SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017(PAGE-3) CULTURAL ROUND UP 2017

AWARDS AND HONOURS Risha Chib and Simran Sharma displayed works at Cartist Automo- In the wake of almost negligible appreciation by immedi- bile Art Festival organized at Jaipur. Jang S. Verman displayed his ate communities and civil society, the national, state awards In a scenario where J&K Department of Culture still dragging its feet in announcing works in number of international and national art exhibitions, art and honours are the only encouragement for the handful com- the much touted cultural policy, State & Central Universities yet to give due status festivals. He participated in Painters Camps at Naggar, Kullu, Kala munity of writers, artists and other creative individuals in Kendra, Jammu, Mansar & Bhamlada. Sunanda Khajuria, Delhi based Jammu and Kashmir. to creative fields of performing and Visual arts, dead museums, orphaned Kala Kendra, painter from Painthal, had shows at Indian Art Fair, Art Heritage Shiv Mehta the Dogri writer was bestowed national award nil infrastructure in districts and tehsil headquarters, the course of the artistic and Gallery, New Delhi, Group Exhibitions in India- Korea Cultural Exchange Exhibition Seoul / South Korea, The Gallery, InKo Centre for literature, the Sahitya Akademi Award for his anthology of cultural activities for year 2017, was charted for the most part by creative individuals Dogri short stories tiled 'Banna'.Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya India and South Korea, Indiske Billeder, Art Association, Denmark, Puraskar went to Sudesh Raj, for her short stories book Jan- and few NGOs devoted to the practice and promotion of different traditional "Under the Sky", Inner Mongolia Museum, Hohhot, China. Reecha gal di Sair. Rajinder Rahnja, got Sahitya Akademi Yuva as well as contemporary cultural expressions, writes Lalit Gupta Gupta, the freelance painter, also participated in number of group Puraskar for of poetry book Tere Hirkhe Ch. Sahitya Akademi shows. Ravinder Jamwal's besides his creative works, contributed Translation Award in Dogri was bagged by Yash Raina, for his with statues of prominent personalities on public demand. translation of Gujarati novel Angliyat. Hinditar Bhashi Hindi with quality English translations of Dogri prose and poetry, contributed released 'Joginder Singh Pandhi: Jivan Te Rachna' compiled, CARTOONISTS Lekhak Puraskar by the Directorate of Hindi, Government of with publication of translated stories. edited by Popinder Singh Paras and 'Kalakaar Vishesh Ank on Manoj Chopra, was ranked 3rd in CSR cartoon competition, India New Delhi was conferred on Neeru Sharma, for her Hin- Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, with Prof Lalit Magotra demitting Joginder Singh Pandhi' . Other new books were Jasbir Singh Sar- ranked Second in a National Level Competition by Cartoon Watch di short story Book Pagnandi and Satish Vimal, for his poetry office as Convener Dogri Advisory Board after a fruitful term, the na's 'Adabnaama', 'Mrig Trishna;' Punjabi poetry collection of & Chattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency. His book Kaal Surya. Vikrant Sharma, young and dynamic actor Akademi's programs held this year included, Meet the Author with Sewa Singh Sheetal. Dr. Jasbir Sarna was honoured by Kashmir participations included National Cartoon Exhibition in Kargil, got National Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeet Natak Akademi Champa Sharma, Asmita with Dogri women poets, Through My Sikh Sangat, Dr. Monojit got J&K Cultural Academy's National Cartoon Exhibition 'Freedom of Expression' by Kerala Award in the field of Acting. Prof Ram Nath Shastri Smriti Window: Poet Mohan Singh, spoke on Ved Pal Deep, Distin- Best Book Award. Academy and Ernakulum Press Club. Chander Shekhar, attend- Puruskar was conferred on Dogri poet Susheel Begana, for his guished Dogri Poet: Lecture on Surendra Singh Manhas PAHARI ed National Cartoonists Camp held by Kerala Lalithkala Akade- first book of poems 'Maun Lakeeran'. Second Kunwar Viyogi by Sushil Begana, Kathasandhi, with Dogri fiction writ- Cultural Academy's Pahari Section through my, at Kochi, Fatkare National Exhibition at Nagpur, and organ- Sahitya Puruskar was bagged by Saroj Bala , for her poetry col- ers Rajeshwar