Speech By Shri. O.P.Sharma "Sarathi"
( Sahitya Akademi Award Winner in Dogri for his Dogri novel" Nanga Rukh" in the year 1979)

It is the sun which moves life. Inspiration moves the writer. First of all, I express my gratitude to the Sahitya Akademi. I have received immeasurable inspiration from this honour and award. I would now be able to move forward on the path of writing with a new determination and energy.

I also feel gratified, almost to the point of pride, that I am a citizen of a great country which shows the way in literature and culture. The Sahitya Akademi has strengthened the belief that an author is an asset to the nation. It has bestowed glory on me and several other authors with me by this Award.

I am a humble toiler of the pen from the region of Duggar, belonging to the Dogri literature - one who tries to be as honest as possible. Today I am reminded of something that happened long ago. At that time it was only words but now it has significance for me. My father is an ardent devotee of Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. While teaching me music, once he exclaimed in surprise: Why are artists of my generation so naive that they keep discussing others, thinking of others and grow senile in sitting on judgment over them? When would they think about themselves?

I took the hint that it was I who had to take a decision. Thus began notes, rhythm and percussion at home and painting in the Office. Then there was the interest in writing - to the point of obsession. I was caught in the net of dilemma as the fish is caught in the web of water. Ramkrishna Parmhansa has said: Only he can reach the shore who is caught in a dilemma. Doubt is the first condition of Sadhna.

Subjecting myself to the one law- karmanyevadhikaraste:' the only right is karma'- by writing constantly and making to the shore I was confronted with the truth that we are creating each other, knowingly or unwittingly. Everything in the environment and in society, everyone rooted in the earth is creating himself and others. This truth appeared to me to be imperative and indivisible in the filed of fine arts. Living in his environment, even though an artist becomes introspective, he breathes assimilating the evolving truths of his society in his mind. And even as he becomes extrovert he is a medium linking and linking with others.

Of the many media of linking and delinking, I have chosen the path of expressing myself through words. The sounds belong to the Dogri language.

It is the token of the beauty, genius and light of my country that no single language is the sole medium of its unity and harmony. Language is more a medium than a goal. The goal is to reach out, to link, to connect - to raise each other, everyone, the entire creation.

I express my thanks again and again that the Sahitya Akademi has protected my rights to my feelings, experiences and goals along with my medium. if I would wish to live with my truth alone I would distort myself. May my experience, my truth and my writings belong to all - this is the blessing I crave from you. Give me the capacity for this decision, this choice.

I shall close with a couplet from one of my Dogri Ghazals:

It was the test of the pen, so this is how I began:
The burden of words is too heavy to be borne by a single man.

Thank you, jai Hind.