Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 2: ‘Taking Traditions to Schools’, a UNESCO project under National Sangeet Natak Akademi’s scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India, reached Government High School Gandhi Nagar.
Babila Rakwal, Director School Education Jammu, was the chief guest. Other dignitaries present at the occasion were Balwant Thakur, ICCR Regional Director and Ms Kiran Rajput, Head Master of the High School. The project is being conducted by Sumeet Sharma, Drama Instructor at the University of Jammu who is undertaking this meaningful project under supervision of Prof Satnam Kour, Dean Students Welfare.
Babila Rakwal expressed gratitude on behalf of the Education Department over organizing of such projects of high importance which connect the students with their roots.
The project pertains to sensitizing the children about rich cultural heritage of Jammu through performance cum demonstration of some of the selected folk song and dance forms by ethnic folk artists followed by detailed information about the art form by expert resource persons.
More than 4000 students from different schools such as Jodhamal Public School, Heritage School, Model Academy, J P World School and Government schools have been sensitized till now under this project. They got the opportunity to witness the vibrant folk performances of ‘Karkan’, ‘Geetru’, ‘Kudd’, ‘Bhaakh’ etc by different folk artists including Girdhari Lal, Harbans Lal, Ram Ditta and Group, Krishan Singh and Group. Prof Lalit Magotra and Balwant Thakur have been the key resource persons and mentors of this initiative of Sumeet Sharma.
A joyful performance of ‘Kudd’ a folk dance form the hills of Reasi was presented before the students which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Students expressed curiosity to know more about the dance form which was comprehensively answered by Balwant Thakur. The project “Taking Traditions to Schools” is blessed with many folk and traditional art forms which have instinctive rich elements of culture and heritage in them and are very musical, dramatic and full of rhythm. This rich cultural heritage has been preserved by the artists since ages. The art forms like ‘Karkan’ (Narrative Singing), ‘Bhakhan’, ‘Hern’, ‘Kudd’, ‘Geetru’ etc have immense elements of music, singing, dancing and drama in them which has a lot to share with the inhabitants of Jammu in particular and to the whole world in general.
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