Demands preservation of monuments, rich culture of Duggar Pardesh
DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Mar 28
Jammu, March 28: An urgent and important meeting of the members of the working committee and special invitees of Dogra Sadar Sabha J&K was held at the Sabha Bhawan, Dogra Hall Jammu wherein all participants extended full support to Th. Gulchain Singh Charak, President, Dogra Sadar Sabha and former Cabinet Minister, in his sustained struggle on behalf of the DSS for promoting Dogri language along with its various dialects and for the revival and rejuvenation of Dogra culture and traditions, upgrading Jammu Doordarshan Kendra and starting of Duggar Satellite Channel by the Government of India, effective measures for protection of Dogra heritage including the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and other historical forts, palaces, temples, ponds and the iconic Ranbir Canal, promoting business and tourism in all districts of Jammu region through organisation of Jammu Festival/Duggar Festival to mark Baisakhi Celebrations in a big and befitting way.
In this regard, Shri Charak along with members of the working committee and special invitees visited the Raja Jambulochan Memorial opposite Shri Ranbireshwar Temple, Jammu.
The participants paid glorious tributes to Raja Jambulochan and lauded the Municipal Corp. Jammu for starting renovating this heritage site under the prestigious Smart City project.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Charak mentioned that this Memorial Park was established on 13th April 1994 after installing the Statues of the Raja Jambulochan and the Lion and Goat drinking water at the same pond, on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi Celebrations with an aim to promote the Duggar Festival. He urged the district administration to give due focus to this heritage site and maintain it properly with the functioning of fountain in the park.
Later, Shri Gulchain Singh Charak along with the working committee members visited Balidan Stambh in Jammu where rich and heartfelt tributes were paid to the martyrs of the national defence forces who had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty since 1947. It was demanded that a small tuck shop and a sale outlet must be established at the Balidan Stambh from where the visitors could purchase information leaflet/brochure about the martyrs, mementos, light eatables, etc.
The former Cabinet Minister also reiterated that the construction work of Balidaan Stambh at Pratap Park Srinagar with names of Armed forces
martyrs who have saved, defended and protected Kashmir has not yet started after the Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah laid the foundation Stone in June last year. This proposed monument will link Kashmir with the nationwide families of martyrs who would visit the site as an emotional pilgrimage and further strengthen national tourism and integration.
Later, Shri Charak along with members of the working committee and special invitees visited Jammu’s first Power House near Canal Road in Jammu and raised serious concern over deplorable condition of the historical Ranbhir Canal and Power House constructed over that which was built by the Maharaja Partap Singh. He mentioned that the work of Ranbir Canal was completed in 1905 and then a Hydro-Electric power station, designed by Div. Engineer Lala Makkan Lal, started its operation in 1909 with power generation of 1,250 (Horse power).
The participants expressed anguish over the poor state of this heritage Canal and as the present government must take necessary steps to preserve this heritage building. He also demanded that the historical Ranbir canal be declared a protected monument and preserved and developed on the lines of Sabarmati river front in Gujarat with solar panels that augment power supply to Jammu.
He emphasized the necessity of a serious initiative from the UT government side in this regard and regretted that such an initiative was lacking till date.
Shri Charak said that the people of Jammu wholeheartedly supported the UT administration led by the Hon’ble Lt Governor with the hope that important measures like the those mentioned earlier will be taken to protect and promote the cultural identity of Jammu region, but it is not understandable why the government is dragging its feet on these vital issues. He stressed that the LG administration must take immediate steps to address the above mentioned issues raised by the Sabha and the local artists, singers, dancers, musicians and painters. He said that these classes of artists have a great capacity to influence public opinion through their respective art and their voice should not be ignored.
Shri Charak endorsed the long pending demand of Dogra Sadar Sabha and Doordarshan Approved Drama Artists Association before the Union Government to upgrade the Doordarshan Kendra Jammu to the status of Duggar Satellite Channel so that this medium effectively serves to educate, entertain, and awaken the masses on heritage, culture, modern science and technology, welfare schemes, etc. by making the best use of Dogri language, culture and invaluable legacy.
The former Minister called upon all political parties to join together for the cause of Jammu and get over the tendency to outdo each other but join together in one voice for betterment of Jammu, restoration of Dogra heritage and our pristine culture, monuments, language and ethos. He made it clear that the Dogra Sadar Sabha is a responsible 120 year old organisation and it never makes any illegitimate and irrational demands. The DSS has remained in the forefront to appreciate the good steps whenever taken by the government, but it will not remain behind in projecting and supporting the genuine demands of the people of Jammu. So, the government must consider the said demands and also the other unfulfilled demands raised from time to time, and fulfill these immediately.
Dogra Sadar Sabha, the 120 years old a democratic and secular organization of all Dogras ,the founders of this erstwhile J&K state urges to all the political parties and the leaders taking part in the up coming elections to refrain from engaging in divisive campaign based on religion and other factors.They further emphasize the importance of maintaing proper brotherhood and unity among all the communities.
In the end, DSS requested Hon’ble LG to kindly expedite time bound action on it so that the site gets in some shape by the Independence day-2024.
Prominent among others present in the meeting were Col. Karan Singh, Prem Sagar Gupta, Ghulam Ahmed Khwaja, Gambhir Dev Singh, Maj Gen. Sunita Kapoor, Col. Dr. Virender Sahi, Rajesh Gupta, Kuldeep Wahi, Abdul Majid, Jagdeep Singh, Chhankar Singh, Raghuvir Singh, Khajur Singh, Parshotam Singh Charak, Narinder Singh, Ravi Singh Slathia, Balwant Saini, Faqir Singh, Kamal Singh, Pritam Singh, Kehar Singh, Chhaju Singh Jamwal, Om Prakash, Ram Dass Billoria, Chuni Lal, Bhagwan Singh, Devinder Singh, Amanat Ali Shah, Pritam Singh Charak, Adv. Mohd Nageem, Ahesham-ul-Haq, Prem Pal Singh, Dr. Samar Dev Singh, O.P Sangra, Mohinder Singh, Romesh Gupta & Raj Kumar Thappa.
