Lekhak Gaon and Gujarat Sahitya Academy to collaborate for enrichment of Indian languages
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Retired IAS officer and president of Gujarat Sahitya Academy Bhagyesh Jha visited Uttarakhand on a two-day trip to participate in a programme titled “Memory and Enrichment of Indian Languages” held at Lekhak Gaon in Dehradun. On this occasion, he was conferred with the “Lekhak Gaon Srijan Samman” for his outstanding contribution to literature and language preservation.
Speaking on the occasion, Jha described the concept of Lekhak Gaon as a unique and visionary initiative. He announced that in the near future, the Gujarat Sahitya Academy and Lekhak Gaon will jointly work towards the preservation, promotion, and enrichment of Indian languages. Emphasising the importance of traditional knowledge, he remarked that while internet-based knowledge is increasingly seen as the primary source of learning today, India’s rich intellectual heritage lies in the Vedas, Puranas and other ancient texts. He stressed the need to present this traditional wisdom through innovative means to the people of India and to establish its recognition on global platforms.
Former chief minister and ex-Union minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ had recently visited Gujarat, where he had mentioned the concept of Lekhak Gaon during a programme organised by the Gujarat Sahitya Academy. Inspired by the idea, the chief minister of Gujarat had also expressed interest in visiting Lekhak Gaon. Following this, Jha and the academy’s secretary Jayendra Yadav visited Lekhak Gaon.
Nishank highlighted that Uttarakhand is the birthplace of the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads, and is known as the land of Ayurveda. He described Uttarakhand as not only the spiritual capital of India but also a source of life-giving air. He emphasised that Lekhak Gaon is evolving into a creative hub for literary work as well as a center for nurturing future generations of writers. He shared that under the first phase of the Nalanda Library and Research Centre at Lekhak Gaon, the target is to collect one million books. Over 60,000 books have already been gathered. This library is set to become a milestone for scholars and students alike.
Padma Shri recipient Pritam Bhartwan appreciated Lekhak Gaon as a cultural asset of Uttarakhand. The event also witnessed the presence of Padma Shri recipients Dr BKS Sanjay, Dr Yogi Aeron, Madhuri Barthwal, Kalyan Singh Rawat ‘Maiti’ and others.
