Rana holds interaction with tribal writers and scholars

• Call for collaboration to strengthen literary and cultural initiatives

JAMMU: Minister for Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, convened a meeting of tribal writers, poets and scholars to deliberate on measures for promotion of tribal literature, preservation of cultural heritage and documentation of traditional knowledge systems of tribal communities in the Union Territory.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Director Tribal Affairs, Dr Abdul Khabir, Chief Editor Gojri JKAACL, Dr. Javed Rahi, literary personality Hassan Parwaz, Chairman Gujjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT) Arshad Choudhary, besides other writers, poets, artists and cultural activists.

While chairing the meeting, Javed Rana appreciated the role played by tribal writers, poets and scholars in safeguarding the cultural identity of tribal communities. He said that the government remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at documenting and promoting tribal culture, literature and traditional knowledge systems.

The Minister emphasized that the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) J&K will continue to serve as a key platform for research, documentation and intellectual engagement related to tribal communities and encouraged writers and scholars to actively collaborate with the institute in taking forward cultural and literary initiatives.

Abdul Khabir shared the institutional initiatives being undertaken by the Tribal Affairs Department for documentation, research and promotion of tribal culture and literature.

During the meeting, discussions were held on strengthening literary activities among tribal communities and providing institutional support to writers working in tribal languages. The participants emphasized the importance of preserving the rich cultural and intellectual traditions of tribal communities in Jammu and Kashmir.

It was noted that tribal literature and oral traditions constitute an important repository of community history, migratory patterns, folklore and indigenous knowledge. Participants stressed the need for systematic research and documentation of nomadic routes, traditional pastoral practices, folk narratives and indigenous medicinal knowledge.

The meeting also deliberated on organizing literary conferences, seminars and review sessions to encourage scholarly engagement and strengthen intellectual discourse among tribal writers and researchers. Participants suggested creating platforms for writers, poets and artists from tribal communities to present their work and exchange ideas.

The proposal for developing a comprehensive directory of tribal writers, poets, artists and cultural practitioners in Jammu and Kashmir was also discussed, which would facilitate networking and collaboration in literary and cultural initiatives.

Participants further proposed promoting cultural expressions such as theatre, drama, films and documentaries based on tribal themes to bring tribal narratives and lived experiences to a wider audience.

The meeting also highlighted the need for digitization of tribal literature and manuscripts, preservation of traditional costumes, cultural expressions and indigenous games, and greater academic engagement with tribal languages, particularly Gojri.

The participants also emphasized collaboration with educational institutions to incorporate tribal language and cultural studies in academic spaces, thereby strengthening awareness about tribal heritage among younger generations.

The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to promote tribal literature, encourage cultural documentation and preserve the diverse heritage of tribal communities of Jammu and Kashmir.