SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2019 (PAGE-3) CULTURAL Kaleidoscope 2019 Lalit Gupta writers club in Academy's premises at Canal Road is near completion. teur Theatre Group: With Mushtaq Kak as its mentor, the ATG emerged as ambas- With focus on sarkari programs, Academy did hold All India Urdu Mushaira, sador of J&K theatre in staging of Urdu plays in important national festivals. National level Purvottar Dhara, the North-East Folk Dance & Music Festival in Samooh Theatre also staged number of Nukkad Nataks and plays in Jammu and The year 2019 will be remembered as the one in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. Academy's Jammu sub outside. Rangyug Theatre Group kept its calendar ticking by staging number of Nukkad Nataks on various social issues. Vomedh Rangmanch staged plays and office and district offices at Kathua, Doda and Rajouri organized number of lit- which a misconstrued constitutional provision was cultural programs. Nav Durga Kala Manch staged Bhayankar Bhool and Sas erary and cultural programs in different parts of the region. set aside by the resolute leadership.Abrogation of Puran written and directed by Shashi Bhushan, Manoranjan Kala Kendra also staged sporadic performances in Panjabi. Article 370 not only put an end to the post-Partition Dogri Sanstha Vijay Malla, with his Monday Theatre series regularly staged street plays in different parts of the region. Rajneesh Gupta, playwright/ director, participated narrative of separatism but cleared way for total Celebrating its Platinum year celebrations, Sanstha, the oldest literary organ- in Theatre Festival at Patna, Bihar, with his play 'Taandav'. His other plays staged ization in Jammu and Kashmir, launched its website. The Dogri Bhavan at Jam- at different venues included Vivekananda', 'Syalkot and 'Adaalat Mein Gandhi'. integration of J&K within nation's federal system. mu was equipped with an auditorium which was completed with support from His play 'Ek Panna Gumnaam' was adjudged best play at 6th Shahjahanpur Rang It is hoped that the recently constituted union Kunwar Viyogi Trust. Sanstha's activity calendar included honouring of main Mahotsava, in which Rajneesh Gupta got best playwright award, best male actor Sahitya Akademi awardees in Dogri (2014-2018). Sahitya Akademi Translation award went to Balwinder Singh and 2nd best supporting artist award to Janak territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir are Awardees (2013-2018), KAS examination qualifiers with Dogri as one subject Khajuria. Dilshad Sazi, directed and acted in plays like Chup kar, Watan Fry. His and teachers of Higher Secondary schools for promoting the Dogri Language. It group also performed more than 200 nukkad nataks in different parts of the all set for a political, socio-economic and cultural also organized seminars and music programs and released books such as Ashok Union Territory on various topics. renaissance. Angurana's poetry anthology Mokla Gaas Uchchi Doari, Ashok Dutta's short sto- Vikram Sharma's play 'Antanavarn' produced by The Kalakaar's was staged ries Soachen Di Reel and Soch Samundar, Santosh Sangra's plays Doorai Da Rish- in 'Rangleela Natya Utsav-2019' while his other awarded play " Ardhkaavya' In the light of fast changing political developments, the cultural scenario at ta , five books by Nirmal Vinod which include Nirmal Hazara, As Te Aan Aam selected by Sahitya Kala Parishad , New Delhi as one of the six best plays was Jammu, the winter capital, barring a few exceptional achievements of individu- Lok; both original poetry works and Dehra Ch Ajj Bi Ugde N Sarhe Buhte, Vitas- produced at Bhartendu Natya Utsav on Dec 13 at LTG , New Delhi. Other NGO's als and events organized by NGO was ta Da Triya Kanda and Vah Bhi Din: all three works of translation, Narinder which also contributed in the art & cultural activities of Jammu and its adjoin- more or less a run of the mill affair. Bhasin's collection of travelogues Astha de Rattandeep, Jagdeep Dubey's anthol- ing areas were Kalakars, Hill Thepsians, Chabder Bhaga Sanskriti Manch, Before taking up this year's highlights, ogy of short stories Nakhassmi Zameen, Inderjeet Kesar's book of short stories Akhnoor, Dogri Bhasha Akademi, Jammu, Verman Cultural Celebrations, let us remember the well known person- Dosh and Ashok Amber's collection of Dogri Gazals. Sanstha's president Lalit Saraswati Sangeet Kala Mandir, ICCR, Sanskar Bharti, Nrityanjali, Athrot, Nat- alities who bid to goodbye to this mortal Magotra had the honour of reading the keynote address at Koraput Literary fes- shalla, Rashtriya Kavi Sangam etc. world. These include Urdu poet Pandit tival in Orissa. Vidya Rattan Aasi, Punjabi writer/schol- Sahitya Akademi ar Prof. Sewa Singh, Dogri writer and With Darshan Darshi, as Convener Advisory Board for Dogri, the Sahitya Radio/ TV Programmer Joginder Chha- Akademi, New Delhi's literary activities for 2019 included literary functions Pandit Vidya Rattan Aasi Joginder Chhatrapal trapal and sculptors Amrik Singh Namd- organized with special focus of taking Sihitya Akademi programs to rural Dug- hari and Jagpal Singh Bandral. gar. These were Gramlok, the rural poetic meets at remote villages of Marchola, AWARDS & HOUNOURS Taplal, Lehar,Sungal, Laiter and border villages Gudwal, and Jourian. Symposia Octogenarian Narsingh Dev Jamwal, Dogri writer, playwright & poet, received on topics such as An Assessment of Dogri Gazal; Dogri Nukud Natak and its nation's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri for his contribution in the field impact on Dogri Sahitya and Samaj, Remembering great Dogri Poet K.S.Mad- of literature and education. Eminent hukar, Kavi Sandhis with veteran poet N.D.Jamwal and Shivdev Sushil of Tehsil Dogri poetess and writer Padma Billawar, Vijay Sharma of Kathua and Shambu Ram Pyasa of Samba, Workshop Sachdev was conferred the highest on Creative Writing in Dogri for students at H.S.S Jourian in collaboration with honour of Sahitya Akademi Fellow- Dogri Academy, Jourian, Literary Forums, at Jammu and Udhampur, Yuvasay- ship for her contributions in the field hiti, Kavi Anuvadak "Through my Window" were also organized. of literature partic- Other NGO's dediacted to the development of Dogri and culture in general ularly her mother such as Duggar Manch under Mohan Singh, Kunwar Viyogi Trust and Nami Dogri tongue Dogri She Sanstha, organized poetic symposia, book release functions, felicitation events, became the eighth musical evenings etc. Om Goswami, the veteran Dogri scholar and writer added Indian writer to to his literary corpus with his latest books; Zindagi Kinni Khoobsoorat Ai-select receive this hon- short stories, Dogra Sanskrit Ch Anushthan Prampara. He also edited our. Om Sharma Namuliyaan Seeraan, an anthology of rare poems of important Dogri poets from Jandriari was hon- his archives. Other prolific writer Shiv Nirmohi also authored books such as Dug- oured posthu- gar Ke Shahidi Smarak, Duggar Ki Itihasik Samdhiyan, Duggar Ke Sar and Dug- mously with Padma Sachdev ger Ke Talab. His book Duggar Ka Itihas was also reprinted on popular demand. Sahitya Akademi Veena Gupta contributed with a collection of Radio plays namely Chhe Roopak Award, the national award for litera- in Dogri. ture, for his Dogri book of essays 'Ban- dralta Darpan'. Sunil Kumar was con- Hindi ferred Sahitya Akademi Yuva Hindi Bhasha Prachar Samiti with Dr. Bharat Bhushan as president released Puraskar for short stories collection in new books such as Chand Deepika's two novels Dhoop Chhaon, and Parijat. Dr. Painting by Madhavi Sharma Dogri, Sees while Vijay Sharma Bharat Bhushan's anthology of poems Abhivyakti was also released. Yuva Hin- bagged the Sahitya Akademi's Bal di Lekhak Sangh and Hindi Sahitya Mandal also held literary programs. Sahitya Puraskar for Dogri poetry col- Punjabi: Other than regular publications of Cultural Academy's Punjabi sec- Visual Arts lection Larjaan. Veteran Dogri writer Ashok Dutta was honored with Prof Ram tion, the literary scene of Punjabi was also enriched by the activities of NGOs like Nath Shashtri Smriti Puruskar year for his Dogri novel. Dinu Bhai Pant Life Time Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Jammu, Punjabi Sahitik Sabha, R S Pura and J&K Pun- Internationally acclaimed per- Achievement Award was awarded to Narsingh Dev Jamwal for his overall out- jabi Sahit Sangam, Jammu. Swami Anternirav had the honour of being the only formance artist Nikhil Chopra paying standing contribution towards Dogri literature. He was also awarded Sahitya Poet from J&K to recite his Punjabi poems in Guru Nanak Dev Mega Literary a quite visit to his native town Jam- Akademi Award for Translation. Festivals at Dera Baba Nanak and Sultanpur Lodhi. mu, the talented painter Sunanda The Republic Day Awards for achievements in the field of literature, theatre, Khajuria won many accolades. performing arts, art & craft and life-time achievement were given respectively to Pahari Presently in China under a fellow- Shiv Dev Singh Sushil (Dogri Writer), Makhan Lal Saraf, Darmesh Nargotra and The highlight of contemporary Pahari literature was ship, she has won many awards for release of Pahari poet Swami Anternirav's poetry anthology her creative paintings in China Dr Jatinder Udhampuri. The second Kavi Rattan Rang Samman was presented Madhavi Sharma to Jammu's Gurmeet Kaur the talented theatre director/actor. Kunwar Viyogi "Kujh Baaqi Hai". Which published as part of Punjabi main including Suzhou International Art Sunanda Khajuria Sahitya Kala Samman, presented annually by the Kunwar Vijogi Trust and Dogri stream literature also succeeded in creating a space for Award, One Road One Belt" Anhui, Art Award, and excellent Sanstha, Jammu to Dogri artist for their "outstanding contribution towards Dogri Pahari poetry during a literary conference at Patiala. JKAA- Art Research Award, WHUT, China. She also attended International Symposium, language, literature and its varied art forms was bestowed upon well known mod- CL's Pahari section enriched modern Pahari literature with Workshop, and exhibitions in Japan, Denmark and China. ern Dogri writer Chhatrapal Saraf (posthumously). While the third Kunwar Viyo- publications such as Asta adab Novel Number, Sauch Hailing from Udhapmur, Madhavi Sharma, a post graduate in design from Samunder poetry collection of Fida Rajouri, Pahari transla- NID, Ahmadabad, is an prolific artist whose illustration and paintings on local Swami Anternirav tion of Tareekh ea Hassan, speacial Sheraja numbers of issues and especially series on character Bobo ji, has come as fresh gush of air as Hamad, Tanghaan-poetry of Late Qari Mohammad Ashraf, a creative take on how tradition and modernity can go together in contemporary i Lok Geet and Lok kahaniyan. The section also organized literary & cultural pro- Dogra society. grammes. The local individual artists who continued to create, exhibit their works and win accolades albeit outside the state were Rajinder Tikku and S uman Gupta. Gojari Others who also remained active include Harsh Vardhan, Milan Sharma and K.K. Academy's Gojari Section, as a routine brought out special numbers of Sheerza Gandhi. Ravinder Singh Jamwal adorned Jammu's landscape with bronze stat- in Gojri on various topics and also held annual Gojari conference. ues of Shayam Prasad Mukerjee, Gulab Singh and the bust of Brig. Rajendra Shiv Dev Singh Susheel Vijay Sharma Makhan Lal Saraf Ashok Dutta Urdu: Jammu University's Post-Graduate Department of Urdu under the Singh. leadership of Shoaib Malik galvanized the literary scene of Urdu language. Some The NGOs Viraj Kala Kendra and JK Creative Centre for Arts contributed by gi Sahitya Puruskar of the notable programs included "Jashan-e Gulzar", world Urdu Mushira, Two holding art exhibitions, camps and workshops. IMFA, Jammu organized inter- for the maiden Day World Urdu Conference on "Depiction of Regional Culture and Tradition in action- cum- demonstration programme of senior artist book of a Dogri Urdu Literature" and seminar on "The Contribution of Non-Muslim poets of Jam- Bhushan Kaul, and Portrait of Nation- an integration pro- writer below 42 mu and Kashmir in the development of Urdu Language and literature" and 4th gramme by artists from Tamil