Minister for Finance & Culture, Dr Haseeb Drabu launched an exclusive and imaginative Calendar-2017 compiled by the Department of Culture. Unveiled at a press conference here, the Calendar showcases the treasure-trove of J&K’s antique creative marvel and artistic legacy.Minister of State for Culture, Ms Priya Sethi, Minister of State for Finance, Mr Ajay Nanda, Commissioner Secretary Finance, Mr Navin Choudhary, Secretary Culture, Dilshad Khan, Director Information, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and other officers were present on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Drabu said, the compiling of the Calendar by the Department of Culture is a maiden effort to bring in public domain the treasured creative art of Jammu and Kashmir. He said in tune with its theme the Calendar-2017 has been christened as ‘Self Discovery’.The Calendar is a collective voyage of rare manuscripts, priceless paintings, ancient scriptures and beautiful calligraphy in possession of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, he said.
“Aimed at rebuilding a culturally conscious society, the Calendar designed by the Department of Culture presents a visual narrative of J&K’s treasured heritage and history,” said Dr Drabu.He said the basic concept behind this unique effort is to ‘rediscover, reflect and revive’. “It is like engaging with our past, to reorient our present and redefine our future,” he said.Dr Drabu said that some of the rare manuscripts and ancient scriptures incorporated in the Calendar include 300 year old ‘Wasay-e-Luqman’, a calligraphic masterpiece based on the legendary Hakeem Luqman’s advice, Sharda Script, personal hand-written dairies of Shair-e-Kashmir Mehjoor, Thangka Painting of Ladakh, Mahabharata written in Kashmiri by a man from Gussu Pulwama, gold-plated copy of Quran calligraphed in 1711 AD and other similar priceless possessions.Dr Drabu called for spreading awareness among the people about culturally rich heritage of the state and to attract youth for their active participation in preserving and promoting J&K’s distinct traditions.