Thank you, Zafar, for facilitating a cultural program called "Mauj Kasheer"
Kashmiri youngsters enthrall audience at Jammu
Jammu: It was an evening filled with nostalgia, pathos, sadness and tears. Yet, no element of hatred or bitterness could be felt at any moment during “Mauj Kasheer”, a variety cultural programme by young Kashmiri artists, presented by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages here this evening. In fact the programme marked the celebration of the composite cultural ethos of Kashmir and the centuries old tradition of co-existence and mutual love and respect.
In his opening remarks, Secretary of Academy Zafar Iqbal Manhas said that the programme was being presented by young artists belonging to the Kashmiri Pandit community, all of whom were born in exile far away from their cultural moorings. Most of them have never visited Kashmir, he added. The programme was manifestation of the age old maxim “Jo sukh Fattu de Chobare, Na Balkh te na Bukhare” (East or West, Home is the Best) and signified the yearning of young generation of Kashmiri Pandit community to return to their land on ancestors. This programme is a humble effort on behalf of the Academy to keep the unique cultural ethos of Kashmir alive among the new generation. The need to keep their connection with Kashmiri language intact is also a thrust area that needs our immediate attention, he said. He added that he was quite assured of the ability of the community to surmount the economic and job related difficulties because of their intelligence, talent and hard work. The only thing that worried him was whether the connection of the young members of the community, born and brought up in exile, with their culture and language would remain intact or not. He expressed the resolve of the Academy to take this programme to different parts of Kashmir valley during the next few months so that these young Kashmiris could visit the land to which they belong.
The programme, composed by well known music director Krishan Langoo, consisted of compositions based on the poetry of Lalla Dyed, Mehjoor, Dina Nath Nadim, Abdul Ahad Azad and Moti Lal Saqi. The young artistes on stage displayed their love for not only their own culture, language and traditions but also their understanding of the festivities of the majority community in Kashmir. The tragedy of migration and the sufferings of the community also found expression in various items presented during the programme.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Khurshid Ahmed Ganai highly appreciated the efforts of the Academy in promotion and preservation of art, culture and languages of the State. He said that such efforts will go a long way in keeping the cultural richness and diversity of the State alive.
Arjun Dev Majboor, who presided over the function extolled the significance of mother in our traditions as the land of ancestors is known as motherland in India. He said that most rivers in India also carry a feminine name because we treat these as mothers due to their importance to the existence of mankind. He added that these young artists remembering their motherland and their mother tongue through this programme was a very significant event.
D.S.Saroya, Director, North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala also spoke on the occasion.
The programme was ably compered by Ravinder Kaul and Sunita Bhat.
Programme was witnessed by a full house, saw the audience applauding the young migrant artists who presented the compositions based on the poetry of Lalla Dyed, Mehjoor, Dina Nath Nadim, Abdul Ahad Azad and Moti Lal Saqi. The lilting musical compositions were composed by Krishan Langoo.
Well known poet and author Arjun Dev Majboor and ace Music Director Krishan Langoo were felicitated by the Academy on the occasion.
(Kashmir Images)
Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog
I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.
The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.
Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.
The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.
This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.
Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.
Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.
The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.
This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.
Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
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1 comment:
Awesome job done by secretary Academy... Kudos to Mr. Manhas.. I think he also deserves to be honored for the same..
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