Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 8: Natrang Director Balwant Thakur has been invited to the 3rd Cultural Olympiad- 2013, Singapore as one of the cultural ambassadors of India to present a paper supported by an audio visual presentation on the contemporary theatre of India. During the Cultural Olympiad he will also present a presentation on the cultural diversity of J&K. Organized by Global Council for Art and Culture, the event is aimed at spreading the global harmony through culture and is being held in April, 2013 in which cultural groups from all over the world are participating. The first Cultural Olympiad was held in Bangkok in March, 2011 which had the participation of 187 countries.
Balwant Thakur's nomination to the 3rd Cultural Olympiad-2013, Singapore is being considered as one of the most important cultural accomplishment of the state of J&K and he will surely be instrumental in getting more International avenues for showcasing the cultural strengths of Jammu & Kashmir. Balwant Thakur has already brought the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the International limelight through his highly innovative and creative presentations. In the year 1992, he was awarded the 'Sanskriti Award', which is given to one theatre person in India in three years. In the same year he received the prestigious 'The Ford Foundation (USA) Grant Award' for his project - "Search for New Theatre Language".
For his outstanding contribution in the field of theatre he has been awarded the 'All India Citizen Award' in the year 1994 and 'Abhinayak Samman' in 1996. In All India CulturalCompetitions he won best director awards for the year 1985, 1986, 1986. He was also honored with the 'Gurushree' and 'Sapatrishi Samman' in 1999 and 2001.Dogra Rattan Award, 2005. Best Director Award Doordarshan 2005, Dogri Sanstha Lifetime achievement Award-2010 and maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Award-2011. Conferred with the highest Indian honor in performing arts i.e., Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for direction in theatre, in the year 2000 Balwant Thakur has presented his presentations in London, Oxford, Denmark, Bangkok, Dubai, Sharjah, Berlin, Frankfurt , Moscow, Rome, Copenhagen, Yugoslav, Belgrade, Singapore, Malaysia, Stratford, Almaty, Bishkek and Dhaka. He also worked as Secretary, J & K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages from 1995 to 2003. He also served on the Board of prestigious institutions like, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, New Delhi (1999-2003 & 2009-2014) and North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala (1995-2003), and also as an expert for Indian Council forCultural Relations, Department of Culture (M.P.) and National School of Drama. Currently working as Regional Director of Indian Council For Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt., of India |
