NZCC, JKAACL collaborate to embrace artistic heritage

Srinagar : Aiming to safeguard and nurture the rich traditional art of Calligraphy (Khatati), a camp commenced on Wednesday at Srinagar’s Bemina Government College, through a collaborative effort between the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala and the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL).
The camp is part of a series of programmes designed to celebrate the three day “Vitasta Cultural Festival, which is scheduled to commence on June 23 at the prestigious Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in the city of Srinagar.
It is worth mentioning that the ‘Vitasta Cultural Festival’ carries a significant objective in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary concept of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ (One India, Great India), as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative.
The calligraphy camp will continue until Thursday evening, and subsequently, the calligraphic artworks produced during the camp will be exhibited at the prestigious grand event of the “Vitasta Cultural Festival” at SKICC.
On the inaugural ceremony of the calligraphy camp, the organisers and art experts emphasised the purpose of the camp by stating that art encompasses the concept of beauty and a diverse range of its forms. Among these forms, calligraphy holds a prominent and influential position.
They said that the well-skilled and senior calligraphers at the camp will be providing valuable tips to younger participants, enabling them to master this art form. They emphasised that calligraphy not only represents a unique and distinct genre of art but also provides promising employment opportunities in the realm of designing cards, decorative charts, and various other objects.
While extending warm greetings to camp participants, Gauri Basu, Advisor of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Programme under the Union Ministry of Culture, said, “Calligraphy is the lovely art of writing words with accuracy and beauty.” She further mentioned that the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is actively promoting and supporting calligraphy, as it does with other art forms.
Gauri Basu applauded the excellent arrangement of the camp venue and the associated college. She said that, having been a professor herself for several years, she experienced a sense of belonging and connection to the camp.
On this occasion, Bharat Singh Manhas, Secretary of JKAACL, provided a comprehensive overview of the academy’s operations and the incentives being offered to artists. Recognising calligraphy as a significant art form, he enthusiastically encouraged the participating students, emphasising its importance and inspiring them to pursue their calligraphic endeavours.
During the event, Dr. Farooq Anwar Mirza, Divisional Head of the Academy, and Additional Secretary, Sanjeev Rana, shed light on the future plans and initiatives of the Academy. They shared valuable insights into the Academy’s vision and goals.
Furthermore, Anwar Lolabi, head of calligraphy at the college, provided a detailed explanation of Khitati art. His expertise and knowledge illuminated the audience with the rich tradition and techniques associated with this particular form of calligraphy.
Nazir Ahmad Simnani, Principal of Degree College Bemina, provided an overview of the art-related activities carried out by the college.
Ravindra Sharma, Programme Officer of the North Zone Cultural Centre in Patiala, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the guests and organisers for their presence and support.
The stage proceedings were coordinated by Saeeda Nikhat Qureshi, an Associate Professor of Urdu at the college.