PNS
Deoghar
Jharkhand Shodh Sansthan organised a discussion and picture exhibition at its proposed office premises on Hadiyasi Ram Mandir Road, Jhausagadhi.
The discussion focused on research, documentation and publication of local history, along with the construction of a museum and library centre building on the institute’s campus. A picture exhibition based on Mahatma Gandhi’s association with Deoghar and local martyrs was also held. Deoghar Municipal Corporation Mayor Ravi Kumar Raut inaugurated the exhibition by cutting a red ribbon.
Earlier, the institute’s secretary Umesh Kumar welcomed the Mayor with a bouquet, garland and angavastra. Dr. Iti Kumari, lecturer at a B.Ed. college, presented a melodious welcome song. In his welcome address, Umesh Kumar drew attention to the problem of conserving historically important photographs, replicas, records and other materials because the government has so far not provided land or a building for the ‘Itihasghar’. He said that until the administration makes a concrete arrangement, work on local history would continue by constructing a new building on the roof of his residential premises on Ram Mandir Road.
Tara Chand Jain, Chairman of the Jharkhand State Digambar Jain Religious Trust Board, strongly urged the Mayor to facilitate the establishment of the ‘Itihasghar’ without further delay. Devdatt Renudas, Additional Commissioner of the Commercial Tax Department and Special Secretary, expressed regret that a dedicated historian was not getting space even for a public-interest purpose and said everyone should make collective efforts for a centre dedicated to history writing, documentation and a library. Senior member of the institute Prof. Ramanandan Singh remarked that the time had come to honour such dedicated efforts.
In his address, chief guest Mayor Ravi Kumar Raut said he had been aware of Umesh Kumar’s service to history since the days when the latter ran the ‘Itihasghar’ at the Red Cross building of Sadar Hospital. He noted that the application for the ‘Itihasghar’ had already reached him and suggested that it be submitted to the Director of the Tourism Department so that it could come to him with a recommendation, making approval easier. He also expressed readiness to extend private support if Umesh Kumar wished to start work by constructing a new office building in the meantime.
Among those present were institute members Sanjay Kumar Upadhyay and Sunita Devi, lecturer Dr. Iti Kumari, social worker and poetess Dr. Pallavi Joshi, social worker Prabhat Kumar Singh, journalist and history enthusiast Udayesh Ravi, journalist Shatrughan Prasad, writer Himanshu Jha, poet Ravi Shankar Sah, Parvati Devi, Mayor’s representatives Sachin Raut and Sandeep Raut, painters Bhanu Sri and Gudda, and students Manjari Singh and Ayesha Singh.
Prof. Ramanandan Singh proposed the vote of thanks.
