KL Report

SRINAGAR

Assuring complete support of the government to cultural/educational events aimed at showcasing the rich heritage and culture of the state of Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone Thursday inaugurated the 6th Intra-University Youth Festival ‘Sonzal-2013’ here at University of Kashmir at its Convocation Complex.

Lone who was chief guest during the inaugural ceremony of the festival appreciated the students and cultural wing of varsity for performing the University Tarana live on the occasion said, “The anthem of University of Kashmir is one of the best I have ever heard in my life and by performing the Tarana live today the students and the cultural wing of the varsity added a new dimension to its beautiful lyrics and composition.”

Congratulating the University and Department of Students Welfare for successful and grand opening of the seven-day long festival the Minister while assuring full support of government to such events at various levels said, “I am fully conscious of the fact that organization of such mega events at college and University level is not an easy task and requires huge financial and logistic support. Therefore, I assure everyone that our government will provide all necessary financial and material support in upgrading the infrastructure for organizing and hosting such mega events at colleges and universities.”

Lone said that such events besides providing a platform to young students to exhibit their hidden talent also showcase the rich cultural heritage of the region.

The Minister added that such cultural and student festivals provide a break to the students from the otherwise monotonous routine of day-to-day academic exercises which he said is very important in order to bring out the best from these budding artists and create a multi-talented human resource pool in the state.

In his presidential address Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Talat Ahmad said that such festivals provide best opportunities to the students to manifest their hidden talent and potentialities and colleges and universities are the best platform, which provides them exposure to pursue their creative and artistic interests besides the academic ones.

However’ Prof Talat added, “I believe these events should be held regularly not only in universities but in colleges also so that the students in the colleges also get a chance to showcase their talent and once they join the University they would be in a better position to perform in front of a larger audience where the competition is more tough and professional.”

Prof Talat added that the youth of Kashmir have proven their potential at various national and international forums in both academics as well as extra-curricular activities and have won laurels for the state.

Registrar University of Kashmir Prof Zaffar Reishi who was guest of honor on the occasion said that around 450 students of the University qualified NET and JRF this year and activities like Sonzal complement the academic achievements of the students who are equally good in extra-curricular activities and have won laurels for the varsity and the state at national level.

“University is not only about academics but it is beyond that. As academicians and teachers we have somehow a duty to nourish the talent of our students in various areas of life and mentor them in a way so that they are equipped with all mental and aesthetic faculties to face the challenges of life,” said Prof Reishi.

Earlier in her welcome address Dean Students Welfare and Chairperson of Sonzal -2013 Prof Neelofar Khan said that the festival plays a significant role in introducing our youth to the rich cultural heritage of J&K and the conduct of the youth festival in the Universities provides a much-needed opportunity of utilizing the young minds in constructive and fruitful activities.

On the inaugural day of the festival a workshop on photography was held at Gandhi Bhawan in which several students from various affiliated and constituent colleges of the University and teaching departments of the varsity participated. Deans of various faculties, Heads of the departments, senior faculty members and students from various departments were present during the inaugural ceremony of the festival.

Around one-thousand students from about 40 Degree Colleges and 40 University teaching departments are expected to  participate in the seven-day long festival during which a close competition would be witnessed amongst the participants who would be contesting in around 19 different categories which include various events quiz, debate, elocution, poster making, painting, cartoon making, rangoli, clay modelling, on-spot photography, one act play, mimicry, classical, folk and instrumental music arenas and other categories.

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