IFA launches heritage project in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 12: To preserve and promote Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage, the India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) launched a 15-month research project ‘Pholwen Toer’ (Blooming Buds) in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.  A statement of the IFA issued here said that the Arts Education programme at IFA aims to make learning an engaging and joyous experience in schools by using different art forms for curriculum-based teaching pedagogies.

It said that this implementation was made possible under the Arts Education programme at IFA, with support from Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company.

The project is implemented via the International Educational Institute located in Bonakoot, Bandipora.

The project is coordinated by Prof Syeda Afshana, a faculty member at the Media Education and Research Centre, University of Kashmir (KU) and Heeba Din, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUYST), Awantipore.

The project aims to foster a deep appreciation for Kashmir's cultural legacy among children by centring on the oral traditions of Kashmir, allowing children to explore and celebrate their cultural legacy.

Prof Afshana engaged in an interactive session with the students and faculty of the International Educational Institute briefing the students about the project.

In her interactions with students, Prof Afshana also emphasised the potential of papier-mâché as a tool for storytelling and artistic exploration and how it offers the students the opportunity to mold and shape their narratives into tangible forms, fostering creativity and imagination.

This project would bring together seasoned local artists renowned for their expertise in papier-mâché and Bhaand Pather, traditional art forms deeply rooted in the region’s history and culture.

These artists would not only share their invaluable skills and knowledge but also provide mentorship and guidance to the participating students.

Heeba Din also encouraged the students to share their perspectives and preferences, shaping the direction of the project.

She stressed the rich cultural heritage of Bhaand Pather, providing a unique theatrical platform for students to bring their narratives to life.

The project is aimed at not only promoting artistic growth and self-expression among the students but also addressing the pressing need to capture and preserve the voices of those who might otherwise remain unheard in the face of socio-economic disparities.

The project is assisted by a team of volunteers Javaid Jawad, Headmaster Government Middle School, Ongam, and Uzma Manzoor, Suheel Nisaar, and Ausaf-ur-Rehman.