In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family

DODA: The second day of the Winter Carnival 2026 was celebrated with great enthusiasm and splendor at New Bus Stand, Bhaderwah, today drawing a massive gathering of locals and tourists alike. The mega event was organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, in collaboration with the District Administration Doda and Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA).

The carnival featured a colourful blend of celebrity performances, local cultural programmes, ethnic food stalls and a street bazaar, offering visitors a complete cultural and tourism experience. The highlight of the day was a power-packed musical performance by the renowned Punjabi pop singer G. Khan who mesmerized the audience with his soulful renditions and energetic stage presence, creating an electrifying atmosphere and leaving the crowd spellbound.

Adding rich local flavour to the celebrations, talented local artists Deepak Kumar, Vishakha Bhardwaj and Chirag Kotwal presented impressive cultural and musical performances, beautifully showcasing the region’s artistic heritage and creative excellence. The traditional Daku Dance and other folk items further added colour and vibrancy to the festive occasion.

Stalls set up by various government departments attracted visitors by disseminating information about welfare schemes and development initiatives. The event was graced by Chairman, District Development Council Doda, Dhananter Singh Kotwal; MLA Bhaderwah, Daleep Singh Parihar; Deputy Commissioner Doda, Harvinder Singh; SSP Doda, Sandeep Kumar Mehta; Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaderwah, Sunil Kumar Butyal; Additional Deputy Commissioner Doda, Anil Kumar Thakur; Deputy Director Tourism, Pankaj Sassan; Deputy Director Publicity, Savita Chouhan; Chief Executive Officer, BDA, Sanjeev Sharma; ASP Bhaderwah,  Vinod Sharma besides other senior officers, public representatives, senior citizens, civil and police officials, Media persons and a large number of visitors from within and outside the Union Territory.

The guests lauded the Department of Tourism, District Administration Doda and the Bhaderwah Development Authority for their seamless coordination and exemplary efforts in organizing the Winter Carnival and for effectively promoting Bhaderwah as a major winter tourism destination of Jammu and Kashmir. Chairman DDC Doda applauded the efforts of the District Administration and BDA Bhaderwah for organizing a grand and well-coordinated event. He emphasized the vast tourism potential of the region and stressed the need for further promotion to attract a larger influx of tourists.

The Deputy Commissioner thanked the people of Bhaderwah for their enthusiastic participation and overwhelming support. He expressed gratitude for the immense love and appreciation shown by the public towards both local and non-local artists, especially the son of the soil and Indian Idol winner Chirag Kotwal, along with renowned Punjabi singer G. Khan.

MLA Bhaderwah also commended the efforts of the District Administration, BDA Bhaderwah and the security forces, including the CRPF, for the smooth and successful conduct of the Winter Carnival. He appreciated the captivating performances by artists, which added vibrancy and cultural richness to the celebrations.

The overwhelming public response, enthusiastic participation of artists and wholehearted support of all stakeholders made the second day of the Winter Carnival 2026 a grand success, further enhancing the festive spirit and highlighting the natural beauty, cultural richness and immense tourism potential of Bhaderwah.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). “His article, ‘When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.”.  Read the message here
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

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