PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that literature is a mirror of the society and the writers are not only authors of the words but they also act as guides and the inspirers of society.
He was addressing the ceremony of the Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman at his residence on Monday.
In the programme the CM felicitated noted author Jiten Thakur with Uttarakhand’s highest literary award, the Uttarakhand Sahitya Bhushan Samman. The programme was organised by the Uttarakhand Bhasha Sansthan.
The CM said that Jiten Thakur is a source of inspiration not only for Uttarakhand but for the entire Hindi literary world.
He said Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman ceremony is a symbol of the State’s literary tradition, creative consciousness and respect for litterateurs. Dhami said that Uttarakhand has been a centre of knowledge, culture and creativity for centuries, where the Himalayas, the Ganga and natural beauty have inspired numerous writers and poets. Literary figures like Sumitranandan Pant, Gaura Pant ‘Shivani’, Mohan Upreti and Shailesh Matiyani have emerged from Uttarakhand, he said.
The CM added that the writers also played an important role in the freedom movement and the creation of the state of Uttarakhand.
Reiterating the commitment of his government to preserve literature and culture, the CM averred that the government honours literary figures through various awards and also provides grants to them to publish books. He said that two Literature Villages are being established in the state, where modern facilities will be provided to the litterateurs.
The CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is returning to its cultural roots and work is underway to restore its literary heritage.
In his address, the CM also exhorted the writers to spread the cultural and religious identity of Uttarakhand to the country and abroad through their works and continue to work towards giving direction to the society.
In the programme, the CM honoured Buddhinath Mishra, Shyam Singh Kutaula, Pritam Singh, Kesar Singh Rai and Sabir Afzal Mangalauri with the Uttarakhand Deerghkaleen Utkrishta Sahitya Srijan Puruskar. He also honoured Diva Bhatt, Dinesh Chamola, Bhupendra Bisht, Sudha Jugran, Sheeshpal Gusain,Tara Pathak, Hemant Singh Bisht and Gajendra Nautiyal in the ceremony.
