Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today said that cultural interventions bridge the gap between people and societies and stressed on holding more and more such events. She said the J&K Cultural Academy would be made a platform for youth where they can hone their talent.Chairing the General Council meeting of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages here, the Chief Minister said cultural activities, more than anything else, have brought societies, regions and people closer. She suggested linking knowledge of culture with scheduled curriculum so that the younger generation becomes aware of the State’s rich cultural history and roots.Pertinently, today’s meeting of the Academy’s General council was held after a gap of 35 years.Mehbooba Mufti advised for adopting concept of fusion to preserve the dying old arts and cultural strains of the State by blending them with modern trends and demands. She said the age old cultural varieties like story telling need to be given a look which has a scope of influence despite the onslaught of modernity. She sought active involvement of members of the General Council in effective preservation of the rich cultural ethos of the State.
The Chief Minister, who is also the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, said the organization would be made an effective platform for youth who can display their talent in writing, painting, singing, acting and other such art forms. She said the Academy is working on an infrastructure strengthening programme under which Cultural Centres would be set up at district headquarters besides raising some other related infra. She said the proposal of a school for Sufi & Folk music is also in pipeline for the preservation of some rare musical varieties. Mehbooba Mufti assured the participants that the suggestions put forth by them would be examined for implementation.In his address, Minister for Culture, Dr Haseeb Drabu said the Government is taking many steps for promoting and preserving cultural milieu in every region of the State. He said requisite infrastructure for cultural activities in the State is also being upgraded continually. Minister of State for Culture, Priya Sethi also addressed the meeting.Earlier, Secretary of the Academy, Dr Aziz Hajni welcomed the participants of the meeting.The members passed a resolution to express grief over the passing away of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former President of the Academy and other prominent litterateurs of the State and acknowledged their contribution in preserving and promoting culture of the State.
The meeting decided to institute three annual awards each in performing arts like music, dance and drama and three visual arts like painting, sculpture and miniature painting. The meeting also decided to award a short film on culture of the State.The meeting decided to institute a biennial lifetime achievement award in cultural activities amounting to Rs 10 lakh. It also confirmed the nomination of Prof Champa Sharma to the Central Committee and also nominated Abhay Rustum Sopori to the Central Committee and K D Meini to Finance Committee of the Academy.Member, Legislative Council, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, noted film actress and social activist of the country, Shabana Azmi; film producer, Vidhu Vinod Chopra; theatre director, M K Raina; music composer, Abhay Rustum Sopori; actor, Phunsok Ladakhi; writers, Prof Mohammad Zaman Azurda, Prof Shad Ramzan, Sagar Ali Sadiq, Raza Amjad, Ghulam Rasool Azad, K D Meini, Prof Shiv Dev Singh, Rafiq Raaz, Prof Champa Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Aatish, Dr Baljeet Kour, Prof Neelam Saraf; renowned singer, Prof Kailash Mehra; Principal, Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Srinagar, Prof Shaiqa Wani; television actor/director, Ayash Aarif; Kathak dancer, Manju Wazir and other eminent litterateurs and art activists were present in the meeting.Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner-Secretary, Finance, Navin Kumar Choudhary and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.