Raju and Shashi Pathania, Kavisandhi publication in different genre augmented ized national cartoon exhibition at Kargil. lection. Instituted this year only, the first Dinu Bhai Pant Life with Bishan Singh Dardi and Vijay Verma, People Pahari literature. Quotable Pahari poets were PHOTOGRAPHY Time Achievement Award was presented to Dogri's poet and and Book with Prof. P. K. Sharma, and three Gra- Swami Anterneerav, Saleem Tabish, Anwar Well known creative photographers Ch Sundar, Dr Ashok, Subhash writer Padama Sachdev. Dogri and Hindi writer, Chhatrapal, malok Dogri Poets' Meets. Symposia were organized Khan, Liaqat Jardari, Guershan Gulshan, Langeh, Vijay Gupta participated in number of international and was honoured with Sauhard Puraskar, by Uttar Pradesh Hin- on 'The impact of globalization on Dogri Literature', Rashid Qamar and Parvez Malik. national shows and won gold medals and honours. di Sansthan, Lucknow. Yashpaul Nirmal, was awarded 'Youth writing in Dogri Language', 'Echoes of Folk Visual Arts, in J&K have almost nil visi- THEATRE Rashtriya Anuvad Sahitya Gaurav Samman 2017 by Nirmala Literature in Contemporary Dogri Literature', 'Dogri bility due to J&K Academy's listless policy, Under stewardship of Balwant Thakur, Jammu's theatre group Smriti Samiti, Haryana and Bhartiya Anuvad Parishad, New Ghazal' and 'Dogri Short Stories' and Deenu Bhai Pant failure of J& K Universities to give due status Natrang has made phenomenal strides this year: Two of its iconic pro- Delhi for Hindi Translation of Mohan Singh's Dogri long poem, Centenary Celebrations. Monographs in MIL series were to visual arts in their set up and general apa- ductions Baba Jitto became longest running play in the country and Liaqat Jafri, famous Urdu poet of J&K, was awarded Shaheed published on Yash Sharma by Bishan Singh Dardi and thy of the civil society towards creative arts. But the other Ghumayiee is chosen to be staged in International Theatre Lala Jagat Narayan Award 2017 for his services to Urdu Liter- Ramnath Shastri by Veena Gupta, 'Bedi Dubbi', Chhatrapal's individual artists continued to create, exhibit their Olympiad being held in India. Natrang, organized record 102 ature. State Awards: Balraj Bakshi, Urdu writer and poet from Piyush Bhagat shows/programmes during the year 2017. These included Udhampur was honored with State Award for his contribu- shows of Baba Jitto, Mata Ki Kahani, nine new plays, 10 par- tion in Urdu language and literature. ticipations in National Theatre Festivals, Natrang Theatre FILMS Festival, Fresher's Theatre Workshop, Children's Theatre Amit Dutta son of the soil and hailed as significant contemporary Camp, International Acting Workshop- 'Theatre of the practitioners of experimental cinema in the world, was honored with oppressed' by Fabian Hartwell, Foundation Day Celebrations, three retrospectives of his films at Cinematic Museum, Berkeley Muse- Show Series of play 'Parvaaz' . Director Natrang, Balwant um and Pacific Film Archives, University of California, at Lugano Arte Thakur, was conferred with 'Prithivi Raj Kapoor Samman' for e Cultura, Lugano, Switzerland, and by Bombay Art Society. He pub- his life-time contribution to theatre by Ras Kala Manch, lished two books: 'Invisible Webs', IIAS Shimla, and 'Many Questions to Haryana. Amateur Theater Group, led by Mushtaq Kak, also Myself' - Diary of an Indian Film Student, Raza Foundation/Rajkamal had distinction of being selected to stage its play in Internation- Prakashan, translated from English to Hindi by Geet Chaturvedi as Khud al Theatre Olympiad being held in India. The group has con- se kai swaal. He was selected to play in the All India Correspondence tributed significantly for promoting Urdu language theatre by Chess Championship and won Silver in 2017 as the First-runner up. Brinda Gujral Sana Dua Basha Sumbli Raj Bharti staging Khalid Husain's Ishq Malangi in major festivals and Rahat Qazmi, filmmaker from Surankot, working in Mumbai, did com- venues of the country. Other notable activity was starting plete shooting for his new ventures but no film of his was released this monthly series of plays directed by young directors/actors, year. holding workshops etc. Samooh Theatre Group, working JOLYWOOD under patronage of Sudhir Mahajan, and direction of Ravin- Notwithstanding enthusiastic public