Srinagar: A three-day literary festival ‘Versa-2021’ started at the University of Kashmir on Tuesday.
Registrar Dr Nisar A Mir inaugurated the festival, organised by the Literary Club of the Department of Students Welfare (DSW).
In his presidential address, Dr Mir said such events form an important part of the academic life of students.
“Festivals like these not only encourage young students to showcase their talent but also helps them develop self-confidence to compete at the national and international levels,” he said, congratulating the DSW for organising the three-day festival which includes important events like debating competition, poetry competition and extempore speech competition.
Dr Mir said the university is committed to provide all possible facilities to students to become active participants in various literary and cultural festivals.
“We are putting in place all necessary infrastructure and facilities to realise this goal,” he said.
In his welcome address, Dean Students Welfare Prof Raies A Qadri highlighted the programmes organised by the DSW in the recent years.
He said the DSW aims to encourage young students to participate in different competitions while facilitating them to become socially-conscious members of the society by way of addressing various social problems.
KU Cultural Officer and Organising Secretary of the festival, Shahid Ali Khan, said the university has a vibrant Literary Club which organises important events from time to time.
“Students from various universities in Jammu and Kashmir and affiliated colleges of KU are participating in the Versa-2021 festival. Five best participants in each category will be awarded with cash prizes,” he said.
On day first, 35 students participated in the debate competition for which the topic was: “Parents have no role in choosing the career for their children.”
The extempore speech competition will be held on September 22 followed by ‘mushaira’ on September 23.
Prof SM Afzal Qadri, Mr Nasir Mirza and Mr Ajaz-ul-Haque acted as judges for the debate competition.
