Lt Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Unveils IGNCA Regional Centre in Jammu

Jammu, Dec 23 (NationPress) The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, inaugurated the regional centre of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) in Jammu on Monday.

He extended his congratulations to local artists, writers, researchers, art enthusiasts, innovators, and students during the ceremony. He expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ram Bahadur Rai, the President of IGNCA, for dedicating the IGNCA’s Regional Centre to Jammu.

“The folk traditions of Jammu have served as a source of values and ideals that have sustained our society over the years, and I am confident that the IGNCA's regional centre will establish a framework to nurture cultural virtues, thereby enhancing the quality of life,” stated the Lieutenant Governor.

“This centre will play a pivotal role in promoting and preserving our rich artistic and cultural heritage, while also supporting the growth of time-honored traditional wisdom and knowledge,” he remarked.

The Lieutenant Governor urged the intellectual community to collaborate with organizations like IGNCA to promote J&K’s extensive artistic heritage and to safeguard and disseminate the Vedic oral traditions.

“Our civilizational heritage embodies a culture that is inclusive and founded on the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which means the world is one family. This mantra remains significantly relevant today,” he emphasized.

He pointed out that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Jammu & Kashmir is experiencing a cultural revival. He mentioned that the IGNCA centre in Jammu will further bolster government initiatives aimed at the promotion, development, and enrichment of folk traditions.

Highlighting the importance of engaged citizens and stakeholders in fostering an artistic mindset among the youth, the Lieutenant Governor expressed that the creative potential of young people will have positive repercussions across various sectors of society.

He called for dedicated efforts to disseminate the works of prominent thinkers and writers such as Yogini Lalleshwari, Nund Rishi, Habba Khatoon, Parmanand, Dattu, Thakur Raghunath Singh, Pandit Hardutt, Gangaram, and Padma Sachdev, particularly to the younger generation.

“In this era of rapid transformation, it is our collective duty to ensure that regional literature, folk music, drama, and Pahari art become integral parts of every household,” he urged.

The Lieutenant Governor also commended IGNCA and the J&K Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) for organizing the Toycathon. He noted that the Toycathon offers a platform for young people to engage in grassroots innovation, encouraging them to design and develop toys that reflect local cultural values and the lives of local heroes. He further discussed the educational advancements occurring in the Union Territory of J&K over recent years.

“I take pride in the fact that Jammu & Kashmir is at the forefront of implementing the National Education Policy 2020,” he stated.

During the event, the Lieutenant Governor honored students who excelled in the District/School-level competitions for Toycathon 2024.

He also launched several publications from IGNCA and toured stalls set up by various schools, showcasing innovative toy designs and clay models created by artists from different states.

Among those present were Sakina Ittoo, Minister for School/Higher Education, Health & Medical Education, and Social Welfare; Dr. Sachidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA; Suresh Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary of Culture and School Education; Dr. Rashmi Singh, Commissioner Secretary of Higher Education; Prof (Dr) Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director of SCERT J&K; along with senior officials, teachers, artists, and students.

Also in attendance were Anand Jain, ADGP Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu; Vice Chancellors of several universities, and heads of various educational institutions.