CM Saini attends Dada Lakhmi Chand birth anniversary in Rohtak
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended the birth-anniversary celebration and Sahityakar Samman ceremony of folk legend Dada Lakhmi Chand at DLCSUPVA in Rohtak on 23 July 2026, reaffirming the state government's commitment to Haryanvi folk culture and regional literary heritage.
Key Takeaways
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended the Dada Lakhmi Chand birth-anniversary and Sahityakar Samman Samaroh in Rohtak on 23 July 2026 .
The event was hosted at DLCSUPVA , the state university dedicated to performing and visual arts, established in 2014 and named after the folk poet.
Dada Lakhmi Chand , titled 'Surya Kavi' (Sun Poet), is Haryana's most celebrated folk poet, known for compositions on rural life, valour, and social themes.
The Sahityakar Samman ceremony honours Haryanvi writers and artists alongside the birth-anniversary observance.
The event reflects the BJP-led Haryana government's sustained policy of promoting Haryanvi folk and literary heritage through institutional channels.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended the birth-anniversary celebration and literary honours ceremony of folk legend Dada Lakhmi Chand at the Dada Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts (DLCSUPVA) in Rohtak on Thursday, 23 July 2026.
Context
Saini shared his participation on social media, writing that he attended the 'Surya Kavi Dada Lakhmi Chand ji ki jayanti evam Sahityakar Samman Samaroh' — the birth-anniversary and literary honours ceremony of 'Surya Kavi' (Sun Poet) Dada Lakhmi Chand — held at DLCSUPVA, Rohtak. The event brought together folk artists, Haryanvi writers, and arts students to mark the occasion.
Dada Lakhmi Chand, revered as the 'Surya Kavi' (Sun Poet) of Haryana, is celebrated for his compositions on rural life, valour, and social themes that shaped the Haryanvi folk tradition. His legacy continues to be a touchstone for the state's cultural identity.
Policy Backdrop
The Dada Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts was established by the Haryana government in 2014 specifically to institutionalise training and research in folk and classical performing arts. Naming the university after the folk legend was itself a statement of the state's intent to anchor its arts education in indigenous Haryanvi traditions.
The BJP-led Haryana government has consistently promoted Haryanvi folk culture alongside Sanskrit and Hindi heritage programmes, framing such events as part of a broader cultural preservation agenda. Birth-anniversary observances for regional literary figures are a regular feature of this policy posture across Indian states.
Stakeholders and Impact
The Sahityakar Samman Samaroh (literary honours ceremony) held alongside the birth anniversary is designed to recognise contributions by Haryanvi writers and artists, providing institutional visibility to regional creative voices. Students enrolled at DLCSUPVA — the state's premier performing and visual arts institution — stand to benefit from the heightened public attention such events bring to their programmes.
Folk artists and oral-tradition practitioners from across Haryana regard these commemorations as crucial to sustaining interest in Haryanvi language and performance forms among younger generations. The Chief Minister's personal presence signals the administration's continued political commitment to this cultural constituency.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to which writers and artists received the Sahityakar Samman awards at the ceremony, and whether the government uses the occasion to announce any expansion of degree or diploma programmes at DLCSUPVA. Any policy declaration on funding for Haryanvi folk arts documentation or performance infrastructure would mark a concrete follow-through on the symbolic gesture of the Chief Minister's attendance.
Point of View
And the Sahityakar Samman platform allows the government to distribute recognition to regional literary figures who shape local opinion. This fits a broader BJP pattern of leveraging state cultural institutions to build soft political capital among language and arts communities. The durability of this approach depends on whether symbolic attendance translates into substantive investment in DLCSUPVA's programmes and folk-arts documentation.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dada Lakhmi Chand and why is he called Surya Kavi?
Dada Lakhmi Chand was a celebrated Haryanvi folk poet and singer whose compositions on rural life, valour, and social themes earned him the title 'Surya Kavi' (Sun Poet), reflecting the brilliance and reach of his literary contributions.
What is DLCSUPVA in Rohtak?
The Dada Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts (DLCSUPVA) is a state university in Rohtak, Haryana, established in 2014 to provide institutional training and research in folk and classical performing arts.
What is the Sahityakar Samman Samaroh?
The Sahityakar Samman Samaroh is a literary honours ceremony organised alongside the Dada Lakhmi Chand birth-anniversary event to recognise the contributions of Haryanvi writers and artists.
Why did CM Nayab Singh Saini attend the Dada Lakhmi Chand jayanti?
CM Saini attended the birth-anniversary celebration at DLCSUPVA in Rohtak on 23 July 2026 as part of the Haryana government's ongoing effort to promote Haryanvi folk culture and honour regional literary heritage.
When was DLCSUPVA established in Rohtak?
DLCSUPVA was established by the Haryana government in 2014, with the specific mandate of institutionalising training and research in folk and classical performing arts, and was named after folk legend Dada Lakhmi Chand.
