Jammu’s Soldier-Poet And the 10th Kunwar Viyogi Utsav

Nidhi Soni
nidhisoni9@gmail.com
When the Indian Air Force salutes the skies every October 8, Jammu salutes one of its finest sons – Group Captain Randhir Singh, known to the literary world as Kunwar Viyogi. A man who not only defended Bharat’s frontiers but also enriched its soul through the power of poetry.
Commissioned in 1964, he served with distinction through the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, commanding frontline units with clarity of thought and composure under fire. Honoured with a Gold Medal in 1966 for being the Best Fighter Controller and later commended by Air Chief Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre, in 1985, Group Captain Randhir Singh exemplified courage, intellect, and leadership. His years in uniform were marked not only by his professional excellence but by his poetic sensitivity – a rare confluence of soldierly precision and lyrical soul.
Yet his greatest legacy began as he honoured his uniform because he became youngest serving Airforce officer in independent India to get national recognition of winning Sahitya Akademi award for his first published long poem- Ghar. Under the pen name Kunwar Viyogi, he became the first Indian Air Force officer to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award for his Dogri masterpiece long poem Ghar – 236 couplets that turned the intimacy of “Home” into a universal emotion. Decades later, the Hindi translation of Ghar, published by the Sahitya Akademi, was launched in 2016 by then Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, ADC, a moment that symbolized the enduring bond between service and creativity, discipline and dream.
Revered as the Father of Dogri Sonnets, Kunwar Viyogi achieved what few in the literary world have – composing over 300 Dogri sonnets and 2,000 in English, uniting regional cadence with global form. He remains one of the rarest examples in history of an Air Force officer whose creative genius built bridges between language, literature, and legacy.
Even after his passing, Kunwar Viyogi’s words continued to resonate across generations. His creative legacy expanded posthumously, with 27 of his works published in Dogri, English, Hindi, and Urdu – a rare testament to his versatility and literary genius. His writings bridged languages and emotions, giving Dogri literature a modern, global voice.
This year, the Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust, dedicated to preserving and promoting the vision of the Soldier Poet, entered its tenth glorious year. Established to honour his life and ideals, the Trust continues to celebrate the fusion of art, language, and patriotism that defined Kunwar Viyogi – inspiring generations to take pride in their roots and in the cultural soul of Duggar Pradesh.
With the resounding call of “Ji Dogra!”, the historic city of Jammu came alive this September as the 10th Kunwar Viyogi Utsav unfolded – a four-day cultural festival that brought together the past, present, and future of Duggar identity. More than just an event, it was a living affirmation of a community’s pride, its legacy of valour, and its aspirations in a fast-changing world.
A Confluence of Minds
The Utsav was not a nostalgic look back. Instead, it sought to reimagine Jammu’s cultural and intellectual landscape. Policymakers, Army veterans, social reformists, and artists came together to deliberate on the evolving narrative of Jammuri’yat, Dogriyat, and Dogra pride.
Two panel discussions set the tone.
The first, “Jammu’iyat: Regional Revival or National Renaissance”, featured military veterans and public intellectuals – Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal (Retd.), Col. Ajay Raina (Retd.), Brig. Anil Gupta (Retd. & BJP spokesperson), and Zorawar Singh Jamwal (Founder/Chairman, TEAM Jammu). Together, they debated whether Jammu’s identity should remain a strong regional ethos or be framed as part of the larger national mosaic.
The second panel, “Jammu Rising: Reimagining Jammu as a Hub of Enterprise, Tourism, and Cultural Exchange”, was forward-looking. With Kuwarani Ritu Singh, Padma Shri Balwant Thakur, and writer Manu Khajuria, the conversation envisioned Jammu as a vibrant centre of culture and enterprise – a land where heritage could drive innovation and global recognition.
Moderated by Ayushman Jamwal, Senior News Editor at News18 and Trustee of Kunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust, both sessions struck a delicate balance between pride in the past and optimism for the future.
The Mission Ahead
As the Utsav marked its 10th edition, the vision for the next decade became clear: to take Dogri to the next generation through the language of technology.
“Every child must know the sacrifices of our heroes – General Zorawar Singh, Brigadier Rajinder Singh, Maharaja Hari Singh, and the brave soldiers who defended our land,” Poonam Jamwal said. “That is why the Trust is now taking Dogri to schoolchildren in the language they understand best – through digital innovation and creative expression.”
A Cultural Milestone
The Kunwar Viyogi Utsav, over the years, has become more than a celebration – it is a movement to keep alive the cultural soul of Duggar while steering it towards global relevance. As the final words echoed in the packed halls of Jammu, the sentiment was unmistakable:
Rooted in identity. Powered by innovation. United in diversity. And with pride, the city once again proclaimed – Jai Dogra, Jai Hind.

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