The Century celebrations of legendary Urdu Short Story writer Rajinder Singh Bedi was today inaugurated by Prof. R.D. Sharma Vice Chancellor of Jammu University in a simple but an impressive function at Prof. Gian Chand Jain seminar hall of the department of Urdu. The inaugural function was presided over by Prof. Qudose Javed former HOD Urdu Kashmir University , while Prof. Ib-ne-Kanwal, HOD Urdu Delhi university presented a keynote address on the occasion. Former IGP Mr. Satinder Singh Bijral Sahib was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.
In his Inaugural speech Prof. R D Sharma lauded the efforts of Urdu department for organizing centaury celebrations of great progressive writer Rajinder Singh Bedi. He described Bedi a towering fiction writer of Urdu language who gave new dimensions to Urdu short story. Prof. R D Sharma said Urdu is a sweet language which has connected all the three regions of the state, to relate Urdu with a particular community is not true. Urdu is Indian language and has produced non-Muslim towering writer like Rajinder Singh Bedi, Krishan Chander, Pandit Rattan Nath Serhad, Pandit Daya Sankar Naseem and other. The Urdu language is the symbol of composite culture. We can know the old civilization of India through Urdu language added Prof. Sharma.
In his keynote address Prof. Ib-ne-Kanwal, HOD Urdu Delhi university in detail threw light on the life and contribution of great progressive writer Rajinder Singh bedi. He made a critical survey of some of the short stories of Rajinder Singh Bedi and described him a writer par excellence who had projected the realities of life in his Short Stories particularly the life of downtrodden member of the society of Punjab. He also discussed his novel “Ek chader Mali Se” which had been featurezed and had been a great impact on the viewers. Bedi was also a drama writer; he has projected the problems of downtrodden society living in the villages of Punjab Prof. Kanwal said.
In his presidential address Prof. Qudoose Javeed, Former HOD URDU Kashmir University too congratulated the Urdu department for organizing centaury celebrations in memory of Rajinder Singh Bedi and Ismat Chughtai. He said that both legendary contemporary writers had given the Urdu marvelous short stories which cannot be neglected by any Urdu historian. He particularly threw light on various Short Stories of Rajinder Singh Bedi like “Gharam Coat”, “Rehman Ke Joote” and others. He said that Bedi was a progressive writer and promoted the theme of Progressive writer’s movements with the core of his heart. There is need to do more research on Bedi’s short stories. Mr. Bejaral Sahib too paid glowing tributes to Rajinder Singh bedi.
Earlier in his welcome address Prof. Shohab Inayat malik, HOD Urdu informed that Urdu world is celebrating the centaury celebrations of two towering short stories writers Ismat and Bedi. He informed that during the whole year extension lectures, Mehfil-e-Afsana, seminars, symposiums would be organized in the memory of two legendary short stories writers. Urdu drama would also be staged based on the short stories of Bedi and Ismat. He further said that all the proceeding of the centaury celebrations would be published in the six monthly research journal of the department of urdu “TASALSUL”. The centaury celebration will be concluded by organizing a valedictory function in September 2016. Prof. Malik thanked the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor for giving his full support for organizing the literary activities at the campus.
The proceedings of the program were conducted by Dr. Mohd Reyaz Ahmed while vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Chaman lal. Besides faculty members, students, scholars and civil society members also attended the inaugural functions of Bedi Centaury celebrations.