Why marginalisation?
Art, culture and language are not ornamental luxuries of a society. They are its conscience, its collective memory and its living identity. In Jammu and Kashmir, where centuries-old Sufi traditions, folk expressions, classical forms and rich languages define who we are, cultural institutions carry a responsibility far greater than routine administration. They are meant to safeguard heritage, nurture creativity and represent the true cultural voice of the region.
The question that demands urgent attention today is uncomfortable but necessary: can our prestigious cultural institutions survive, or even function meaningfully, when they are run by individuals with little or no understanding of art, culture and language?
The present situation gives us a worrying answer.
Over the last six to seven years, the functioning of several cultural bodies has steadily declined, most notably the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages (JKAACL). This institution, once regarded as the backbone of cultural preservation and promotion in the region, is today being run by officers who largely lack academic grounding, professional exposure or lived engagement with art, culture and languages. The result is visible in its weakening programmes, absence of long-term vision and growing disconnect from artists and scholars.
Art and culture cannot be governed through files alone. They require insight, sensitivity and lived experience. When decision-making positions are occupied by individuals who have never engaged deeply with music, theatre, literature, folk traditions or visual arts, the results are inevitably damaging. Policies become hollow, programmes lose substance and artists feel ignored, misunderstood and sidelined.
This is not a criticism of administration as a system. Administration is vital. However, cultural administration is a specialised responsibility. Institutions like JKAACL demand leadership that understands artistic processes, respects creative diversity and recognises the difference between genuine cultural work and superficial display. Without this understanding, such institutions gradually lose relevance and credibility.
One of the most painful consequences of this disconnect is the continued marginalisation of local artists. Jammu and Kashmir is rich in talent, yet countless artists struggle for platforms, recognition and financial dignity. Funds allocated in the name of cultural promotion often fail to reach deserving practitioners. Events are planned without artistic consultation, cultural representation is diluted, and merit is frequently overshadowed by access and influence.
Language, the backbone of cultural identity, is facing a similar crisis. Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari and other regional languages require serious institutional commitment for preservation, documentation and growth. When language institutions are headed by individuals unfamiliar with linguistic realities, languages are reduced to ceremonial symbols rather than living cultural forces.
This situation must serve as a wake-up call for everyone involved. Artists can no longer afford silence or isolation. Writers, musicians, theatre practitioners and cultural researchers must rise above individual differences and collectively demand transparency, expertise and accountability in cultural governance.
Administrators, on their part, must introspect and acknowledge that appointing the right people to cultural institutions is not an act of favour towards artists. It is a responsibility towards society, history and future generations. Cultural leadership must be based on knowledge, experience and commitment, not convenience.
The general public also has a crucial role. A society that becomes indifferent to its art and culture slowly loses its emotional and moral strength. Supporting local artists, questioning cultural misrepresentation and holding institutions accountable is not activism; it is civic responsibility.
Anything less is not just administrative failure; it is a betrayal of our legacy and an injustice to our future.
Waheed Jeelani, Artist & Art Promoter.
