Punjab Governor sets new roadmap for promotion of Art & Culture in the region

Strongly advocating the need for a well structured coordinated plan for strengthening linkages of composite Indian culture, the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, General Dr. S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM (Retd.), called for adopting a holistic approach for the preservation and promotion of our inherited values. It is, therefore, imperative to create a responsive mechanism for generating awareness among our people to respect our traditions & the customs of different regions and sharing positive features to create a New Resurgent India.

Presiding over the meeting of the Governing Body/Executive Board of North Zone Cultural Centre, here today, General Rodrigues said that the Northern States have an immense potential and magnificent legacy of social, religious and cultural ethos which progressed well in the past years with the sincere and committed

efforts of North Zone Cultural Centre. He emphasized the need of further greater support and appreciation for various art forms and to showcase the unique cultural traditions of the region through theatrical performances, exhibitions, light & sound programmes, dances and musical concerts. "Our major focus must be to make our creative and educative programmes available to our citizens through stage performances and latest techniques of Information & Technology".

Emphasizing the need of people's participation in general and the youth, in particular, in diverse activities of NZCC, General Rodrigues said that they are the instruments of change and the protectors of our rich cultural heritage. It is our duty to imbibe in them the values of our heritage. "Apart from inculcating in themselves, the interest for preservation and conservation of our heritage, our youth must be educated about the importance of human and secular values", he added.

General Rodrigues further said that Chandigarh which is the capital of Punjab & Haryana and also the Headquarters of the Union Territory, has witnessed a major boom in respect of different art forms and creative artistic endeavours and Kalagram has become a hub and focal point for the promotion of art & culture in the region. It has been re-modeled, by equipping it with state-of-art facilities which contribute in popularizing traditions forms of dance and music besides providing an opportunity to amateur artists and sculptures. Director NZCC has been asked to prepare a Calendar of weekly activities in consultation with stakeholder States and art & cultural academies. He said that Tagore Theatre and Bal Bhavan Auditoriums & Open Air Theatre have been renovated by making modern additions and ultra modern lighting system for the display of performing arts. He said that three academies including Sangeet Natak Academy, Lalit Kala Academy and Sahitya Academy in Union Territory have been further activated with additional responsibilities and giving them more funds. He said that special steps have been taken to create a favourable environment in schools and colleges for the promotion of our cultural traditions and artistic skills among children. Competitions in various art forms are being organized at different levels for spotting and nurturing the talent in the younger generations. We are shortly organizing a 'Quawali competition, mushaira and kavi same/an in the city with the participation of eminent artistes. He said that NZCC is

proposing to institute a Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of art and culture in the region.

General Rodrigues further said that with a view to highlight Jammu & Kashmir in the national scene on art & cultural front, it will be the theme state in the forthcoming 1 st National Kalagram Crafts Mela in October 2009, which will eventually become an annual feature.

Director North Zone Cultural Centre, Mr. D.S. Saroya, while highlighting the activities of the NZCC said that during the year 2008¬09 major events in the region comprising Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, J&K and Chandigarh had been organized which included Poompoohar Festival, October 2008 - Cultural Extravaganza of Tamil Nadu at Chandigarh; Loktarang - National Folk Dance Festival-2009 at Delhi and Mohali (January - February 2009); Prakriti - A festival of Tribal Arts at New Delhi; North East Festival in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, J & K and Himachal Pradesh; Punjab Festival at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu (March 2009) and Chandigarh Arts & Heritage Festival at Chandigarh. He said that NZCC has been implementing the fully centrally sponsored 'Guru Shishya Pram para Scheme' to preserve and promote rare and vanishing art forms whether classical or folk/tribal so that the young talents are nurtured to acquire skills in their chosen field of art through some financial assistance in the form of scholarship under the guidance of Experts and Masters in these fields. About 220 units have been allotted in the constituent states of the Zone till March 31, 2009 in various art forms instruments,

The member states must make special efforts to find potential Gurus in vanishing art forms available in their respective states who could teach the shishyas in the interest of preservation and promotion of different dying art forms.

The representatives from different States of the Northern Region attended the meeting.