By Lalit Gupta
2012, being the second consecutive year of comparative peace in Jammu and Kashmir, which paved way for revamping of—democratic institutions, economic sector, tourism industry— a surge in cultural sector was also expected
Instead on ground the cultural scenario, barring few new ventures supported and funded by the Centre, was virtually a replay of a regular set of activities that define practice of ‘culture’ in winter capital, the regional metropolis, which yet has to shed its peripheral image.
The grandiose announcements, mostly on paper, by State Government (read J&K Ministry of Culture) to revamp the cultural sector, including preservation of built heritage during 2012, may have pleased the gullible masses. But the fact remains that a State with out a clear cut plan to address contemporary realities and aspirations of its people, especially younger generations, is ending up importing and implementing popular models and measures more as window dressing instead of involving the people, the real stakeholders.
The case of traditional arts in our multi-ethnic society—where old practices and customs along with entire body of cultural expressions are fast vanishing due to onslaught of modernity—is one such area, which requires immediate measures for their preservation.
As far as creative arts and other contemporary cultural expressions are concerned— these due to their essential innovative nature, and often a take on existing philosophical and aesthetic systems—have never been found to be flourishing under state patronage. The State, if it is an enlightened one, can only contribute as a facilitator by ensuring a favorable climate for free expression along with building suitable cultural sites museums, art galleries, open air and proscenium theatre and public spaces, where expressions of creative individuals can become shared experiences of the society.
The sarkari version of culture spurned of by institutions like State Cultural Academy seems to be bereft of any new ideas. Reduced as another government department due to breach of its constitutional autonomy by politicians and listless bureaucratic functioning, lacking vision, it urgently needs restoration of main governing body, the general council, for accountability, direction and revamping of its activities.
Under such conditions the credit for meaningful artistic expressions and cultural contributions in different fields especially in reference to national and the international developments this year, again goes to select creative individuals and a very few NGOs, who fired by the calling of heart and mandate have made mark through sheer determination and hard work.
Before talking about the achievers of this year let us pay homage to those individuals who after dedicated entire life for respective fields of creative pursuits, said good bye to this mortal world became part of eternal realm of super reality. These include Virendra Kumar (PIX)and Raj Singh, (PIX)the versatile theatre actors, veteran musician Pandit Raj Narayan (PIX)and the Dogri writer, Bal Krishan Bhora, (PIX).
Awards: Moti Lal Kemmu, senior theatre playwright and personality, was honoured with Padamshree award for his overall contribution to the field of theatre.
Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, the eminent Sanskrit scholar, was conferred Maharaja Gulab Singh Award, for her pivotal contributions in the fields of literature, culture and social service.
Bansi Lal Bhora, Dogri writer was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award for creative writing posthumously for his book ‘Tim Tim Tare’.
Shashi Pathania was awarded got Sahitya Akedami Award for Translation, while Yash Raina, got Sahitya Akedami’s Yuva Purushakar. Dr Jatinder Udhampuri got State award for best translation by J&K Cultural Academy. Padma Sachdev (PIX) Dogri Poetess was honored by Varda University Library by marking a table on her name.
FILMS- The regional cinema got a shot in arm with release of ‘Reet’ in Dogri. Produced, directed and acted by Pankaj Khajuria, (PIX) the locally made ‘Reet’, with first run of eight weeks, was very well received by audience who loved to watch a film in mother tongue.
Other film with local theme released in Jammu,‘Gul Gulshan, Gulfam’, produced by Jawahar Lal Razdan, written by Indu Razdan, directed by Sarfraz Alvi, in Dogri-Kashmiri, it mirrored composite cultural and linguistic legacy of J&K. Dogri film in making ‘Geetiyaan’, directed by local talented Rahul Sharma,(PIX) to be released in 2013, is again an eagerly awaited film.
ROCK MUSIC—The zeal and passion of the handful of community of young musicians has made Rock music as part of Jammu’s contemporary tradition. Rock Fests held in city to celebrate world music and opening with Dogri rock was a notable chapter in local contemporary music scene. The credit for this goes to Direction Indicative Society for Harmonious Advancement (DISHA) and Sumeet Sharma collective. (PIX) Some of active rock groups in Jammu are Mythya, Nissi The Groups of Band, Roving Sikhs. The lead guitarist in town are Sohail Mushtaq, Rohit Singh Bhau and Gagandeep Singh. Vikas Bawa, Paulson Micheal are bass players. The drummers include Dr Thakar Naveen Kotwal, Jhon Victor, Happy and Vishal Raghuvansh Rex and known vocalists are Babber, Garrison Micheal and Rajdeep Singh.
