Commissioner and Secretary, Information, Public Relations, Languages & Culture Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal releases the book
Chandigarh: Commissioner and Secretary, Information, Public Relations, Languages & Culture Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, attended a programme at Haryana Niwas, Chandigarh, as the chief guest on Friday. On the occasion, he released Ek Boond Sau Sawaal, a book jointly authored by noted writer Dr. Shamim Sharma and her daughter-in-law Dr. Sarita Sharma, and congratulated both authors for their remarkable work.
Praising the book authors, Dr. Amit Agrawal said it presents the historical, literary, cultural and environmental dimensions of water in a simple yet engaging manner, making it an informative and enjoyable read for people of all age groups. He also shared that, inspired by the book, a key decision had recently been taken during a meeting of the Industries Department. Henceforth, the availability and feasibility of water resources will be assessed before granting approval to any new industrial project or industrial park in the state. He further stressed that industries must adopt water conservation measures to curb excessive extraction of groundwater.
He said Haryana is a semi-arid state where water has always held immense cultural as well as scientific significance. Traditional practices such as Kuan Pujan and several customs related to cleanliness were linked with religious beliefs to encourage people to protect water sources from pollution and safeguard public health from water-borne diseases.
Emphasising the importance of language, Dr. Amit Agrawal said today’s youth are increasingly drifting away from their linguistic roots. He said it is essential to instil pride in one’s mother tongue, adding that Hindi serves as a unifying language for the country. He stressed that more simple, high-quality and practical books like Ek Boond Sau Sawaal should be written to promote and preserve the language.
Addressing the gathering, The Daily Tribune Editor, Naresh Kaushal said literature is not merely a medium of expression but an instrument of social transformation. He said that through stories, poetry, satire, autobiographical writings, feminist discourse and Haryanvi humour, Dr. Shamim Sharma has carved a distinct place for herself in the literary world. Her writings, he said, have effectively highlighted women’s dignity, female foeticide, social inequalities, rural life, family relationships and human values. He also lauded her significant contribution to enhancing the literary stature of the Haryanvi language.
Director of the Urdu Cell, Haryana Sahitya Evam Sanskriti Academy, Panchkula, Dr. Chander Trikha who attended the programme as the guest of honour, congratulated both authors and appreciated their initiative in writing a book on the contemporary issue of water conservation. He said conserving water is a collective responsibility and called upon everyone to make sustained efforts in this direction.
Speaking on the occasion, co-author Dr. Shamim Sharma said the book comprises 49 chapters focusing on different aspects of water conservation. She added that the growing need to conserve water inspired the creation of the book.
