muzafrabad and other areas of that part. OneShri Sajjad Raja and Ms. Sameena Raja need special reference for promoting the Dogra culture. Ms Sameena is working on piling the historical background of Dogras and initial habitat of Jammu region from an era even prior to ‘Raja Jambu Lochan’.
It was decided to procure her works and publish them in original Urdu form for which Prof. Anita Biloria, Sohail Kazmi, Col. Dr. Virendra Sahi andSh. Gambhir Dev Singh Charak were selected to form a Sub-Committee ofjournalists and historians and publish the historical findings recorded in a book.
Among leading Dogra personalities who got together and spoke in London from undivided Indian J&K State were Lord Mayor Raja Ghazanfar, Mehmood Kashmiri, Majid Mir, Rizwan Sadique, Akhraiz Raja, Raja Tahir Bostan and Raja Sarwar.
During the various meetings and deliberations the President DSS was able to mitigate lot of misgivings and nullify the false propaganda let loose by the inimical forces about communal rifts. The executive committee resolved to start an International chapter of the DSS, based in London. It was also unanimously decided to appoint Shri Sajjad Raja a prominent Dogra of POJKsettled in UK as the coordinator for DSS activities overseas.
The meeting was attended by Dr. N. K. Dogra, Maj Gen. G. S Jamwal-EVSM, Col. Karan Singh Jamwal (Retd.), Sh. Prem Sagar Gupta, Sh. Ghulam Ahmed Khawaja –D.C-Retd, Sh. Janak Khajuria, Brig. M. S. Jamwal (Retd.), Col. Dr Virender Kumar Sahi –Vr. Chakra, Sh. Chhatter Singh-(Retd. G. M. Bank), Sh. Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Sh. Syed Amanat Ali Shah- President of Anjuman-e-Imamia Jammu, Sh. Ashok Angurana- IAS (Retd), Sh. Sohail Kazmi –Journalist, Sh. S. Peter- President Christian Dalit Society Jammu, Sh. Surinder Mahajan-, Sh. Rajesh Gupta- President Ware House Traders Federation, Sh. Kuldip Wahi- President Bar, Restaurant and Hotel Association Jammu, Sr. Kulbir Singh, Sr. J. S Mangal, S. Hakumat Singh (Retd SP.) –Advocate., Sh. Ravi Singh Slathia, Prof. Anita Charak Billoria, Smt. Santosh Magotra, Prof. Zahur Uddin & Prof. P.S Pathania
