LG garners support for showcasing J&K’s cultural heritage

The Lt Governor was chairing a meeting to review the functioning of Culture & allied departments, including the Department of Libraries & Research; Archives, Archaeology and Museums, and J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at the Civil Secretariat.

"This is the land of Sufis and Saints like Shankaracharya, Nund Reshi, Habba Khatoon, Lal Ded, Devi Rupa  Bhawani and there is a need to develop heritage sites at their birthplaces in order to make their life history more accessible to the young generation.

"Laying special focus on promotion and development of shrines, monuments, and heritage sites to attract more tourist inflow to the UT, " the Lt Governor said while directing the department to integrate tourism and cultural promotion plans, besides holding traditional and cultural events on the backdrop of the historic significance of these important places so that the visiting tourists, as well as the locals, can get the first-hand experience of the rich cultural heritage of  J&K.

Specific directions were passed for the development of Shiv Khori and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur shrines at Reasi.

While taking stock of the future deliverables of the department, the Lt Governor directed the concerned officials to prepare an annual activity calendar of the Culture department so that people are able to know that what’s in the offering for them and can plan accordingly.

The Lt Governor suggested a host of measures to showcase the heritage and culture of J&K and strengthen connect of the people with J&K.

Increase the visibility of Jammu and Kashmir's culturally and historically important places amongst the people and publicize the tourism potential shrines and heritage sites to reach out to more tourists, besides highlighting the 'Places to Visit' at all tourist’s arrival points, the Lt Governor told the officials.

J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages shall organize programmes to celebrate all days of National  Importance with the participation of the public, added the Lt Governor. JKAACL was asked to take requisite measures to promote literature, art and culture through theatre festivals, music and dance  programmes, Mushairas, Kavi Sammelan, seminars and literary conferences.

On being informed that the Academy is organizing 03 mega Sufi festivals in J&K, the Lt Governor directed for involving Colleges and Universities and roping in local, national and internationally acclaimed Sufi artists for the same.

While reviewing the working of Libraries & Research department, the Lt Governor called for modernization of Public Libraries of the Department and upgrading the same as 'Digital Libraries'.

Work in convergence with Mission Youth, J&K and Smart City Mission to turn these Libraries into productive learning-cum-career counselling centres, the Lt Governor told the officers. Further, he asked the department to explore means to provide online access to the repositories of books available with the libraries to the students online.

Sarmad Hafeez, Administrative Secretary, Culture department gave a detailed overview of the ongoing projects, besides the activities to be taken up by the department for the promotion of culture and heritage of  Jammu and Kashmir.

It was informed that the Academy has a collection of over 700 manuscripts and miniature paintings on mysticism, Vedant, Islamiyat, languages and literature, history, mathematics, palmistry, politics,  sociology and music. The Academy also has as many 953 rare and rich oeuvres of famous painters which are soon going to be put for public display.

The Academy is also planning to organize film festivals at Srinagar and Jammu in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Information, besides the National School of Drama (NSD) is setting up one of its centres at Srinagar.

The meeting was also informed about the upcoming events and projects like Literature festival at  Patnitop, Promotion of border Tourism activities, Cultural activities at heritage sites, Dastaan-goi; School of Folk and Sufiyana Music etc.

Baseer Ahmed Khan, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Rahul Pandey,  Secretary JKAACL attended the meeting in virtual form.