Project Zaan & Praagaash
Dedicated to our Heritage, Our Language & Our Culture.
Project Zaan was jointly undertaken by Lalla-Ded Educational and Welfare Trust and Kashmiri Pandits’ Association, Mumbai in the year 1998-99. A group of people consisting of Late Shri J.N.Kachroo (Ex. Principal, National High School, Srinagar and main inspiration behind the movement), Late Shri J.L.Manwati (then President, Kashmiri Pandits’ Association, Mumbai), Late Shri Onkar Aima (Actor and Social Worker), Shri P.N.Wali (Ex. Executive Director, Life Insurance Corporation of India), Smt. Neelam Trakru (Educationalist), Shri Uday Upendra Mattoo (then Director, Human Resources Development, Colgate Polmolive) and Shri M.K.Raina (Civil Engineer) worked dedicatedly on the project. Shri M.K.Raina was appointed as Convener.
Under this project a series of Information Digests and the Basic Reader for Kashmiri Language were published in mid and late 2000s.
Following were the Objectives of the Project:
- To disseminate Information on various facets of the Place of our origin – Kashmir, like its history, geography, culture, language, literature, places of worship, fairs and festivals, rites and rituals, historical places, arts and artists, eminent personalities etc. through Information Digests.
- To inculcate interest in our youngsters in their mother-tongue and arouse curiosity and interest in their entity through various educative programmes.
- To organise Quiz Programmes for the young and not so young, based on the Information provided through Information Digests and other materials.
- To organise ‘Contests’ in reading and speaking Kashmiri and encourage youngsters in this behalf, by awarding prizes to those participating and/or taking lead.
- To organise and conduct Spoken Kashmiri Language classes.
Monthly E-Journal
A monthly e-journal of the Project Zaan named ‘här-van’ was published from August 2007 to December 2008. It had to be shelved due to departure from the scene of most of the founding members and pre-occupation of the Convener and other living members.
Activities of the Project were revived in the year 2017 by a Mumbai-based group of cultural activists (Zaan Cultural Circle), prominent among them being Shri S.P.Kachru, Shri Bharat Pandit and Shri M.K.Raina. Shri M.K.Raina continued to be Convener of the Project. Publication of the e-journal was resumed from July 2018 with a new name ‘Praagaash’.
The monthly e-journal Praagaash is dedicated to Kashmiri language and Kashmiri Culture. It publishes content pertaining to Kashmir, Kashmiri language, Kashmiri Culture, our Heritage and topics of general interest, in four languages viz English, Hindi, Urdu and Kashmiri. Kashmiri content is carried in mixed Nastaliq, Devanagari and Roman scripts which has greatly contributed to widen the readership base of the journal particularly in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The criteria for publication of articles in Praagaash is strictly defined and conveyed to the authors contributing to the journal. The write-ups carried in the journal are strictly non-political and non-religious in nature and do not incite or promote any hatred towards any community, caste or group. Emphasis is more on the Kashmiri language and the Kashmiri culture.
Shri M.K.Raina, the Convener of the Project is also the Editor of the Journal. Shri T.N.Dhar ‘Kundan’, Bangalore is the Guide and Consulting Editor. Dr. Zarka Batul, London is incharge overseas assistance and publicity. Praagaash has its editorial office at 104-B, Galaxy, Agarwal Township, Koul’s Heritage City, Babhola, Vasai Road West, Mumbai, India.
Download & Read Praagaash
