Artists find it hard to make a sustainable living for themselves and their families
Introduce a Cultural Policy for the State, Singers tell Govt
Mukhtar Ahmed (Kashmir Images)
Srinagar: Demanding introduction of separate “Cultural Policy” for the promotion and patronage of artists especially the Sufiana singers in J&K, the Valley based veteran singers lamented that they are battling it hard to feed their families, and simultaneously sustaining their career.
“One fails to understand the logic behind government’s assertions of being very much concerned meting out a fair treatment in promoting and preserving the cultural diversity of the state, when we find it extremely hard to eke out a sustainable living for our families. By keeping cultural shows confined to government events, government may be appeasing some top notch dignitaries, but what about our career and families as singing is the only source of sustaining for us,” one of the leading singers, Waheed Jeelani told Kashmir Images.
He informed that J&K is the only state without a cultural policy for the artists. “We are facing a step motherly treatment as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Government of India does not include the singers from J&K for various promotional activities for young and talented singers from all other Indian states. Moreover, the Union Ministry for Culture has totally failed in providing succor to us,” said Jeelani.
He alleged that the state government’s lack of patronage has made the life of veteran Kashmiri singers miserable. “The Sufiana music had taken a severe hit owing to the disturbed condition for the last 20 years here. As the governments support was the only ray of hope for us, its concerned institutions like the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages (JKCAAL) has failed to live up to our expectations. Despite pooling in all our efforts to revive the old glory of Sufiana Music, We are getting a paltry sum of money that falls short to meet our requirements,” added Jeelani.
Supplementing the grievances of Jeelani, famous singer and General Secretary of “Kashmir Glowkaar Society”, Abdul Gaffar Kanihami was more appreciative of the Sangeet Natak Academy than of the state government’s role in the preservation and promotion of the Sufiana Music here.
“At least the kind of monetary help and support we get from Sangeet Natak Academy is far sustainable than the pittance of annual 5,000 to 10,000 JKAACL pays, only to the registered cultural organizations in the state,” Kanihami informed.
“The state government may be taking young Kashmiri artists to perform on occasions like Independence Day and Republic day, but if one peeps into real situation of the plight of Sufiana singers, then it gets evident that how the state government is befooling the Indian government with the assertions that the artists that have performed here (on Independence and Republic days) are the real ambassadors of our culture and heritage,” Kanihami added.
Recalling the heydays when adoring the Sufiana singers was the order of the day in Kashmir, Kanihami recounted, “Those were our golden days as we used to be paid fairly and the then government ministers were admirers of the Sufiana Music. But today’s government is just playing with our sentiments and the career as lack of support from governments’ side is posing a serious threat for sustenance of our families and career.”
Underscoring the need of introducing the Cultural Policy in J&K, Kanihami asserted that it will usher in a new era in revitalizing the old strength and sway that Sufiana music used to have on the masses here.
“We demand that the cultural policy should be introduced forthwith. In case government fails to come up with such a boon for us, then no Kashmiri singer will allow his posterity to step into their shoes,” warned Kanihami.
Introduce a Cultural Policy for the State, Singers tell Govt
Mukhtar Ahmed (Kashmir Images)
Srinagar: Demanding introduction of separate “Cultural Policy” for the promotion and patronage of artists especially the Sufiana singers in J&K, the Valley based veteran singers lamented that they are battling it hard to feed their families, and simultaneously sustaining their career.
“One fails to understand the logic behind government’s assertions of being very much concerned meting out a fair treatment in promoting and preserving the cultural diversity of the state, when we find it extremely hard to eke out a sustainable living for our families. By keeping cultural shows confined to government events, government may be appeasing some top notch dignitaries, but what about our career and families as singing is the only source of sustaining for us,” one of the leading singers, Waheed Jeelani told Kashmir Images.
He informed that J&K is the only state without a cultural policy for the artists. “We are facing a step motherly treatment as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Government of India does not include the singers from J&K for various promotional activities for young and talented singers from all other Indian states. Moreover, the Union Ministry for Culture has totally failed in providing succor to us,” said Jeelani.
He alleged that the state government’s lack of patronage has made the life of veteran Kashmiri singers miserable. “The Sufiana music had taken a severe hit owing to the disturbed condition for the last 20 years here. As the governments support was the only ray of hope for us, its concerned institutions like the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages (JKCAAL) has failed to live up to our expectations. Despite pooling in all our efforts to revive the old glory of Sufiana Music, We are getting a paltry sum of money that falls short to meet our requirements,” added Jeelani.
Supplementing the grievances of Jeelani, famous singer and General Secretary of “Kashmir Glowkaar Society”, Abdul Gaffar Kanihami was more appreciative of the Sangeet Natak Academy than of the state government’s role in the preservation and promotion of the Sufiana Music here.
“At least the kind of monetary help and support we get from Sangeet Natak Academy is far sustainable than the pittance of annual 5,000 to 10,000 JKAACL pays, only to the registered cultural organizations in the state,” Kanihami informed.
“The state government may be taking young Kashmiri artists to perform on occasions like Independence Day and Republic day, but if one peeps into real situation of the plight of Sufiana singers, then it gets evident that how the state government is befooling the Indian government with the assertions that the artists that have performed here (on Independence and Republic days) are the real ambassadors of our culture and heritage,” Kanihami added.
Recalling the heydays when adoring the Sufiana singers was the order of the day in Kashmir, Kanihami recounted, “Those were our golden days as we used to be paid fairly and the then government ministers were admirers of the Sufiana Music. But today’s government is just playing with our sentiments and the career as lack of support from governments’ side is posing a serious threat for sustenance of our families and career.”
Underscoring the need of introducing the Cultural Policy in J&K, Kanihami asserted that it will usher in a new era in revitalizing the old strength and sway that Sufiana music used to have on the masses here.
“We demand that the cultural policy should be introduced forthwith. In case government fails to come up with such a boon for us, then no Kashmiri singer will allow his posterity to step into their shoes,” warned Kanihami.
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