Society

Creative writing workshop commences at Jamia Masjid

Will continue for the next three Sundays at Nigeen Club  

Srinagar: WARUK, a social group, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Kashmir and Settle light production inaugurated a ‘creative writing workshop’ in the cultural centre of the Jamia Masjid, in Srinagar on Sunday.

The event will now continue on coming three Sundays and is scheduled to take place at Nigeen Club, on the banks of famous Nigeen Lake, where aspiring and budding writers of the valley will take part.

The workshop includes guest lectures, a session on the role of writing in other arts, public and reading sessions.

Sufi Aqib, a participant said, “it’s a great initiative by the department of tourism and I feel overwhelmed to be part of this event because though this workshop I can easily express myself in the form of writing.”

He further added, “In the strife-torn valley, where freedom of expression and thought is a dream, such kind of workshops would definitely boost our inner persona and we would feel free to share our thoughts.”

Interestingly, the department of tourism Kashmir is organizing writing workshops for the first time in the Downtown area of Srinagar where violence is a routine.

Earlier, the department had organized a Calligraphy event titled as ‘Khush Khat’ in cultural centre of Jamia Masjid, which lasted for seven days.

The event was for budding calligraphers.

Akib Muslim, another participant of the event and an aspiring writer said, “I am delighted to know that such kind of writing workshops are turning effective. I came here to hunt for the literal talent of Kashmir, to make connections with budding writers through such a platform. Such workshops need to be funded properly and should be held across the state because we possess enough talent in the state.”

Others felt that such workshops will hone their talent skills. They want known writers to be invited to the event.

“I m delighted that such a good space has been created. I want to write and I am sure such workshops will polish our talent and hone our writing skills. I want famous writers of India should be invited in such events”, said Ambreen Ali, a student of Business administration.

Masroor Muzaffar, a budding writer, whose work got recognized through Radio Kashmir, recited some poems in Urdu and was lauded by the audience.

Director Tourism, Mehmood Ahmed Shah, while addressing the audience said, “Our state possess huge talent. Our generation is far more creative but unfortunately they lack platforms which can hone their skills. So our initiative in future would be to give platform our youth who are creative in every sense,” he said.

Shah further added, “We will definitely give space our youth to express their thoughts and we will hold more such programmes in the future. We are also organizing a photography workshop as well,” he added.

“We will celebrate idea of creative genius and creativity in this workshop,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that for the first time since the autocratic Dogra rule, Friday prayers on Jummat-ul-Vida (Last Friday) in the holy month of Ramazan was the not allowed in the same Jamia Masjid.

Also, this year, for six consecutive weeks, Friday congregational prayers were also not allowed in the mosque.

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