Kishtwar, Oct 29: The Department of Kashmiri at the University of Jammu’s Kishtwar Campus on Wednesday opened a seven-day workshop on Kashmiri script writing, drawing students and language learners from multiple institutions amid rising interest in regional linguistic revival.
The workshop, scheduled to run through November 4, was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. Basharat Iqbal, Principal of GDC Kishtwar, who attended as Chief Guest alongside Prof. Umar Din Rather. Addressing participants, Prof. Iqbal said promotion of Kashmiri script in the Chenab Valley is critical to safeguarding identity and cultural memory, and praised the department for steering pedagogy beyond the classroom.
Prof. Jasbir Singh, Director of the Kishtwar Campus, announced full institutional backing for programmes reinforcing mother-tongue literacy, noting that Vice Chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai has prioritised transforming the campus into a cultural and academic hub aligned with NEP-2020 goals.
Earlier, Dr. Tufail Habib extended the welcome address, setting the tone for a week of immersive learning. Faculty members in attendance included Dr. Aftab Ahmad, Dr. Ishfaq, Dr. Kamar Ul Zaman, Ruchi Sharma, Sameet Kumar and Paras Sharma, while non-teaching staff provided operational support.
Students from the campus and external institutions participated in large numbers, signalling renewed engagement with script learning efforts long absent from mainstream curricula.
Dr. Hilal delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the dignitaries, faculty and participants.
The workshop will offer theory sessions and practical writing drills through the week to build functional proficiency in the Kashmiri script.
