Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch organized its annual flagship programme “Samoohik Shivratri Mohotsav”- Herath Milan at Hindi Bhawan, New Delhi on 10th
March evening. The programme was attended by Padam Bhushan Shri. Prabhu Chawala, Sr
Journalist and Editorial Director, The New Indian Express as Chief Guest.
While speaking on the occasion Shri. Prabhu Chawala said that Kashmiri Pandits are Icons of
sacrifice and have suffered a lot. Shri. Chawla complemented the Kashmiri Pandit community for
their continued struggle after displacement from Valley. He stated that the removal of Kashmiri
Pandit from political scene of J&K is the biggest mistake which Governments have been doing
perpetually over a long period. Going in the past he said removal of Sh. Jagmohan as Governor
of J&K was the biggest mistake by the then Government. He blamed a section of political
leadership irrespective of political affiliation for their vested interest in not solving the Kashmir
problem. He emphasized that in any settlement of Kashmir issue there should be a pre-condition
of return of Kashmiri Pandits to valley. He further added that to resolve Kashmir issue the true
secular character of Kashmir has to be restored.
He urged the KP community to strengthen their cultural lineage which he said will be extremely
important in their fight for reclaiming their roots.
Shri. T N Razdan, National President of JKVM in his address said that the Samoohik Shivratri
Mohotsav programme has become an important event for Kashmiri Pandits in Delhi NCR in terms
of preserving the rich Kashmiri Culture.
Shri. Sanjay Ganjoo, President, JKVM expressed his dismay over that fact that Governments at
Delhi as well as J&K have been treating Kashmir Problem and Kashmiri Pandit problem as two
distinct issues. He said that the two are intertwined and only if we solve the problem of Kashmiri
Pandits the solution of Kashmir problem will also be obtained. He also made an appeal to his
community members to be sensitive enough to help fellow Kashmiri Pandit who is in distress or
needy.
Shri. Manoj Bhan, General Secretary, JKVM while moderating the programme explained about
the importance of Shivratri festival and the purpose of organizing the annual programme. He
further exhorted that all Kashmiri Pandits should motivate their children to speak Kashmiri and
The programme had an impressive performance of Bhajan Groups of KP community from
Faridabad and Rohini in addition to the mesmerizing performance of a large number of Kashmiri
Pandit Kids. The entire cultural programme was directed and coordinated by Sh Sanjeev Raina
Gautam, in charge cultural division of JKVM.
The annual awards presented by JKVM on the occasion of Samoohik Shivratri Mohotsav were
given away by Chief Guest Shri. Prabhu Chawala:
Category Awardee
Shriyabhat Kirti Sammaan to Dr. Krishna Bhan, UK
Shriyabhat Kirti Sammaan to Shri. M K Teng, Jammu
Pt. Krishnajoo Razdan Saraswati Sammaan to Smt. Advaitvadini Kaul
Pt. Krishnajoo Razdan Saraswati Sammaan to Shri. Avtar Hugami
Pt. Krishnajoo Razdan Saraswati Sammaan to Shri. M L Pandit
Lalitaditya Shaurya Sammaan Shaheed to Shri. Dileep Thusu
Pt Tika Lal Taploo Memorial Award to Shri. Ram Krishan Ashram, Srinagar
Yashaskar Sammaan Vomed Theatre (Rohit Bhat)
Yashaskar Sammaan Athrot Foundation ( Kanwal Peshin)
Yashaskar Sammaan Kashmiri Pandit Sangathan
(Reashver)
The annual event marked side events including Lalita Koul Sahib Memorial Kashmiri Speaking
Competition, Painting & Model making competition, Kashmiri Dress Presentation and Bhajan
Sandhya.
The winners are as follows:
Kashmiri Speaking Competition:
Senior Lalita Koul Saheb Memorial
Award Ist Prize
Ritika Raina
Junior Lalita Koul Saheb Memorial
Award Ist Prize
Yashashvi Razdan
Senior Bimla Koul Memorial
Consolation Prize
Sagar Koul.
Senior Bimla Koul Memorial
Consolation Prize
Vansh Pandita.
Junior Bimla Koul Memorial
Consolation Prize
Shreya Bhat
Junior Bimla Koul Memorial
Consolation Prize
Pranvi Pandita
Painting Competition:
Senior Ist Chitrakshi Pandita
Senior IInd Shreya Bhat
Senior IIIrd Sanat Koul
Junior Ist Vanshika Pandita
Junior IInd Riddhi Kaul
Junior IIIrd Vani Bhat
Various other competitions on Kashmiri Theme were organized at the occasion the results are
as under:
DRESS COMPETITION
1. Ashita Pandita.
2. Kinjal Safaya.
3. Lalita koul
Model Making
Vasu Hashia was declared as winner of Shivratri model making.
The programme was attended by representatives all NCR based Kashmiri Pandit Organizations
including Kashmiri Samiti Delhi, All India Kashmiri Samaj, KECSS, APMCC, Panun Kashmir and local
area associations including Shalamar Garden, Indrapuram, Vaishali, Partap Vihar, Mayur Vihar,
Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohini, Dwarka, Vipin Garden etc.
