PM invokes J&K artists for efforts to popularise local culture

Jammu, Oct 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday invoked two J&K artists for their relentless efforts to popularise local culture, using special art forms in synchronisation with their passion.

They found mention in the Prime Minister’s monthly programme “Mann Ki Baat” as he talked about “extraordinary people”, spread across the country, engaged in preserving cultural heritage, in their own unique ways.

These two artists included Firdousa Bashir, from Anantnag district in Kashmir region, who is making wave across J&K, given her expertise in calligraphy and Gorinath from Udhampur district of Jammu region, a Sarangi player and folk artist, who promotes myriad forms of Dogra culture and heritage through his instrument with amazing dexterity.

Today’s “Mann Ki Baat” remained significant as the Prime Minister also lauded the passion of people of J&K for fitness, while reminiscing about his visit to Srinagar on the “International Yoga Day” in June this year.

Besides, Asia’s largest ‘Imaging Telescope MACE’ in Hanle, Ladakh too figured when the Prime Minister talked about “Space Technology” and India’s successful endeavours in this sector.

“Many of our school children are very interested in calligraphy. Through this, our handwriting remains legible, beautiful and attractive. These days it is being used in Jammu and Kashmir to popularise the local culture,” the Prime Minister stated while mentioning the contribution of J&K artist Firdousa Bashir.

“Firdousa Bashir ji from Anantnag, who has expertise in calligraphy, is bringing forth many aspects of the local culture through that. Firdausa ji’s calligraphy has attracted the local people, especially the youth,” PM remarked.

In the same vein, he mentioned the artistic skills of Udhampur folk artists.

“A similar effort is being made by Gorinath ji of Udhampur. He is engaged in preserving myriad forms of Dogra culture and heritage playing a Sarangi, which is more than a century old. Over the tunes of the Sarangi, he narrates the ancient stories and historical events interestingly related to their culture,” PM Modi said.

He stated that in different parts of the country, one would find many extraordinary people who were engaged in preserving cultural heritage.

In this connection, he mentioned D Vaikuntham, engaged in popularizing Cheriyal folk art for about 50 years now. “His efforts to promote this art form related to Telangana are amazing. The process of making Cheriyal paintings is unique. It is in the form of a scroll... that brings forth stories. In that we get a complete glimpse of our history and mythology,” he said. “Butluram Mathra ji of Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh is engaged in preserving the folk art of the Abujhmadia tribe. He has been on this mission for the past four decades. His art has been very effective in connecting people with campaigns like ' Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao ' and ' Swachh Bharat.’ We were just talking about how our art and culture is spreading numerous shades from the valleys of Kashmir to the forests of Chhattisgarh,” the Prime Minister said.

He said but that did not end there. “The fragrance of these arts of ours is spreading far and wide. People in different countries of the world are getting mesmerized by Indian art and culture. While I was telling you about the Sarangi resonating in Udhampur, I remembered how the sweet tune of Indian art is reverberating thousands of miles away in the Russian city of Yakutsk,” he stated while mentioning staging of Kalidasa's “Abhijnana Shakuntalam” there.

“Wherever there is art, there is India. Wherever there is culture, there is India. Today people across the world want to know India... want to know the people of India,” the Prime Minister said, while requesting people to promote cultural initiatives and share them with #CulturalBridges.

Later in the evening, Gorinath, while speaking to the media, thanked the Prime Minister for mentioning his name in his programme and stated that it was a kind of realisation of his dream.

J&K PEOPLE AND PASSION FOR FITNESS

The Prime Minister, while talking about the “spirit of Fit India”, also recalled the enthusiasm of participants in Srinagar on Yoga Day this year, despite the rain, along with him. He stated that he noticed similar enthusiasm for fitness in the Srinagar Marathon held a few days ago.

“Winter has set in, in a large part of the country, but the passion for fitness, the spirit of Fit India - is not affected by any weather... I am happy that people in India are now becoming more aware of fitness. I remember when I was in Srinagar on Yoga Day, despite the rain, so many people had gathered for ‘Yoga’,” the Prime Minister recalled.

He said, “I noticed the same enthusiasm for staying fit in the Marathon that took place in Srinagar a few days ago. This spirit of Fit India is now becoming a mass movement.”

HANLE TELESCOPE DEMONSTRATES CAPABILITIES OF SELF-RELIANT INDIA

While discussing “self-reliant India”, the Prime Minister said that India was doing wonders in every sector.

“Today, in Space Technology, India has become the first country to reach the South Pole of the Moon. One thing I like the most is that this campaign of self-reliance is no longer just a government campaign now; the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is becoming a people's campaign - we are achieving success in every field. Just as this month, we inaugurated Asia's largest ‘Imaging Telescope MACE' in Hanle, Ladakh,” he said.

“It is situated at a height of 4300 meters. Do you know what is special about it as well? It is 'Made in India'. Imagine, the place where the cold dips to minus 30 degrees, where there is a shortage of even oxygen, it is there that our scientists have achieved something that no other nation in Asia has done,” the Prime Minister mentioned.

He said, “Even though the Hanle Telescope is watching a distant world, it is also showing us something more - and that is - the capabilities of self-reliant India.”