OnlyKashmir.in News Desk
The Department of Urdu, University of Kashmir (KU), on Tuesday began a two-day international conference on “Environmental Literature and Criticism in Urdu” at the university’s Main Campus, bringing together academics, researchers, students and literature enthusiasts to discuss the growing significance of environmental concerns in Urdu literature.
The conference focuses on the emerging field of environmental literature and its critical dimensions in Urdu, with participants from different parts of the country and abroad engaging in discussions on nature, ecology and their relationship with human life.
Presiding over the inaugural session, KU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan described the conference theme as an important academic concern in the contemporary era. She emphasised the value of literary and research initiatives centred on environment and nature, saying such academic engagements help expand the scope of research and critical inquiry in Urdu literature.
Dean Academic Affairs, KU, Prof. Shariefuddin Pirzada, highlighted the close relationship between nature, environment and human life as reflected in Urdu literary traditions. He stressed the need for sustained academic engagement with environmental literature and criticism.
Delivering the keynote address, former Head of the Department of Urdu at the University of Delhi, Prof. Irtiza Karim, underlined the growing relevance of environmental literature and criticism. He also drew attention to contemporary environmental challenges and their wider impact on human life and civilisation.
Prof. Shahab Inayat Ahmad Malik, Head, Department of Urdu, University of Jammu, and Prof. Shafiqa Parveen, former Director, Centre for Distance and Online Education, KU, also shared their perspectives on the theme. They highlighted the relevance of environmental literature to contemporary academic discourse and its potential to expand the horizons of Urdu literary studies.
Former Head, Department of Urdu, and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Malik, stressed the role of Urdu literature in promoting environmental awareness and consciousness among readers.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, Head, Department of Urdu, KU, Prof. Irfan Ahmad, highlighted the significance of the conference theme and observed that environmental and ecological concerns have increasingly shaped human life and contemporary discourse.
The conference will continue with academic deliberations on various literary and critical dimensions of environmental concerns in Urdu literature.
The inaugural proceedings were conducted by Dr. Mushtaq Haider, while Dr. Kausar Rasool proposed the vote of thanks. Both are faculty members of the Department of Urdu, University of Kashmir.
