Talent unrecognised by govt, says Dogri artiste of state

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 22

Rumalo Ram, 53, a renowned ‘Paakh’ (Dogri folk song) singer of the region says only music, dance and art of any region can uphold the integrity of its language.

He, however, said some ‘self-proclaimed Dogri stalwarts’ used the language for their own benefits to get national and international awards without promoting it among the youth.

“This is the reason that Dogri promotion has been receiving setbacks from time to time,” said Rumalo Ram.

Since the past 100 years, Rumalo Ram and his forefathers have been carrying the legacy for the promotion of Dogri through their songs and dances throughout the region but they have been deprived of any recognition even at the district level.

Though his father Bai Ram went into the Army, Romalo Ram took over the mantle from his grandfather Santu Ram and proceeded with the family legacy to promote Dogri through singing and dancing.

“Our legacy in Dogri folk is 100 years old but no governmental recognition has been given to us. Whenever any government function or culture academy’s programme on Dogri is held, Rumalo Ram and party is invited but not given any reward,” he added.

Romalo Ram’s family is famous in the state to for giving a new idiom to ‘Paakh’ in the shape of ‘Pyagda (shortened version of Paakh which includes comic dance steps). “Then came ‘Geetru’ which is a modernised form of Dogri folk,” said Romalo Ram, whose song and dance drama ‘Kaaleya Kaavan’ is a famous item at many functions.