Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today emphasized collective efforts for preservation and promotion of Dogri language.
“Every single individual associated with the language needs to come together for its promotion and preservation”, he maintained.
The Minister was speaking during the inaugural function of Kunwar Viyogi Auditorium here at Dogri Bhavan organized by Dogri Sanstha Jammu and Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust.
The Minister conferred Kunwar Viyogi Sahitya- Kala Sammaan to Prominent Dogri Writer, Chhatrapal (posthumously) while Roshan Lal Bral was honored with Kunwar Viyogi Sahitya Puraskaar on the occasion.

During his address, Dr Jitendra Singh stressed on encouraging the masses to pay attention to the use of local languages for protection of the cultural identity. He said that every one shall take pride in speaking their local languages as esteem of speaking any language and the literature of that language are important aspects for its development.
“We must accept the importance of linguistic pride and literature and make a collaborated effort to promote the Dogri language,” he maintained.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the development shall also be measured with the development of cultural, literature and language. He also shared his close bonding with Kunwar Viyogi and assured his support to the Dogri Sanstha Jammu and Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust for their future endeavors.
President, Dogri Sanstha Jammu, Prof. Lalit Magotra throw light on the contribution made by Kunwar Viyogi and Chattrapal in promoting the Dogri Language. Short video on activities of Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust was also showcased on the occasion.
IGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh, Deputy Mayor, JMC, Purnima Sharma, Founder, Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust, Poonam Singh Jamwal besides various prominent writers and artists were present on the occasion.
Who was Kunwar Viyogi
Kunwar Viyogi (4 September 1940 – 2015), born Randhir Singh Jamwal, is the only Indian Air Force officer to have received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his long Dogri poem titled ‘Ghar’ in 1980. He used ‘Ghar’ (Home) as a peg and strung together 238 four lines verses embracing a wide variety of subjects and ideas and feelings into a long poem. He is also the youngest poet in the history of Sahitya Akademi to have received this honour. Viyogi is noted for introducing the sonnet, a relatively new and unexplored genre for Dogri writers, into Dogri literature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrWJBswFoWU