SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018 (PAGE­3) STATE CULTURAL ROUND-UP 2018

were held in all districts of Province, and important local melas at Moun- gri, Sujan Dhar, Sankari, Bani. It organized the Children's Summer Workshop and the Annual Drama Festival. DOGRI SANSTHA: With Prof Lalit Magotra returning as its President, Sanstha's main activities were 'Vishaish' Malati' with Balwant Thakur, Duggar Folk Mela at Kathua, seminar on 21st century Dogri Prose, reading of Aruna Sharma's trans- lation of Dahramvir Bharti's Kanupriya, musical evenings, poetic symposia, and book release functions of 14 books including P.L. Parihar's 'Geet Pataru', Col Raj Munawari's gazal collection 'Haanb', Santosh Sangra's essays 'Vichar Aushad', Jagdip Dubey's short stories 'Sanction' & two anthology of plays 'Ga- Inderjit Kesar Mushtaq Ahmad Mushtaq Triloke Koul D K Vaid loor' & Dangar, Inderjeet Kesar's novel 'Muns', Subhash Chander Baru's (Tantray) 'Rig Veda, Geeta te Parmeshwar', Rajshewar Singh Raju's 'Sikkh Mat' and Chanchal Narendra Bhasin's Naani Sunao Kahani, Vijay Saraf Meenagi's poems 'Ehsaas Se Parae', & Chaman Arora's stories Ik Haur Ashwatthama. DUGGAR MANCH: Organized the release of poetic anthologies of C.S. Katal's Hirkhi Chete, Kala Ram Salgotra's Hirkhe Di Chhaan, Yogita Yadav's Hin- di essays 'Asthaayi Arth Vyavashtha Mandiron Ke Shehar Mein'. It celebrated Madhukar Day, held a program on Dogri Sahitya and Vaishavikaran Da Prab- hav'. It staged Mohan Singh's Panch Parmeshwar. SAHITYA AKADEMI: With D K Vaid (Darshan Darshi ) as the new Convener Liaqat Jafari Ved Rahi Chhatrapal Arvind Kotwal of Sahitya Akademi Executive Board for Dogri, its activities included 'Yuva Sahi- ti', Katha Sindhi with Shukant Deepmala, 'People & Books' where I.D.Soni, an educationist, shared his life-long love for books, Seminar on 'Dogri Sahitya Ch Prayavaran Chetna', 'Aasmita'a program, Symposium on 'Dogri Shand Mukat Kavita Di Sthithi the Sabakirti, Katha Sandhi with Sudesh Raj, Literary Forum' at Higher Sec. School, Bhaddu, Under Gramalok' meets with local poets were held at village Bhaddu and village Kaloha, Distt. Samba. Other programs were Through My Window, a talk by Bishan Singh Dardi on famous Dogri geetkar Yash Sharma and Kavi Sandhi with Om Parkash Vidyarthi. KUNWAR VIYOGI TRUST: Organized Kunwar Viyogi Utsav, during which a sem- Puran Chand Bargotra Anil Tikku AMIT DUTTA Om Vidyarathi inar titled 'Cheten Di Ladi', was held & Kunwar Viyogi's Sonnet book River Sage was released. In other programs, the number of young artistes performed and staged plays. Nami Dogri Sanstha: Another NGO with regular activity calendar organized poetic symposia, book release functions, felicitation events, musical evenings etc. Mohan Singh, with his YouTube series Irshad on Dogri poets, has tapped into the social media to popularize Dogri literature. Om Goswami, the inces- sant writer/scholar penned down Dogri books 'Jindagi Kinni Kkhoobsoorat Ai', 'Dogra Sanskriti Ch Anushthan Prampara', 'Maa', translation of Gorky's novel Mother, and in 'Nagraj Vasuki' and 'Harae Gi Nahin Rubika'-Novel. Suni- Dr. Bharat Bhushan Ifra Kak Dr. Nirmal Vinod Shazia Batool ta Bhadawal edited Dogri Research journal 'Dogri Anusandhan' released its special issue on Om Goswami's life and works. Veena Gupta contributed with Dogri translation of Tagore's novel Gora under Sahitya Akademi's publication program. Shiv Nirmohi, whose four new books in Dogri await release, was hon- Lalit Gupta ored at JNU by Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, Inderjeet Kesar penned down a The unrest in the Kashmir Valley has caused a considerable decline among new book of Dogri short stories Dosh, Yashpaul Nirmal's new books were Dogri other things, of the practice, performance/exhibition of art and culture expres- Lok Kattham Te Manvikaran and Sahitya Manthan in Hindi. sions in public spaces. While the Jammu region, especially the winter capital HINDI: Hindi Bhasha Prachar Samiti with Dr. Bharat Bhushan as president, boasted of a busy calendar with its usual pre and post-Darbar move flurry of 'cul- released new books such as late Prof Ganga Dutt Vinod's Spiritual Light, Prof tural functions' by different agencies of the state led by J&K cultural Academy Pritam Chand Shashtri's 'Shringar Lahari', and Shashi Padha's Nirbheek Yod- Pandit Vidya Rattan Aasi Ajiz Hajani Umesh Singh Kanchi Khajuria and the state-funded NGOs working ostensibly for promotions and development haaon ki Kahaniaan. It also organized first Prof Satya Srivatsya Memorial of art and culture. Lecture with eminent Sanskrit/Dogri scholar Ved Ghai as the speaker. hogged limelight were Nikhil Chopra, Veer ji Munshi, Rajinder Tikku, Nonetheless, it was either Sarkari or the popular versions of culture churned PUNJABI: Apart from J&K Academy's journal Sheerja in Punjabi, the Punjabi Suman Gupta. Others who remained active include Ravinder Singh Jamwal, of by institutions and a few NGOs, many of which try to ape the practices fol- literature was enriched by 'Mere Shabad Shakti Ne', a collection of Ghazals by Harsh Vardhan, Bishamber Mehta, Vikas Dogra, Chander Prakash, Sonu Agarw- lowed in leading metros of the nation. In such a scenario of hackneyed and trite Dr. Baljeet Singh Raina, 'Mere Manchit Natak', a book of plays by Bikram- al, Sukhjit Singh Kukkal, Jasleen Singh, Amit Salathia, Rohit Verma, Milan Shar- cultural expressions, the credit for innovative expressions once again rested with jeet,'Hoye Apne Kinj Praye', poetry collection by Bhupinder Singh Bhargav ma, K.K. Gandhi, and Jang Varman. a few select creative individuals who fired by the calling of the heart, imagina- and Surinder Singh Neer's novel Bharam Bhulein-all released by Punjabi Other notable events were Sand Sculpture at Tawi banks by Suresh Sharma & tive and creative power, dedication and hard work, succeeded in making a mark. Lekhak Sabha. This leading NGO also felicitated Jang S. Verman, S S Sooda, others and dedicated to late sculptor Gobind Kaur, National level Print Making Before mentioning the achievers of this year let us remember those who bid & R S Wazir. It released the book 'Quest of Life' (English) co-authored by Dr. Workshop at IMFA Campus, Poonch House, IMFA's art exhibition & music pro- goodbye to this mortal world. These include Rita Jatinder, an accomplished Bhavneet Kaur and Sumit Sharma. gram at JU, All Art Exhibition by 'Unknown 4' group, Amarjeet Singh (Pho- Radio, stage actor, Hindi writer poet, and Sham sunder Anand Lehar, the Edited by young scholar Randhir Kaur, the Punjabi book 'Changair' came tography), Malti Sharma (Painting) got Junior fellowship by Ministry of Culture prominent writer who was also a senior lawyer. Prof. Hamidi Kashmiri, out as a maiden collection of selected poems of 25 contemporary Pahari poets for 2017- 18. noted Urdu/Kashmiri writer and former vice chancellor of J&K University also from Poonch/Rajouri. Baljit Singh Raina's new works of translation in Punjabi Cartoonist Manoj Chopra & Chander Shekhar Bunti won honors in passed away. were Alpana Mishra's Hindi novel Anhiyare Talchhat Me Chamka. national cartoon exhibition cum competitions. The NGOs Viraj Kala Kendra, Kesar AWARDS AND HONOURS: This years Sahitya Akademi Awards were conferred Khalid Hussian's Punjabi short story collection in Shah Mukhi script, 'Ishq Art circle and, JK Creative Centre for Arts contributed by holding art exhibitions, upon Inderjit Kesar, a prolific Dogri writer for his Dogri novel Bhagirath while Malangi' was released in Lahore by Punjab Institute of Language Art and Cul- art camps etc. Mushtaq Ahmad Mushtaq (Tantray) for the his book Aakh (A Scar) in Kash- ture. THEATRE: J&K Cultural Academy has certainly given a spurt to theatre art by miri. Anil Tikku, a senior actor associated with Natrang Theatre Group, was PAHARI: JKAACL's Pahari section, published a special issue of Sheeraja encouraging amateur theatre enthusiasts. Nonetheless, the NGO groups in Jam- given National Bismillah Khan Yuva Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the field Pahari on Mammad-o-Manajat, Laalan De Banjare on Mian Mohammad Baksh, mu led by dedicated theatrists have been significantly contributing towards the- of Acting. Pitamber Nath Sharma was honored with Prof Ram Nath Shastri novel number of Asta Adab, Pahari translation of well-known works of other lan- atre movement. Smriti Puruskar year for his Dogri novel 'Bhagaali'. Ved Rahi, eminent writer guages like Sri Kant, Dev Dass, The Old Man & The Sea and King Lear. Pahari NATRANG: held more than 100 shows in the year and set a record by organiz- & a poet was conferred Dinu Bhai Pant Life Time Achievement Award, for his poets Swami Anterneerav, Liaqat Jaffari, Gursharan Gulshan, Saleem ing 8 theatre festivals in which 32 different plays by the same group were staged. overall outstanding contribution towards Dogri literature. His novel Lal Ded was Tabish, Surinder Neer, Balwinder Deep participated in seminar/ mushaira Its regular mega events/shows at different melas were 'Bava Jitto' & Mata ki Kahani. translated from Dogri into english by Suman K Sharma. The novel was publsi- on Punjabi/ Pothowari writing of Jammu Kashmir, organized by Punjab art coun- It also screened first ever film on Maharaja Gulab Singh. Its participations in nation- hed by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Dr. Nirmal Vinod, renowned Dogri, Hindi cil and Punjabi University Patiala. The literary piece on Pahari language by Dr. al theatre festivals were 'In Her Shoes', 'Ghumayee', 'Romeo Juliet', 'Aap Hamare poet/ writer was honored with Sauhard Samman by Uttar Pradesh Hindi Atamjit, the well-known Punjabi playwright, anchored on his Poonch tour as a Hain Kaun', Natrang actor Shazia Batool has been selected by National School Sansthan, Lucknow. Dr. Bharat Bhushan Sharma received Babu Ganga Sha- playwright, was published in India today annual issue, the Sahitya Varshiki. of Drama to undergo Post-graduation in Dramatics. ran Singh Hindi award from Kendriya Hindi Sansthan Agra U.P. Chhatrapal, AMATEUR THEATRE GROUP: With Mushtaq eminent Dogri writer was given the national award for a most creative person Kak as its mentor, the ATG emerged as an with a disability by GoI Ministry of social justice and empowerment. ambassador of J&K theatre by staging number State-Level annual literary awards for Best Book for 2016 announced this year, of performances of plays like Ishaq Malngi in were given to Puran Chand Bargotra for his Dogri book of poems 'Shabad important national festivals. Young actors Shabad Sarmath', Taj-ud-Taj for Gojri book Khaab Saloona, Sanjeev Bhasin for trained by ATG have been started making a mark Hindi book Kab Subah Hogi, Makhan Lal Pandita for Kashmiri book Saz as independent directors/ actors. ATG is going Bonen Hund and Satish Vimal for Siyah Var, Khanpo Konchok Thupstan to hold a festival of plays in memory of Kavi Rat- for Ladakhi book, Abdul Rashid Qureshi for Pahari book Likhtaan Piyaar tan, founder of modern theatre movement. Diyaan, Divendra Viswanagrik for Punjabi book Shabad Shabad Zindagi, RANGYUG: Under the stewardship of Deep- Ahmad Jawan for Sheena book and Hamdam Kashmiri for Urdu book ak Kumar, held a 360 hours Theatre Training Waraq Sada. J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages gave annual awards for which concluded with the production of Andha Best Play Script' to Dr. Gian Singh for Dogri play 'Sah Basah', Late Sham Yug by its participants, organized World Dance Sundar Anand Lehar for Urdu play 'Sarhad Se Wapsi' and Rajneesh Gup- Day Celebrations by a Kathak recital by dance ta for Hindi play 'Jashn-e-Zindagi. maestro Priya Dutta and students. The plays The Republic Day Awards for achievements in the field of literature, per- staged were Mantonaama, Dr. Shanker Shesh's forming arts, art & craft and life-time achievement were given respectively to Raktbeej, and began the practice of seeing the- Gianeshwar Sharma,(Dogri Writer), Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi, atre by payment. Its 180 hours theatre training (Urdu/Kashmiri Poet), late Vijay Malla (Kashmiri Singer), Muneer Ahmad led to the production of Hawalaat and Dheeth, Khan (Art), and Balwant Thakur. The first Kavi Rattan Rang Samman and shows of Nukkad Natak Dheeth. was presented to Ifra Kak, the talented theatre director/actor. The Second NATRAJ NATYA KUNJ: Group's organized play- Kunwar Viyogi Sahitya Puruskar for the maiden book of a Dogri writer below wright workshop at Jammu, , Ramna- 42 years old could not be given for want of up to the standard entries. Amit Dut- gar, Reasi, shows of the Garak Hoarda Manukh, ta, son of the soil, hailed as one of the most significant contemporary practition- held Theatre Carnival in which 6 plays were pre- ers of experimental cinema in the world today, was honored with an Honorary sented from Jammu, Chandigarh, Varanasi, Retrospective of his films by National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune. Umesh Haryana. The play Gagan Damama Bajyo staged Singh and Kanchi Khajuria won best actor awards in annual theatre fest. in Theatre Festival at Chandigarh and held Folk SURINSAR- MANSAR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: It will be befitting to -Excelsior/Rakesh Theatre workshop. Its play Urubhangam was acknowledge the unique public outreach campaign launched by Surinsar- adjudged best by JKAACL and staged at SMVD Mansar Development Authority to catapult the cultural and natural heritage of University Katra, Jammu, and Srinagar. Its play Macbeth; The Crown of Blood, was GOJARI: Academy's Gojari Section, with Dr. Shahnawaz as Editor, other the Jammu's twin lakes, the important tourist destinations of the State. The aes- awarded the best production, best direction, best music, best light awards in the Acad- than its regular publications, brought out special numbers of Sheerza Gojri on Late. thetically designed posters, brochures, series of advertisements, calling upon emy's Annual Theatre Festival. Haji Mohammed Israil Khatanaa, Kuliyaat e Zabhi of Moulana Mohammed Ismail enthusiasts to enjoy heritage, spiritual, adventure, floral, faunal and environ- SAMOOH THEATRE: did a number of shows of Nukkad Nataks in Jammu and Zabhi, on Late Mahmood Rana. mental experiences around Duggar's twin lakes through Sunday series, adven- outside, staged plays Final Solution, King Lear, Bachha Chor, play reading of Jee URDU: With senior most poets like Pandit Vidya Rattan Aasi and Arsh ture camps, tracks to historical monuments like Babor temples and Mohar Garh. Jaise Aap ki Marzi and performance of Dakghar at Bhatinda, Kolkatta. It held inter- Coupled with the attraction of folk music/dance programs, bhajan sandhyas, tree Sehbai continuing to enrich Urdu poetic scene of Jammu, it was Liaqat Jafari, the talented Urdu poet from Poonch, who represented J&K in international and action with actors like Janak Khajuria and C.D.Magotra, lecture on Dogri folk the- talks along with nature trails, cycling, the initiative is already attracting a steady atre by Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, a conference on performing arts, dance workshop, stream of tourist, pilgrims and school/college students to Mansar and surround- national mushairas at Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Jubbil and Sharjah, Doha, Qatar, and recitation of Dogri poetry. Vomedh Rangmanch, staged Kashmiri plays Ek ing areas. The exemplary networking and synergy amongst Surinsar-Mansar Dubai, and Kuwait, and many other national mushairas. Padamshree Jatinder Aur Birbal at Chandigarh, Bombay, Mujrim Mae Nahi Par Mai He Hun, Khoya Development Authority and state Departments of Tourism, Education, Archae- Udhampuri also contributed with his 3rd book of Urdu poetry 'Kehkashaan'. The Bachpan, Gada Batah and Nukkad Nataks. It also pioneered Fortnight Terrace The- ological Survey of India, INTACH, can surely become a model for other major JU Dept. of Urdu through its academic initiatives, literary programs, seminars, atre. Athrot, held first ever Kashmiri poetry day for youngsters, staged Navreh tourists/religious destinations of the State. poetic meets, etc. is contributing significantly to the promotion and development CULTURAL ACADEMY: The institution constitutionally invested with a man- of Urdu in Jammu. Thaal, organized program Kashir Kalakaar to hone community children' talent in date to promote art, culture, and languages of the state, with Ajiz Hajani as sec- VISUAL ARTS: Thanks to the initiative of Arvind Kotwal, JMC's former Com- singing, dancing and creating awareness about KP dress attire and language. retary, boasted of achievements like the completion of prestigious Kashmir Cul- missioner, the otherwise non-descript undersides of the flyover on both sides of THE PERFORMERS: Led by Urja Singh, the group is catering to the aspirations tural Center, while the construction of a long-pending project of Jammu writers the Kala Kendra stand aesthetically transformed with large paintings based on of the urban brigade of the young. It is honing talent by organizing fashion, mod- club is in full swing. Its major events were holding of Theatre Olympics, a mega motifs drawn from Pahari miniatures, and symbols of Jammu's pluralistic culture eling shows, workshops on modern music, dance, acting & for show anchors. literary/cultural festival in which three thousand writers and artists represent- and heritage. Hope the JMC's mayor and the team of carporators continue the ini- RADIO: Radio Kashmir Jammu (RKJ), enhanced its outreach and listening in ing all regions and sub-cultures attended, State Tabulax in Republic Day Parade, tiative which has already started finding an echo in beautifully embellished walls hilly areas of Duggar with commissioning of a Relay Transmitter at Natha Top. All India Urdu mushairas, at Jammu, Rajouri, and 700 hundred literary and cul- of Jammu's private schools and other public spaces. With a focus on regional culture, RKJ highlighted local Melas and events. It held tural programs in the entire state. It published first ever Who's Who of state's Coming to the creative practice of Visual Arts, which has given a new identity national level workshops; for the Producers of 'Kisan Vani', and on Planning and important 2000 writers and artists, the first ever English-Dogri dictionary, and to cities like Kochi, Goa, just to name a few, the scene in J&K continues to be grim. Production on Women and Children program. around 200 books/journals. Other notable publications are 'An anthology of One reason could be the changed priorities of the J&K Cultural Academy, which TREE TALK: Kudos to Om Vidyarathi, for spearheading the movement to Dogri Short Stories in English by Suman Sharma', English translation of Kash- otherwise has been the main engine for initiating and sustaining the modern art spread tree consciousness with unparalleled regularity and participation of civil miri Zuban Aur Shairy by Dr. Javed Iqbal Bhat. The translations and publica- movement in J&K through its Institutes of Music & Fine arts at Jammu/Srinagar society. He has taken 'The Tree Talk', to J&K's nook & corners, city gardens, forest tions underway are Tareekh-e-Rajghan-e-Jammu by Dr. Gurudev Singh, Book and holding artist camps and exhibitions. The Academy's atrophy can be gauged locations, wetlands, educational institutions, sacred groves, and highlighted tree on Jammu theatre by late Kavi Rattan, J&K's Contemporary Poetry, and Short from the fact that it failed to hold its coveted annual art exhibition at Jammu this associated traditions, biodiversity components, rare, endangered, threatened taxa, stories from J&K. year. Much to the chagrin of veteran artist like Triloke Kaul, who along with oth- utilization, value addition, distribution, conservation, ecological concerns, ex-situ Academy's Jammu Division office with Arvinder Singh Aman as additional ers had laid the foundation of modern art renaissance in the late 1940s in J&K. conservation in wildlife areas, in situ conservation in parks & gardens and nature secretary, organized All India Conferences in Hindi, Dogri, Punjabi, followed by Nonetheless, the individual artists continued to create, exhibit their works and interpretation. Mushairas, Seminars, Kahani Ghosties. Programs of traditional music/dance win accolades albeit outside the state. Some of the well-known local artists who