Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The University of Jammu today organized a condolence meeting to pay rich tributes to noted Dogri patron, literary enthusiast and Chairperson of the Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust, Shri Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, whose demise has left a deep void in the Dogri literary and academic fraternity.
The condolence meeting was held at the Kunwar Viyogi Digital Lab of the Department of Dogri, University of Jammu, where eminent literary personalities, faculty members, scholars, students and admirers gathered to remember and celebrate the life and contributions of the departed soul.
Paying heartfelt tributes, Vice Chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai described the demise of Shri Goverdhan Singh Jamwal as an immense loss to the Dogri literary and academic community. He said that Shri Jamwal was a visionary patron of Dogri language and literature who remained deeply committed to its promotion, preservation and academic advancement.
Prof. Rai recalled that Shri Jamwal became associated with the Department of Dogri during 2015–16 and since then played a pivotal role in strengthening its academic and cultural activities. His association with the Department was marked by generosity, foresight and commitment towards the growth of Dogri language and literature.
Highlighting his invaluable contributions, Prof. Rai said that in 2017, Shri Goverdhan Singh Jamwal and his wife Mrs. Poonam Singh Jamwal instituted an Endowment Fund of ₹15 lakh in memory of Sahitya Akademi Awardee Shri Kunwar Viyogi, one of the most distinguished figures in Dogri literature. The fund was established to encourage academic excellence and preserve the literary legacy of Kunwar Viyogi.
Under the provisions of the Endowment, meritorious scholarships and medals are awarded annually to one male and one female topper of M.A. Dogri and the overall topper in English, thereby motivating students to pursue academic excellence. The Endowment also facilitates the organization of an annual memorial literary festival by the Department of Dogri in collaboration with the Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust, which has emerged as an important platform for scholarly discussions and the promotion of Dogri language, literature and culture.
Prof. Rai further recalled Shri Jamwal's visionary initiative in establishing the Computer Lab in the Department of Dogri, which marked a pioneering step towards integrating technology with language studies and promoting the digital advancement of Dogri. He noted that the initiative opened new avenues for research, documentation and digital promotion of the language.
"The University of Jammu acknowledges with gratitude the invaluable contributions of Shri Goverdhan Singh Jamwal towards the promotion of Dogri language and literature. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of scholars, writers and students," Prof. Rai said while praying for eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to Mrs. Poonam Singh Jamwal and the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
Speaking on the occasion, Padma Shri Mohan Singh remembered Shri Jamwal as a towering figure of Dogri literature and culture whose life was dedicated to nurturing literary talent and strengthening cultural institutions. He said that Shri Jamwal's vision, commitment and generosity enriched the literary heritage of the region and would continue to inspire future generations.
Padma Shri Lalit Magotra also paid glowing tributes and described Shri Jamwal as a visionary who understood the importance of building strong institutions for the promotion of Dogri language and culture. He observed that Shri Jamwal consistently encouraged scholars, writers, artists and young learners and remained committed to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region. His humility, generosity and dedication, he said, made him a respected and beloved figure in literary circles.
Faculty members, research scholars, students and members of the literary fraternity also shared their memories and paid emotional tributes to Shri Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, recalling his constant encouragement, guidance and support for literary and cultural activities. The gathering observed a two-minute silence and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.