G’bal : The three-day National workshop on ‘Science in Kashmiri Fiction’ organized by the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) in collaboration with Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi, culminated at varsity’s Tulmulla campus here on Thursday.
According to a statement issued from Public Relations Office of the University Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Director SCOPE and Dean School of Media studies, Prof. Shahid Rasool, former Dean and head, Department of Arts, University of Kashmir, Prof. M Zaman Azurdah, Producer, EMRC, University of Kashmir, Ajaz ul Haq, Coordinator SCOPE project and head Kashmir department, Dr. Irfan, Prof. Shad Ramzan, Prof Shafi Shouq, Prof Majroh Rashid, M Amin Bhat, Fayaz Dilbar, faculty members, and other senior functionaries of the university were present along with a galaxy of fiction writers, during the valediction.
Speaking on the occasion, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar said the main aim and objective of the Science Communication, Popularization and Extension (SCoPE) project is to popularise Science through the regional languages and to inculcate scientific temper among them. “During the last few centuries, there has been huge advancement in science and technology and there is no aspect of human life where science hasn’t made any impact. However, over the years there has been a social disconnect between the scientist community, who haven’t been able to communicate and deliver the message regarding scientific innovations. Times are changing now and science communication, an emerging discipline, is bridging the gap between scientists and commoners. Holding this workshop is another milestone towards popularising Science in native languages”.
Thanking all the participants for making the workshop successful, Director SCOPE and Dean School of Media Studies, Prof. Shahid Rasool said Science and technology must be made more accessible to people and it is important for a society that scientific information and knowledge is imparted in the local languages as well. “People across all age groups tend to understand everything more clearly in their local language and those who have acquired scientific knowledge must ensure that it is used for building a better society.” He said two science magazines – Tajassus in Urdu language and Gaash in Kashmiri language have already been launched under the project. He urged fiction writers to use fiction and simple Kashmiri language as a tool to communicate existing scientific knowledge to the masses.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. M Zaman Azurdah, said, the science professionals should participate in such workshops and suggest ways and means to build scientific temper among the people, particularly the youth, by translating the scientific works in local languages. He underscored the need of organising more such workshops in near future and hailed the CUK for taking an initiative with regards to the popularisation of science in native languages. Prof Shafie Shouq in his valedictory address lauded the CUK efforts for the solid contribution to strengthen the Kashmiri language with useful scientific literature. He expressed his happiness on the conduct of the workshop in Kashmiri for promotion of scientific thought. Prof Shad Ramzan, Mr Fayaz Dilber also spoke at the valediction and complimented the organisers for conducting such workshops which are promoting Scientific knowledge among masses and are giving platform to the intellectual community to discuss and deliberate the ways and means for the same.
During the three-day workshop several technical sessions were held during which the experts deliberated upon various topics concerning Science fiction in Kashmiri.
Saleem Salik conducted the programme proceedings while Asst Prof. Dr. Syed Samreena Geelani proposed the vote of thanks.
