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| Shantmanu inaugurates international Urdu Conference at GDC Ganderbal | | Two-day international event brings global scholars together to explore the evolving landscape of Urdu poetry |  Ganderbal, July 09 (Scoop News)-A Two-Day International Conference on the theme “Urdu Shairi: Riwayat, Jidat aur Asri Taqaazay” was formally inaugurated today at Government Degree College, Ganderbal, under the aegis of Department of Urdu. The event witnessed an intellectually vibrant atmosphere where scholars, poets, and researchers from across India and abroad came together online/o line to explore the depth and dynamism of Urdu poetry.
The ceremony began with Prof. Nusrat Nabi, who gracefully anchored the session and set the tone for the proceedings. In her introductory remarks, she reflected on how the Urdu literary tradition has long served as a mirror to the region’s cultural richness and collective sensibilities.
The inaugural session was graced by Shantmanu, IAS, Financial Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, who served as the Chief Guest on the occasion.
In his inaugural address, Shantmanu emphasized the integration of cultural and literary literacy into contemporary education, highlighting Urdu as not merely a language, but a medium of poetic imagination, emotional intelligence, and social awareness. He commended the institution for hosting a forum of international relevance and appreciated the Department of Urdu for its role in preserving the region’s linguistic heritage and civilizational ethos.
Principal GDC Ganderbal, Prof. (Dr.) Fouzia Fatima, started the session with a warm welcome, reflecting both pride and purpose. She emphasized the academic significance of the conference in the present literary and cultural landscape and reiterated the institution’s commitment to nurturing platforms that inspire dialogue and critical thinking.
Prof. Fatima gave a detailed introduction of the host institution, tracing its journey from its establishment in 2002 as an Arts stream college with just 335 students, to its current status as a multidisciplinary co-educational institution with an enrolment of over 2100 students. The college now offers 35 general courses and 38 skill-based programmes, and has been recognised with a Green Champion Award, owing to its eco-conscious campus dotted with 182 historic Chinar trees.
Dr. Jamsheeda Akhter, Head, Department of Urdu and Organising Secretary of the Conference, apprised the gathering of the thematic relevance of the conference and its intended objective to promote academic engagement and cultural dialogue in the context of contemporary literary discourse. She informed the audience that, in response to the Call for Papers, the conference witnessed an overwhelming academic interest, with over 120 abstracts, including two international entries. After due academic scrutiny and peer review, 82 papers were shortlisted for presentation across three thematic technical sessions, each to be presided over by a Session President and supported by two academic observers.
Dr. Akhter further elaborated that presentations would be conducted over a period of two days as per the scheduled technical sessions, and that the evaluative feedback received from the observers would be utilised for the selection of quality papers to be considered for publication in a proposed edited academic volume.
The Keynote Address was delivered by Prof. Khawaja Mohammad Ikramuddin, Professor at the Centre of Indian Languages, School of Languages, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, a distinguished scholar of Urdu literature, who o ered a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Urdu Shayari. He eloquently traced the interplay between tradition and innovation, demonstrating how classical forms and contemporary sensibilities continue to shape and respond to the changing socio-cultural and political landscape. His nuanced analysis was met with deep appreciation from the audience.
Adding an international dimension to the event, a special address was delivered online by Prof. Muhayyo Abdur Akhmonov from Tashkent State University, Uzbekistan, who offered a global perspective on Urdu poetry, highlighting its universal literary appeal across cultures and geographies.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a formal Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Ulfat, who expressed sincere gratitude to all esteemed guests, speakers, organising committee members, and participants. She acknowledged the untiring efforts of the Department of Urdu and extended special thanks to the college management and supporting staff for their invaluable cooperation and logistical support.
The ceremony marked the successful commencement of what promises to be two days of enriching academic dialogue and thought-provoking literary exchange.
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