Artistes expect more exposure, recognition under UT status

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 21

While J&K awaits union territory (UT) status, to be given on October 31 after the abrogation of Article 370, the artiste fraternity is in a fix as to what new arrangements will be created on the cultural front.

A sense of confusion prevails among all as some term the Central government’s call on the abrogation of the Article as a welcome step that will expose them on the national milieu while others fear their ‘monopoly’ in the state is likely to be dented.

“Seldom there have been any cultural exchanges here where outside people have mingled with local artistes on development of art and culture. Abrogation of Article 370 has opened doors for all which will add to better understanding,” said Aditya Bhanu, a senior theatre and film director of the state.

Meanwhile, there have been many allegations reported from time to time about certain big theatre and film houses in Jammu and Kashmir running their monopoly in connivance with the bureaucratic machinery of the state and eating into the state exchequer.

Kusum Tickoo, a senior theatre and films artiste, said Jammu would not be only exposed on a national platform, but the deserving ones would get recognition on the international level. “It is going to be tough as local artistes will have to compete with national talent and those having the real ability will get the recognition. The monopoly in all fields will get dented,” she said.

Senior Bollywood film actor, director and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Mushtaq Kak welcomed the idea of a union territory status for J&K.

“Under the UT status, the Central government is bound to go by rules like establishing three different academies related to performing arts, fine arts and literature. Besides, all languages falling under the 8th Schedule have to be given respective academies as is the case in New Delhi and other UTs in India,” he said.

He said such expansion would give a wide scope to people working in different faculties to get proper recognition besides employment.

Regarding monopoly by some vested interest organisations in dance, drama and music in the state, Kak said lakhs of unaccounted rupees had been siphoned off by a few individuals in which the state bureaucracy was the main culprit.