Young Achievers
TV: Sonia Kaur, (PIX) with her role in popular serial ‘Anamika’ telecast from Sony TV, has finally made her place in highly competitive industry. One who had bagged best actor award in Jammu theatre festival in play ‘Baby’, the big break in TV industry has come after she her roles in Imagine TV’s ‘Rahul Ka Swayamvar’ and Life OK’s ‘Savdhaan India’.
Aarya Dharm Chand Kumar, (PIX) is another local young talent who has made his mark in TV serials. A student of Air Force school and Hotel Management graduate from IHM, Lucknow, he started his carrier with first TV show in Punjabi ‘Saada
School’ on Alpha Punjabi. After that he has acted in various roles in serials like Armanon ka Balidaan, Aarakshan, Chandragupta Maurya, Chittod Ki Rani Padmini Ka Johur, Dharam Veer, Hawan, Prithviraj Chauhan and Sarvagunn Sampanna.
Mohit Raina, (PIX) a Kashmiri Pandit, born in Talb Tillo, is another young model turned actor whom is enjoying immense TV fan following for his role as Lord Shiva in TV series, Devon Ke Dev – Mahadev. His latest role as Lord Shiv on entertainment channel Life OK, has got him national recognition.
Talent Hunt Shows
Growing number of talent hunt shows telecast from satellite channels have caught up the imagination of millions of small screen viewers. Parents of children with some talent in dancing and singing are eagerly supporting their children to participate in such shows.
Indu Bala (PIX) from the remote village, Noori Hanga of Bhadarwah, made to the competition stage of ‘Indian Idol’, the music talent show of a private satellite channel
Mihir Gujral, (PIX)young dancing talent from Rehari Colony, stood 32nd in Dance India Dance ’s Little Master, mega audition held at Mumbai. Son of Ashu and Manish Gujral and student of dance Instructor, Sunil in Unique Dancing Institute, Mihir is also acting in Hindi film ‘Ehsas’ and got offer for another Bollywood film ‘Twinkle, The Shining Star’.
Sushant Sathu, (PIX) the prodigious local student of violin, not only impressed stalwarts at Haribhallava Sangeet Sammelan, Jallandhar, but also bagged the first position in non-percussion event in junior category recently. A student of class 7th, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, he is a disciple of local violin maestro Bahadhur Singh.
ICCR: THE NEW CULTURAL ADDRESS: Cultural scene of Jammu got a boost with opening of Jammu Regional Office of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi. Inaugurated by its President Dr. Karan Singh (PIX) on 25th of May, 2012 and headed by Balwant Tkaur (PIX), well-known theatre personality, ICCR, under its Horizon series, every fortnight showcases best of local talent in performing arts It has already hosted two international performances by a folk dance group from Zambia (Africa) and Laos, ICCR also hosted local cultural troupes to Central Asian countries like Kirgizstan and Kazakhastan.
KALA KENDRA: PRIME CULTURAL SPACE, VICTIM OF APATHY
Failure of State government in giving due place to creative arts, the Kala Kendra, conceived as an exclusive space for Visual Arts, stands as an orphaned institution without any funds to even maintain the building that was touted as a tourists attraction. To add insult to injury, the Kendra has been reduced to a popular venue for holding trade fairs and haats, on the pretext to generate revenue for making payment of gardeners and to pay for fused bulbs in the galleries etc.
CULTURAL ACADEMY:
Khalid Bashir ( PIX), new secretary of Academy, immediately after taking over, was able to address some of issues including across the board enhancement of Academy’s remunerations, which was welcomed by writers, artists and performers of the State.
Academy’s activity calendar for 2012 was a standard fare. It included festivals of folk dances, Gojri folk music fest, All India Urdu Mushaira, and poetic symposia featuring local poets., classical vocal, dance and light music recitals, Sham-e-Ghazal and Sufi music concerts and recital of Rabindra Sangeet.
Academy’s Best book awards for writers of State’s nine schedule languages were given to Prof Lalit Magotra, (PIX )Gulam Nabi Khayal, Mohammad Mansha Khaki, (PIX) Bashir Akhtar, Nawang Gyatso, Mir Hyder Nadeem, Baljit Singh, (PIX)Khalid Bashir Ahmed. Dr Agnishekhar, (PIX) Hindi ‘declined the award in protest. The weeklong All J&K Writers’ Camp representing nine languages of State, was held at Mansar in April. The participants were Raja Nazar Boniyari, Dr Lalit Gupta, Ali Akbar Khan Shaheen, Aruna Sharma, Virendra Kesar, Nirmal Vinod, Sabar Mirza, Manshoor Banihali and Nawang Tsering.
Three monographs on life and works of Prof Shiv Nirmohi, Dev Dass and late Durga Dass, penned down by Prakash Premi, late Ashok Jerath and Sita Ram Sapolia, commissioned by Academy’s were released.