Naidu, Andhra Pradesh and years old was given Manzer Azmi Memeorial Lecture. South America and also Lithography workshop with invit- to young writer With senior most poets like Arsh Sehbai along with Amin Banhali, Liaqat Jafri, ed artist from Gujrat. Roshan Lal Bral for Pervaiz Malik, Sunita Raina, Touseef Tabish, Betab Jaipuri , Pritpal Singh Betab Thanks to Jammu Municipal Corporation's initiative to his collection of and continuing to enrich Urdu poetic scene of Jammu, number of poetic sym- aesthetically decorate city's flyovers and other public Gurmeet Kour Dr Jatinder Udhampuri Roshan Lal Bral Dogri poems Shee- posia were held in Jammu. Liaqat Jafari, talented Urdu poet from Poonch, par- spaces and which promoted by Commissioner Pankaj Magotra, has started showing results. Large scale wall sha. Yash Pal Nirmal, author of Chhut- ticipated in international mushairas in Kuwait, Delhi, Rampur, Jamia Miliya, Pankaj Magotra tian-a children novel and Makhan Makhane-Children Poetry, and editor of lit- Luckhnow, Barabanki and Bhopal and also at many places in Punjab in connec- paintings depicting Jammu's age old pluralistic culture as erary journals Soch Sadhana and Sarv Bhasha Patrika was honored and award- tion with Guru Nanak Dev's 550th Prakash Utsav. Zafari's has finally etched his well as the markers of the heritage in making has certainly beautified the other- ed by various local and outside NGO's and organizations. place in Bollywood as a song writer. His had pen down songs for many upcom- wise non-descript spaces. Hope the JMC's Mayor and his team of Carporators Balwant Thakur: Considered to be the highest ever ing Bollywood films. NGOs Faroog-e-Urdu also held release book by Payasa with their active involvement in beautifying the winter capital will also set an elevation of any cultural personality of the state of Jam- Anjum. examples for such beautification of other major towns and cities. mu & Kashmir, Balwant Thakur, was appointed by Min- istry of External Affairs, Government of India as the Cul- Literary Festival Kathak tural Diplomat of India to South Africa. He is heading the Yayavar, a literary festival was organised by author, playwright and director Other than the recital by local maestro Priya Dutta and her students, a recital ICCR's Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Johannes- Nupur Sandhu in collaboration with the English department of Central Univer- by Kathak Maestro Pt. Jaikrishan Maharaj, held at University of Jammu was the burg (South Africa) as head of the Centre/ Director for a sity Jammu. The prominent speakers included IPS Danesh Rana, VC Prof Ashok cultural highlight of the year. period of three years. Aima, Commodore DS Sodhi, Neil D'Silva, Dr Kanwalpreet, Utkarsh Patel, IG Radio: With the creation of Union Territory of Jammu FILMS Retd Johnny Williams, Dr Vandana Sharma, Anirban Bhattacharya, David Kashmir, Radio Kashmir Jammu was rechristened as All INDIA Devadas, Abhirup Dhar, Aarti Tikoo, Minal Arora, Anuj Dhar, O P Vidyarthi, Dr RADIO JAMMU in conformity with all other AIR Stations of Balwant Thakur Pride of Jammu, Amit Dutta, the acclaimed exponent Sudeep Ranjan Sarkar, Dr Jas Kohli, Ashish Khumbre, Runjhun Nupoor, Vinayak the country. AIR Jammu bagged prestigious Public Service of experimental cinema continued his creative foray with a documentary enti- Pattar, Ayushman Jamwal, Payal Jain, Bashir Assad, Dr Sandeep Didi and Jas- Award -2019, for its Documentary Feature "SHANTIDOOT - tled Notes on Guler. Produced for Public Service Broadcasting Trust and shown beer Singh. RADIO". Produced by Sanjeev Sharma, Programme Executive, on Doordarshan, the documentary is on the ancient artistic and cultural centre Mahesh Kaul's book 'Jammu and Kashmir Breaking the Subversive Web and the documentary highlighted Radio's role in communicating of Guler which stands submerged under a dam today. Dutta, also a well known A Way Forward' was hailed as a scholarly work documenting the Jihadi challenge factual information about the abrogation of Article 370 and 35- creative writer, published his stories in the children