news details |
|
|
| Traditional folk art of Kashmir suffered tremendous setback during turmoil | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 24: Like the other spheres of life the traditional folk art in Kashmir also suffered a heavy loss during the 23 year long turmoil forcing the artists involved in folk theatre to close their shops and switch to other fields to feed themselves and their families.
This has given a lot of blow to the folk art of Kashmir which had deep roots in ancient cultural history of Kashmir and was dated back to over 5000 year long history of Valley as per the Raj Tarangni the ancient historical document on Kashmir.
This was revealed in a documentary Maskar which was shown during the inaugural session of two -month long theatre workshop for budding artists that started here at K P Sabha this afternoon.
The workshop was organized by veteran theatre personality and Padamshri Moti Lal Kemu and it was inaugurated by former Chief Secretary and MLC Vijay Bakaya. Besides the budding artists the function was attended by a galaxy of scholars and theatre personalities.
Maskar a documentary on gesture of Baand Pather was displayed on screen in which all intricacies in the theatre folk form were shown.
The Maskar is based on interviews of the artists and the youth from Valley who suffered immense loss during the 23 year long turmoil and their interviews were also shown.
They spoke about indifference of the Government towards this traditional art and culture due to which the younger generation is shifting to other areas.
The documentary was directed was Ravi Kemu. They said that the Maskar a comedian whose art was mostly linked to religious institutions received a great setback after shrines and temples were set ablaze by the anti social elements during the turmoil and to feed themselves and their families they switched over to other forms of earning livelihood.
While in entire country all encouragement is given by the Government to revive the traditional art, in Kashmir these artists are being looked down upon and their children face problems in marriage.
The folk theatre which thrived for centuries together in Kashmir was banned during the turmoil by militants and many artists lost their lives. In the Maskar Kemu while expressing his concern towards the state of affairs of the traditional art which is linked to centuries old culture of Kashmir takes the authorities to task for denying justice to them. He strongly advocates for their cause and stresses on revival of the folk theatre of Kashmir by assuring all support and cooperation to these artists and boosts their sagging morale.
During the workshop the drama Nagar Udas written, produced and Directed by Moti Lal Kemu will also be played. This is a historical play based on Raj Tarangni an ancient historical book on Kashmir. The play reveals the history of three generations of Kashmir. In his address Bakaya highly lauded the efforts of Kemu in organizing such theatre workshops in the state from time to time.
He said the theatre is a great medium to educate and guide the people and artists can play a great role in revolutionizing the society.
He said Kashmir had produced the great theatre artists from times immemorial and the contribution of Kashmiri artists was recognized all over.
Bakaya regretted that theatre in Valley suffered an immense loss during the turmoil and the artists had to remain indoors for a long time as they could not perform on stage due to threat perception which loomed large in the Valley.
He said an artist is he who can penetrate deep in the public and mould opinion people with his performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
