Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today presented the Dogra Ratan Awards for 2012 to five prominent personalities for their contributions in various fields.
The awards were given to Padma Shri Vijay Kumar Chopra (Editor-in-chief of the Punjab Kesari Group of Newspapers), Prof Zahur-ud-Din (eminent Urdu writer) Honorary Captain S Bana Singh, Amit Dutta (noted filmmaker) and Ravinder Jamwal (reputed sculptor) this afternoon at a function organised by the Council for Promotion of Dogri Language, Culture and History at the Jammu Club here.
Each awardee was presented a Kashmiri shawl, citation and a shield by the Governor.
Vohra said Jammu region has produced many personalities who have made outstanding contributions in the field of art, culture, literature, law, journalism among others.
Paying rich tributes to the Dogra soldiers for their bravery and chivalry, he said Dogras today have made unparallel achievements in all fields including literature, history, science and culture.
The Governor appreciated the efforts of Prof Bhim Singh, patron of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, for his attempt to promote Dogra identity in the country and abroad.
Vohra lauded the new mission of Singh to establish the Dogra International Cultural Centre in Jammu with the establishment of Insaf Garh.
The Governor also mentioned the function in 2011 when Dogra Ratan Awards were presented by the President of India at the Jammu University Auditorium.
Earlier, welcoming the guests and the Chief Guest, working chairman of the Council for Promotion of Dogri Language, Culture and History Justice K K Gupta described this occasion as an extraordinary event in the history of the Dogras and their great achievements.
Speaking in Dogri on the occasion, Singh praised the mission to restore and promote the Dogra identity.