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Held at Kala Kendra, the Gujjar Heritage Exhibition, showcasing the ethnographic profile of Gujjars through objects and artefacts that are part of their nomadic existence, could be labeled as one of the best exhibitions organized by Academy in this year. One only wishes that such thoughtful ventures should be held in future.
DOGRI SANSTHA
Other than usual fortnightly ‘kavi’ and ‘kahani ghosthis’, Sanstha organized number programs like seminar on Yuva Lekhan, at Barwal, children Dogri debate competition of 12 schools on environment, at Marh, poetic symposium at Ramnagar, seminar on women writing at Palampur, . Continuing its role in providing platform to Dogri writers, the Sanstha released new books such as Santosh Sangra’s Kali Ganga, Hun Ao Abla Naein, Kungal Kular, P L Parihar, Shabad Shabad Sarmarth, B L Bhora’s Chanani Chetain Di, Prof Lalit Magotra’s Hello Maya. Sanstha’s publications were Pitamber Nath’s Bhagali (Bhiyali), four issues of Nami Chetna, and books for syllabus of Dogri BA Part I, II.
Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, organized ‘Kavi Sandhi’ with Santosh Khajuria, Jammu’s senior poetess, and Katha Sandhi with Shiv Mehta, significant contemporary Dogri short storywriter, ‘Meet the Author’ with ND Jamwal, Dhayan Singh, . Under its ‘Through My Window’, program lives and works of Padamshree Ramah Shashtri,the colossal of modern Dogri and Dogri poet Kishan Samilpuri’s were brought in focus.Akademi also published number of translations in Dogri by authors like Gian Singh, Chhatarpal, Yash Raina, Krishan Prem, Om Goswami. Akademi also held translation workshops from Sindhi to Dogri, Kashmir to Dogri, Dogri to Konkani, Rajasthani to Dogri and Dogri to Rajasthani.
Some of the notable books released in different languages were ‘Gujjar Tribe of Jammu & Kashmir by Dr Javaid Rahi’, Khalid Hussain’s Urdu short stories ‘Satisar Ka Suraj’, Rattan Basotra’s Dogri book ‘Parakh Parchol’ and Shailendra Singh’s latest Dogri novel ‘Sewadhani”.
But literary activity in languages like Punjabi, Hindi, were low key while good many number of literary events in Urdu they were mostly restricted to Department of Urdu, University of Jammu. The NGO working for the cause of different languages chose to maintain a low key.
The good news for Punjabi fraternity was linked to Khalid Hussain, the well-known local Punjabi and Urdu writer, who was felicitated for his contribution to Punjabi literature and language, by Punjabi University, Patiala. He was also made a visiting fellow to Department of Punjabi, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
JAMMU DOORDARSHAN:
Series of the live programs highlighting different aspects and life and works of eminent Dogri writers and poets like Dinu Bhai Pant, Ramnath Shashtri, Kehri Singh Madhukar, Tara Smailpuri’s and Ved Pal Deep by well known contemporary writers was highly appreciated.
RADIO: Radio Kashmir Jammu’s list of public outreach programs this year included Sham-e-Ghazal, in connection with 63rd Republic Day celebrations, Radio-Utsav and Regional Folk & Light Music concert to mark the mark All India Broadcasting Day celebrations.
THEATRE: Jammu’s theatre scene got a boost when in testimony to fact that Jammu has emerged as a platform for free expression and social comment without any fear of gun or any form of oppression, EKTA—Ensemble Kashmir Theatre Akademi, Srinagar, under the initiative of Bhawani Bashir Yasir, organized a nine day festival of plays in winter capital. It was followed by a Kashmiri play ‘Premanth vs Premanth’ staged by migrant veteran as well as young artistes.
Due to political interference, and withholding of funds by J&K Ministry of Culture to Cultural Academy, its major theatre event, the annual drama festival 2011, could not be held during its usual time, flowed well into 2012 and started from March 17, 2012, with participation of twelve theatre groups from different areas of the district with plays in different languages like Dogri, Punjabi Urdu and Hindi. One of the notable performances of the year was K L Siagal by Pierrot’s Troupe from Mumbai noted Hindi film character actor Tom Alter as one of cast emerged as a benchmark for local groups.
Jammu’s known theatre group Natrang’s calendar full of Sunday performances held at its Studio, outside productions on invitation along with participation in major festivals of the country, also included Rangla Jammu. Amateur Theatre Group (ATG),organized in collaboration with National School of Drama, New Delhi (NSD), a five week long theatre workshop ‘Actor Prepares’, that was conducted by Ifra Kak. It concluded with performance of ‘Do Kouri Ka Khel’, the Hindustani adaptation by Parimal Dutt’s of Three-Penny Opera which was again designed and directed by Ifra Kak. (PIX). ATG, besides staging Toba Tek Singh during 2 day national seminar on Manto at Jammu University also held number of performances of plays in other parts of the country.