response to local films pro- der Sharma, held a three day drama festival, staged Hindi trans- duced in last five years by Jollywood (Jammu film industry), no new lations/adaptations of Hamlet, Othello, Oedipus, Tempest, films hit the screen in 2017. Only satisfaction was good appreciation Tendulkar's Papa Kho Gaye, Andha Yug, and Dogri plays; Gian of Dogri film Geetiyanin national film festival at Kolkotta. Short film Singh's Kaliveer, Baba Jitmal and others. The group's perform- genre is attracting many amateur filmmakers in Jammu. Sandeep ances of play Gagan damama Bajyo has entered in the 10th Verma's short film premiered at KC Cineplex earned accolades and year. The Group held Folk theatre workshop on 'Haran', and is getting 'likes' on YouTube. performed plays like Play X - Reflection, Agni Barkha, Sarpanch SATELLITE CHANNELS and Urubhangam . Rangyug: led by Deepak Kumar, has been Jammu's young talented actors, dancers, models, who have made Tarun Basoon Liaqat Jafri Rabjot Singh Ishar Rabjot Singh galvanized this year by starting 360 Hours Theatre Training mark in TV serials, talent hunt shows, beauty pageants are Bhanu for the young aspirants, The group also organized Nritya Utsav Udhay, a NSD graduate, is essaying role of Viajy Namdhari in 'Saam with Kathak Guru Priya Dutta, released a compilation of write- Dhaam Dand Bhed'. Aman Khullar, as police officer in serial Yah Hain ups of Naresh Gulati, and performed shows of nukkad Dheeth at vari- translation of Rabindra Nath works and win accolades Mohabtein and Star Bahrat serial JiJi Maa. Ajay Pal Singh Andotra, stage, ous places in Jammu. Pancham kept its calendar ticking by holding a Tagore Bengali novel albeit outside the state. film and TV actor is in lime light by bagging mega advertisement cam- few performances, while Ek Saath Rangmandal under its mentor Vijay 'NaukaDubi', Chonmiyan Nikhil Chopra, interna- paigns like Swachha Bharat and sharing screen with Amitabh Bachchan Malla continued its Monday series of street theatre on various topical Konkani Khaniyan (trans- tionally acclaimed Per- among others. Tarun Vasson, an actor/model from Rajouri, is acting in social issues. Pankaj Sharma staged his solo-performance at Srinagar. lated in a workshop), com- formance Artist with number of TV serials. Payush Bhagat, young dance sensation turned cho- Vomed Rangmanch, dedicated to theatre in Kashmiri, staged in Jam- piled and edited by Veena Jammu connections, reographer made his mark in TV show Dance+ Season 2 on Star Plus Gupta. Darshan Darshi, hogged lime light for his mu and outside plays written by Rakesh Bhat and directed by Rohit through his unique dance form called Getto in hip hop. Ankit Sharma made renowned Dogri poet, writer, insightful shows in lead- Bhat like Ek Aur Birbal, Chopayer Yee Gash, Gadd Bateh and Rovmut to the finals of India's most coveted male pageant Mr. India 2017. Sana taking over as the new Con- ing galleries of Europe. Batta. Playwright: Jammu's prolific playwright Rajneesh Gupta's Hin- Dua was declared 1st runner-up in fbb Femina Miss India World 2017. vener of Dogri Advisory Board, Rajinder Tikku eminent di play Jashn-E-Zindagi was adjudged as best play by J& K Cultural Bhasha Sumbli, NSD graduate actor, performed as Acting Guru in Sony Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, was sculptor, honoured with Academy. His play on Aruna Asaf Ali's life, Kirayedar, Mahanagar Ka Tv's popular kids acting reality show 'Sabse Bada Kalakar'. She and her also hailed as a significant transition. Sharda Samman, was conferred Tahlua, and nukkad natak Barat Nahi Aayee were staged. contestant kid were the grand finalists of the show. Tata Sky has roped in Along with NGOs like Duggar Manch award from Vishnu Manchu RADIO KASHMIR JAMMU her as Acting Coach for their channel 'Acting Adda' (ch. no. 111). She end- Sudesh Raj Rahul Sharma and Nami Dogri Sanstha, dedicated to Foundation, Tirupati. He held solo Anjali Sharma, RKJ's head, is credited with programs Matrib- ed the year by performing ancient 'Kudiyattam' form in Jammu, which the promotion of Dogra culture and literature, Dogri Bhasha Acade- show '' womb and the Sprout' at New Delhi and participated in hasha and Maan-Bollee, aimed at preservation of regional lan- she'd learnt under Inlaks Theatre Award/Fellowship, in Kerala, under her my, led by