JAMMU: The concluding evening of the 10th Kunwar Viyogi Utsav in Jammu was marked by an enchanting blend of poetry and melody as acclaimed Ghazal singer Dr. Radhika Chopra—fondly called the daughter of the soil—enthralled audiences at the “Jashn-e-Viyogi” Ghazal Concert held at Abhinav Theatre.
The event was organised by the Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sahitya Akademi Awardee Group Captain Randhir Singh “Kunwar Viyogi.”
The evening began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony graced by Kuwarani Dr. Ritu Singh as Guest of Honour, along with Trust Founder Poonam Singh Jamwal and Trust Chairman Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, who felicitated Dr. Chopra and her accompanying musicians.
Performing in her hometown after two decades, Dr. Chopra mesmerised the audience with a soulful repertoire of ghazals in Hindi and Dogri, accompanied by a distinguished ensemble—Nafees Ahmed (Harmonium), Amjad Khan (Tabla), Anil Dutt (Keyboard), and Kamal Kumar (Sound Engineer).
Expressing gratitude, Dr. Chopra said: “I began my career here, and it gives me immense pleasure to be back with my people, in my state, and to perform at the Kunwar Viyogi Utsav. I am deeply thankful to Poonam Singh Jamwal for this opportunity to reconnect with Jammu and its audience.”
A disciple of Ustad Ghulam Hassan Khan and later the legendary Mehdi Hassan, Dr. Chopra is hailed as one of India’s finest Ghazal vocalists. With her impeccable classical foundation and emotional depth, she has earned admiration on prestigious stages in India and abroad.
The concert was a moving tribute to Kunwar Viyogi, the visionary Dogri poet whose modernist works won him the Sahitya Akademi Award and continue to inspire new generations. The Trust, through a decade of initiatives—scholarships, cultural festivals, memorial lectures, and literary honours—has kept his legacy of Dogri literature and culture alive.
With the “Jashn-e-Viyogi” Ghazal Concert, the Jammu chapter of the 10th Utsav concluded on a high note, leaving the audience spellbound with timeless poetry, music, and emotion.