Samooh Theatre another active group, led by Dr Sudhir Mahaajan, and assisted by young director Ravinder Shrama, besides holding of theatre workshops, presented number of plays in Jammu and rural area. The group as an NGO working for art and culture also organized seminars on folk art and music and poetic symposia. Its presentation ‘Bawa Jit Mal’, the play in verse, written by Dr Gyan Singh, directed by young Ravinder Sharma, was also staged outside the State.
Nav Durga Kala Mandir- contributing in their own humble way in the local theatre scene, the group under its Friday series is regularly staging plays. Its other ventures include 3-day women theatre festival, nukkad nataks and series in which only comedy plays were performed in urban and rural areas.
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore: In connection with 150th year birth celebrations of the national poet, series of programs were organized in Jammu by Cultural Academy and NGO’s like Tribal Research Foundation and Samooh Theatre that offered opportunity to public to revisit the artistic and cultural legacy of great mind.
Visual Arts
The contemporary visual art scene of J&K came under intense discussion during the workshop “Curating Indian Visual Culture: Theory and Practice (with thematic focus on Art in the Context of Conflicts ), Organized by Academics, Artists and Citizens for University Autonomy (ACUA), under initiative of India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) and funded by Sir Jamsetji Tata Trust, during the workshop, an exhibition of twelve J&K artists titled “Sites of Plurality”, curated by young art-historian Aditi Kumar Gupta was also held at University of Jammu.
The visual arts scene other than official exhibitions and camps was marked by individual artists’ achievements. These included sculptor Rajendara Tike’s participations in International Sculpture Symposium organized by Kanu Nayak Foundation for Arts, National level Granite carving camp organised by Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi at Kohzikode, Kerala, International Sculpture Symposium organized by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Tikku’s monumental sculpture was also acquired to beautify Hyderabad. (PIX)
Suman Gupta, well known painter (PIX) participated in “The Secret Garden” series of Acrylic and temperas shown by ‘Gallery Espoonsilta’ Finland, and India special exhibition at 5th“Beijing International Art Biennale” China.
Bishamber Mehta participated in sculptors’ symposia in China while Chander Prakash was invited to International sculpture symposium in Turkey and National sculpture camp in Srinagar. He also got membership of International Association for Monumental Sculpture. Ravinder Jamwal was invited to national and state level sculptor camps.
Harsh Vardhan, Rohit Verma, Milan Sharma, Vikas Sharma held group show in Mumbai and also participated in number of artist camps.
Cultural Academy, Tourism Department, organized All India Sculptors Camps in which other than the above sculptors, other local artists were Brijpal Anand, Sukjeet Singh Kukkal particapted. In Academy’s All India Heritage Painters Camp at Mubarak Mandi, the Jammu artists included K K Gandhi,Vijay Saraf, Rohit Verma. K K Gandhi in recent years has been active in collaborating with various bodies to organize artist camps in the State. The local artist participants at Leh camp were Bhushan Kesar, Harshvardhan, Mohd. Akram Khan. Jammu artists who attended Academy’s Young Painters’ Camp included Manoj Chopra, Insha Manzoor, Sahil Sharma, R P Singh, Sunil Dutt, Hirday Kant, Narinder K Bhagat, Lovesh Sharma.
Maiden painting exhibition of Srijan Samooh, a newly formed group of 10 painters of different age groups and backgrounds, was a show by those members of civil society who have kept their passion of art alive.
Another local event under NGO initiative was Painters & Sculptors camp at Bag-e-Bahu. Organized by Aspiring Artists Group (AAG) was held in memory of Gobind Kaur, the well known sculptor of the State. The participants included Gokul Dembi, Ravinder Singh Jamwal, Amrik Singh Namdhari, Jang S Verman and young visual artists like Sudhir Kamal, Arjinder Kumar, Naresh, Chander Shekhar, Jasleen Singh, Varun Kumar, Narinder Kumar, Chemat Dorjey, Amarjeet Singh, Aneesh Tiku and Parveen. Other solo shows held were Kanav Gupta’s ‘Naily’, Juicy Sharma, the (PIX) young prodigy and by Megha Kundal.
FILM FESTIVALS
Under NGO’s initiative of Jammu Art & Film Circle and in collaboration with Office of Dean Students Welfare, University of Jammu, organized a two-day film festival to show acclaimed national and international short and documentary films to Jammuites. The Circle also arranged another one day film festival at Govt. Women College, Jammu.
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