By Dr Tania Saili Bakshi
Dehradun, 17 Nov: While a one-minute silence was announced during the inaugural of the Valley of Words, Literature and Arts festival in the memory of Author Colleen Gantzer and Translator Bibek Debroy, Day two of the 8th Edition – in addition to celebrating its eight winning books, conversations, keynotes, exhibitions, theatre, book launches, dance and musical performances – also held special tribute sessions in memory of Science policy expert Dr Dhirendra Sharma and Author Jaskiran Chopra.
Telling us more about the tribute sessions, Festival Director, Dr. Sanjeev Chopra stated, “In the past year, we lost two very active members of the VoW family, Jaskiran Chopra and Dr Dhirendra Sharma. Jaskiran had in fact attended the first preparatory meeting of VoW way back in March of 2017.” He added, “Prof Dhirendra Sharma was an engaged intellectual. Although for health reasons, he could not attend any of our sessions post Covid, his support to VoW came in the form of helping us select the books on environment and ecology.”
In a session titled Science, Public Policy and Public Good: A tribute to Professor Dhirendra Sharma curated by Board Member Dr Rajendra Dobhal who heads the festival’s science, environment and ecology vertical, had speakers Dr Amjad Hussain, Director of the Himalayan Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HCIE) and Professor of Translational Research at the Cancer Research Institute, SRHU and Columnist- Author Dinesh C Sharma who fondly remembered and celebrated the science policy expert who set up home in Dehradun. Dr Sharma was part of the founding team that set up the Centre for Science Policy at JNU and who was recognised globally for his anti-nuclear policies. Dr Dobhal recalled Dr Sharma’s contribution to the hill state and how, “Dhirendra Sharma wasn’t only a science policy expert. He was very supportive and proactive. He was proud of the work we did and was always available on the phone for advice and help in every way”.
Dinesh C Sharma had the good fortune of working with Dr Dhirendra since the mid-80’s when nuclear policy was at its peak. He recalled nostalgically his association and Dr Sharma’s child-like enthusiasm and his legendary friendship with President Abdul Kalam. Amjad Hussain, also a prominent voice in translational research and innovation, paid his condolences to Dr Dhirendra Sharma.
Author and poet Jaskiran Chopra, a regular at the VoW lit fest since its very inception was honoured by Team VoW by hosting a poetry session titled: “Jaskiran ki Yaad Maine…” moderated by Sachin Chauhan. A regular at every edition of the Valley of Words festival where she launched her books, curated sessions, wrote about the festival in her columns, and trained volunteers to write short crisp reports and blogs, was warmly remembered. Each of the invited poets: Deepanjali Singh, Amandeep, Supriya Newar, Mamta Kiran, LS Bajpai and Anjum Sharma recited some verses from Jaskiran’s collection Mera Shehar before reading out their own poems. Navtej Sarna, Jaskiran’s brother, summing up her association with VoW stated, “When I come to Valley of Words and talk about her today, I feel she is here!”