patron, organizer Yashpaul Nirmal, also chipped in by organ- International Sculpture Symposium organized by the ITM. guages. RKJ, on Dec 1, celebrated its 70th foundation day. world renowned Guru G. Venu. She with her Kudiyattam performance izing seminars on Dogra Rulers, Dogri literature, monthly Literary Jasleen Singh, sculptor, was awarded by Prafulla Dahanukar Art MUSICAL became the first one to bring this ancient form of acting on Jammu soil. Goshti's and book release functions. foundation, Mumbai, with All India Gold Medal Awards for Best Carrying the musical legacy, Rahul Sharma , son of world renowned J&K CULTURAL ACADEMY URDU Installation and, also for Best Digital Art. He held Group Show at santoor maestro attended the 70 years of Radio Kashmir Jammu celebra- With Ajiz Hajani as its secretary, earned the distinction of hold- While NGOs dedicated to cause of Urdu remained mostly inac- Nehru centre Mumbai, Viraj Art Gallery, Kala Kendra Jammu, and tions. This was his first ever musical performance in Jammu. ing first ever multilingual literary conference at Jammu and New Del- tive, it was Anjuman-e -Farogh-e - Urdu which held Urdu Books attended National Stone Carving Camp, Vallabh Vidyanagar hi, which brought together more than 200 writers of all languages ICCR JAMMU release function. Adbi Kunj organized regular meets of Urdu poets Anand, Gujarat. Amit Salathia's, painting and sculpture were Reasi Cultural Festival, International Dance Day, Music and from three regions of the state. Other activities were state writer's and writers. JU's Post-Graduate Department of Urdu, under Prof selected in 58th and 59th National Exhibition. Suman Gupta held Dances of Malaysia, Interaction with renowned theatrist Ratan camp, artist's camp, annual art exhibitions, poetic symposia etc. Acad- Shohab Malik organized regular seminars and literary meets with solo shows, and his paintings were exhibited in many foreign Thiyam, Mime Festival/Workshop by renowned Mime artist/trainer emy's Jammu Division office, with Arvinder Amn as additional sec- national level and local Urdu writers, poets and scholars. Urdu shows. Painter K.K. Gandhi exhibited in solo and group-shows, Niranjan Goswami, 'Mata Ki Kahani' , Screening of film 'Gulab Gaatha', retary, extended area of activities by holding on-the-Spot Children's poet Pandit Vidya Nath Aasi, master poet Arsh Sehbai, continued attended, and organized national level art camps. Raj Bharti, the 'Loko Migi Taang Sajne Di' by Krishan Lal Premi Jatt, 'Ghassen Azaiez music and painting competitions at Udhampur, Resi, Samba, Kathua to pen down and recite excellent and insightful poetry. indomitable spirit behind Viraj Kala Kendra founded in memory and Band' from Tunisia. Horizon Series program were: 'Young Tarang- districts along with Jammu. It held programs during melas at Shankri of J&K's eminent sculptor V.R. Khajuria, Kendra celebrated its 25- III, Shakespeare's Hamlet directed by Ravinder Sharma, Musical Pro- Devta, Sujandhar, Gandh top, Suankha, Chambliyal, Shivkhori and HINDI foundation year by holding Children Painting, Clay Modeling com- gramme 'Music of the Hills', Screening of Ratan Thiyam's play 'When We Basohli. Dogri Literary Seminars were held at Bani, Kathua, Ramna- Hindi Bhasha Prachar Samiti, with Bharat Bhushan as its presi- petitions, and Art Exhibition. Chander Parkash, sculptor, attend- dent, organized book release funtions, held poetic meets. New addi- Dead Awaken'. gar, Udhampur, Reasi and Samba. Its annual activities included liter- ed national Stone Sculpture Camp at Rajkot, Sculpture Symposia tions included Hindi book 'Aastha Ki Arthviyastha' by Yogita Yadav, Ani- ary conferences in Hindi, Dogri, Punjabi, and District Annual Drama in Armania and China. He was awarded Best prize in China sym- CLASSICAL DANCE la Chark's book Waqt ki Ungliyon Ke Nishan (a collection of poems), Festival, Family based musical series 'Gharana' completed 18 episodes. posium. Sonu Aggarwal, sculptor, participated in Wood Sculpture Other than landmark Kudiattyam performance by Bhasha Sum- Mere Khyal Kahte Hain' by Shivani Anand. Dogri Sanstha, the premier literary and cultural NGOs, was in news Symposium, in Sonderburg, Denmark. She participated in Stone bli, the exponent of Kathak dance in Jammu Priya Dutta, performed Gojri's literary scene owing mainly to the Cultural Academy's Gojri for spearheading agitation for ensuring Dogri's due representation in Sculpture Camp at Rajkot. Vikas Khajuria attended Art Festi- recitals at JU, her students of `Nrityanjali' held Nritya Utsav, and section was enriched by large number of books and journals in Gojri. Trib- Cultural Academy's Central Committee and against introduction of val at, Aiud, Art Museum, Alba Ullia. Romania, attended she choreographed students for various programs. Manju Wazir, a al Research Foundation led by Javed Rahi, staged a Gojri play. 