Srinagar, September 28, 2026 : The Srinagar Chintan Shivir, organized jointly by the “Vyangya Yatra” and the Jammu and Kashmir Hindi Academy, focused on the strong tradition of satire in Hindi literature, its contemporary relevance, and the role of the writer in the changing social environment, was inaugurated in Srinagar today. This Chintan Shivir, which will run from September 28 to 30, will feature literary figures, satirists, and writers from various states across the country to discuss various aspects of Hindi satire. Dr. Prem Janamejay presided over the inaugural session on the first day of the camp, with Ramesh Saini as the chief guest and Yashpaul Nirmal, the founding president of the Jammu and Kashmir Hindi Academy, as the special guest.
Dr. Lalitya Lalit, the national convener of the “Vyangya Yatra,” delivered the keynote address. Dr. Rafiq Masoodi, Kewal Kumar Kewal, and Asha Kundra were present on the occasion, and Smita Sinha moderated the inaugural session. This is the first event in Kashmir focused on Hindi satire. For this, ‘Vyangya Yatra’ expresses its gratitude to Yashpalul Nirmal, founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Hindi Academy. The gracious presence of Dr. Rafeeq Masoodi added a new dimension to the event. Delivering his presidential address at the inaugural session of the ‘Srinagar Chintan Shivir’, Prem Janamejay said, “This Chintan Shivir will provide a solid foundation for Hindi satire in Kashmir.” In his keynote address, Lalitya Lalit, the national coordinator of the event, provided a detailed account of the workshops that began in 2005. Yashpal Nirmal delivered a thoughtful speech defining Hindi satire. Chief guest Ramesh Saini spoke on the landscape of satire.
Local satirist Kewal Kumar shared his experiences. Asha Kundra delivered the welcome address after singing the prayer. Smita Singh conducted the session efficiently. In the second session of the first day, Farooq Afridi, Zakir Ali, Chandrakanta, and others spoke on Hindi satire. In the third session, satirists, including Ranvijay Rao, Chandrakanta, and Ganga Ram Raji, recited their works. The local audience and intellectuals enjoyed the session. Special guests included senior Mumbai writers Gopi Boobna and Dr. Surat Thakur. The session was chaired by senior writer Shri Balram. On this occasion, Dr. Lalitya Lalit, National Convener of Vyagya Yatra, stated that such events will undoubtedly foster a passion for satire and foster an environment for reading satire. A special booklet dedicated to the Vyagya Yatra was also released. Dr. Prem Janmejaya, Editor of Vyagya Yatra, stated that this is the first Vyagya Yatra brainstorming camp in Kashmir. This opportunity to connect Kashmiri writers with Vyagya Yatra will be a significant step towards promoting satire.
Following this session, the second session was held on the topic “Contemporary Young Voices of Hindi Satire.” Ramkishore Upadhyay was the chief guest, Farooq Afridi the chairman, and Suryakant Sharma was the special guest. Dr. Sunita graced the occasion, and Ranjit Rao delivered the keynote address. Dr. Zakir Ali “Rajneesh” and Chandrakanta shared their thoughts on the topic. Priyanka Saini moderated theh session. A “Satire Reading” was held in the afternoon, with Suraj Prakash as the chief guest and Balram as the chairperson. Dr. Ganga Ram Raji was the special guest. Surat Thakur and Lalitya Lalit graced the session. Several writers, including Prem Janamejay, Ramesh Saini, Farooq Afridi, Ramkishore Upadhyay, Ranjit Rao, Priyanka Saini, and Chandrakanta, read their satires. Smita Sinha also moderated the session. The symposium hoped for meaningful dialogue on the current challenges of satire, the creative vision of the new generation of satirists, social concerns, and the role of satire in literature. Discussions, readings, and literary dialogues on various topics will continue in the upcoming sessions of the three-day event.