magazine Cycle. Rahat Qaza- being faced by the nationalists in Jammu and Kashmir. Sanjeev Sharma A and the assured benefits which are to flow to the common cit- mi, son of the soil, who as producer/director has won accolades in national and izens. Dr. Agnishekhar, renowned Hindi poet, author and polit- international film festivals for making offbeat films, in 2019 produced and co- Cartoonists ical activist, in AIR Jammu's Lal Ded Memorial Lecture Series, elaborated on how produced films like County of Blind, Oxygen, Lihaaf, My Angel, My Teacher, Band the 14th century Poet Lal Ded's mystic musings continue to have deep impact on Radio and Code Blue. An International Film Festival was organized by 'Vometh' Manoj Chopra 's entry was adjudged first in National Level Cartoon contest the psyche of Kashmiris. Other highlight were inauguration of the AIR FM Station at Abhinav theatre, Jammu during September, 2019, in which 37 short and doc- organised by Cartoon Watch, Chhattisgarh. His cartoon was also awarded in 9th in Udhampur. umentary films from 11 countries were screened. Jiaxing International cartoon Biennale China and honorable mention in 4th International Cartoon Exhibition, Croatia and also by Kerala Media Academy. Tree Talk Cultural Academy The other talented cartoonist Chander Shekhar Bunti remained busy in organ- Om Vidyarathi, continued his eight year old laudable mission of spreading Established with mandate to promote art, culture and languages of Jammu, izing in international cartoon exhibition. tree consciousness amongst different section of civil society with his The Tree Kashmir and Ladakh, J&K Cultural Academy surely has lost its plot under the Theatre Talk'. He has been instrumental in success- bureaucratic control of the Department of Culture. With its Governing Body, fully raising awareness amongst students , With more than 100 shows in the year 2019, Natrang Theatre Group also set citizens, villagers and even foresters, about General Council and various Advisory Committees in limo, the Central Office of a record by organizing a 4 day theatre festival every month trees in city gardens, forest locations, wet- the Academy run by makeshift in-charge Secretary since last March, is more like since May, 2018 till May, 2019. In the festival 42 different lands ,educational institutions, sacred a rudderless ship. With the result Academy has failed to organize its flagship plays by the same group in twelve months were staged under groves, rare, endangered and threatened annual events like art exhibition, drama festival, film and documentary festival the direction of Balwant Thakur, Adil Hussain, Anil Tickoo, Taxa. He is working continually to highlight and literary conference in different schedule languages. Along with non-holding Harish Khanna, Neeraj Kant, Sumeet Sharma, Aarushi tree associated Traditions, biodiversity annual events that have come to symbolize the practice of contemporary arts in Thakur Rana and Rahul Singh. Natrang's actors such as Sunil components, Tree Folklore ,vernacular Jammu and Kashmir, the Academy has thwarted the regular activities of its Jam- Palwal was conferred with National Bismillah Khan Yuva nomenclature , revival of Ayurvedic knowl- mu office by not-releasing requisite budget. The listless working of Academy is Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the field of Acting, Mohd. edge along with utilization, value addition, Yaseen was awarded Junior Fellowship in Theater and distribution, conservation ,ecological con- also further reflected by the fact of it is yet to announce State-Level annual liter- Mushtaq Kak Asheish Nijhawan, an alumnus of London International cerns, ex-situ conservation in wildlife areas ary awards for Best book, and Best Play Scripts and State awards in the fields of School of Performing Arts and National School of Drama, New Delhi, was cho- and insitu conservation in parks & gardens. Om Vidyarathi Visual Arts, Drama and Films. Only good news is that the building of Jammu sen for the first ever Shahrukh Khan produced Netflix series Bard of Blood. Ama- and nature interpretation.