Cultural interventions bridge gap between people: Mehbooba

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today stressed linking knowledge of culture with curriculum so that the younger generation becomes aware of Jammu and Kashmir's rich cultural history and roots.
"Cultural activities, more than anything else, have brought societies, regions and people closer," she said while chairing the General Council meeting of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages here.
The last meeting of the Academy's General council was held 35 years ago.
She said the J&K Cultural Academy would be made a platform for youth where they can hone their talent.
She suggested "linking knowledge of culture with scheduled curriculum so that the younger generation becomes aware of the state's rich cultural history and roots."

Mehbooba advised for adopting concept of fusion to preserve the dying old arts and cultural strains of the state by blending them with modern trends and demands.

She said the age-old cultural varieties like story telling need to be given a look despite the onslaught of modernity.
Sh sought active involvement of members of the General Council in effective preservation of the rich cultural ethos of the state.
The Chief Minister, who is also the President of the Academy, said the organisation would be made an effective platform for youth who can display their talent in writing, painting, singing, acting and other such art forms.

Mehbooba said the Academy is working on an infrastructure strengthening programme under which cultural centres would be set up at district headquarters besides raising some other related infra.
She said the proposal of a school for Sufi & Folk music is also in pipeline for the preservation of rare musical varieties.
In his address, Minister for Culture, Haseeb Drabu said
the government is taking many steps for promoting and preserving cultural milieu in every region of the State.
He said requisite infrastructure for cultural activities in the state is also being upgraded continually.
Minister of State for Culture, Priya Sethi also addressed the meeting.

Earlier, Secretary of the Academy, Dr Aziz Hajni welcomed the participants of the meeting.
The members passed a resolution to express grief over the passing away of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former President of the Academy and other prominent litterateurs of the state and acknowledged their contribution in preserving and promoting culture of the State.
The meeting decided to institute three annual awards each in performing arts like music, dance and drama and three visual arts like painting, sculpture and miniature painting.
It was also decided to award a short film on culture of the state.
The decision was taken to institute a biennial lifetime achievement award in cultural activities amounting to Rs 10 lakh.

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Mehbooba asserted that strengthening of democratic system holds key to the resolution of many issues even as she maintained that Article 370 not only grants special status to the state also secures its pluralistic ethos.
She said the present composition of the state Assembly is unique as it represents every region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Also the central government has a huge mandate of the people of the country, she said, adding that it provides an opportunity to move ahead and get many of the issues confronting the state resolved.
Mehbooba appealed to members to rise above party lines and work to minimise the distrust and discord between regions and people in the state.

She said the need of the hour is for the state to remain united so that it approaches the issues confronting it with singular attention and focus.
The Chief Minister said Agenda of Alliance, which lays the basic framework of governance for the present government, encompasses everything which has been thought of for the state.
She said dialogue is a universally accepted mechanism to resolve disputes and issues and her government is keen to initiate political process in the state.
Mehbooba said she has maintained that friendly relations between India and Pakistan are in the best interests of the state.

"We have to find the issues of common interest and common benefit for the two countries and move ahead," she said hoping that relations between the two countries would take a better turn in the days to come.
On the special position of Jammu and Kashmir in the Constitution, she said Article 370 is not just any other entry in the rule book but has to be understood in depth.
"It's not only about securing the geography of Jammu and Kashmir alone but the pluralistic ethos and cultural diversity of the state as well," she said while stressing on further improving the relations between the state and the Centre.

Mehbooba said unique examples of the pluralistic ethos were witnessed during the unrest last year when despite curfew Amarnath yatris who were injured in an accident were rescued and treated by local people and a Pandit marriage was solemnised by Muslim neighbors.
The Chief Minister said 138 people are detained by police for questioning and 370 were booked under Public Safety Act whose status was being reviewed on a case to case basis.
She said she has issued directions not to re-arrest a person in whose favour the court has quashed detention but take his parents into confidence while counseling him to shun the path of violence.

Mehbooba said her government would value the criticism and suggestions of the opposition so that the governance system is further fine-tuned in a collective manner.
Earlier, 23 members participated in the discussion on Motion of Thanks which was returned after the reply of the Chief Minister.