'Maqdam Kashmiri language in Jammu region. The Sanstha held regular liter- National Scrap Sculpture Camp at Rajkot, National Painters' senior dancer, also gave Kathak recital. Bajyoo', which directed by Shokat Naseem, reflected changing realities AMAR MAHAL (AMML) ary sittings at Dogri Bhavan, organized Seminar on Contemporary of tribal life. Camp at Gangtok, Public Art Show at Baroda, Sculptors' Camp Research Work in Dogri Language, Literature for Young Scholars and at Chandigarh and Group Show at Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Conceptualized by Dr. Jyotsna Singh, Director, AMML, organized book release functions of Chhatrapal's Bol Toteaa Bol (Dogri Satires), PUNJABI Milan Sharma showcased her paintings in a group show in Sri Celebrating Jammu: Jashn-e-Baharan, a festival of Literature, Arts & Narinder Bhasin's Neel Madhav, (Khand Kavyaa), P.L. Parihar's Surinder Neer, translated from Kashmiri into Punjabi, Gulam Lanka. Ganesh Sharma's sculptures were displayed in Group Crafts featuring Creative Writers Workshop, Young Artists Camp, Her- Nabi Gohar's awarded novel, her six Punjabi short stories were pub- Geet Pataru (Dogri Songs), Gianeshwar's Sajri Rutt (Dogri Poems), Shows at New Delhi, IAFA, Amritsar, ITI, Hira Nagar, JKCCA itage Walk, Show of Traditional and Royal Costumes, Photo Exhibi- lished in leading magazines, and three translated in Hindi. Cultur- Ved Rahi's Dogri transaltion of Mulk Raj Saraf's Autobiography, and exhibition, Jammu, exhibition at VKK, Jammu, Painters' Camps tion, Festival of Food, Craft and Traditional Contemporary performing al Academy publications included Sheeraja's Guru Gobind Singh Ranbir Chib's Pattan Chanan Da (poetry). at Akhnoor, and two National level Painters Camps at Mansar arts. It featured 200 Artists, Writers, Poets, Scholars, Performers, Design- PUBLICATIONS BY special issue, Pritpal Singh Betab's Punjabi translation Mitti Da and Samba. Spring Art Group, Jammu organized 'Rutt Rahrey' ers, Sculptures, Painters & Photographers. The seminars were held on Bawa of Krishan Chander's Urdu novel 'Mitti Ke Sanam', Mono- at Lale Da Baag, Akhnoor. Damon Kowarsky, Australian print- topics: Defining Jammu: Celebrating Diversities, Facing Challenges and graph on Harbans Singh Azad by Joginder Singh Pandhi. Pun- DOGRI WRITERS maker and Hyun Ju Kim, a South Korean printmaker interacted Revisiting Historiography and Historical Discourse on Maharaja Gulab jabi Lekhak Sabha, Jammu, organized fortnightly meets/ pro- Nirmal Vinod's Dogri Navgeet Sangreh-As Te Aa Aam Lok, Prof with the students and staff of Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Singh. grammes and published Punjabi periodical 'Aabru'. Books Veena Gupta's monograph on Life and Works of Ram Nath Shastri, four (IMFA) Jammu and demonstrated their techniques. A week Long University of Jammu's (JU), Department of Students Welfare, to pro- released were by Prof. Harbans Singh, Balwinder Singh, Giani numbers of Nami Chetana, Dogri Sanstha's quarterly magazine. Desh National Art Festival was organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Del- mote cultural/literary talents among students organized: Photography Jeevan Singh and Giani Pritam Singh. J&K Punjabi Sahit Bandhu Nutan Dogra's Veer Jasrath Khokar, a historic novel. Om Goswa- hi in collaboration with IMFA, JU. Jammu artists Rohit Verma, Sahil Workshop, Lok Rang Mahotsava, Cartooning Workshop, Mime Festi- Sangam released Jammu Punjabi Poetry Collection- 'Tangali mi, contributed seven books, mostly novels, in Hindi and Dogri, and Man- Ohri, Narinder Kumar, Anjali Bharti, Renu Bala, Marvi Sharma, val/Workshop, In the 32nd National Youth Festival. gal Das Dogra's poetry book Maan Dharti Da. Suman Sharma, credited Tangey Lok', 'Maa' by Joginder Singh Pandhi. Writers Forum