‘Spreading art and culture only way to prevent militancy’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Manhas talked about controversies surrounding him and discusses new plans for promoting art and culture
Zaffar Iqbal ManhasZaffar Iqbal Manhas, secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) is credited with raising the academy to new heights from its infancy when the budget was a mere Rs 12,000. An avid writer and columnist himself, he has often invited ire of the government and separatists for calling a spade a spade.
As editor of the Cultural Academy, Zaffar has edited and compiled more than 150 books and titles in Urdu and Pahari language.
Two guests, Keshav Sharma and Ashish Sharma, both theatre artistes from Rangyug group, also joined The Tribune team in the interaction. Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JS): The Academy of Art and Culture is celebrating this year as “Year of Cultural Dialogue”. What is it about?
Zaffar Iqbal Manhas (ZIM): This is the age when dialogue between people is the most important. But people and nations rarely do that to resolve chronic issues. Our state is confronted with many such issues. We talk in private whereas intellectual discourse is the need of the hour. We are inviting people from within the state and outside to have such a discourse at the state and regional level. The idea is to spread art and culture. Spreading it is the only way to combat militancy. No artist has ever picked up gun.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): There have always been voices of discontent and discrimination when it comes to giving representation to different languages, dialects, ethnicities and cultures by the academy. How do you cope up with the situation and ensure justice to all?
ZIM: Being human beings, no one can claim to be balanced all the time. But after assuming the office, I have tried to do justice to everyone with sincerity and honesty. At the same time, I inherited a legacy (academy), which has certain lacunae and it will take some time to set the house in order.
If a genuine proposal comes to me, I don’t waste time to give my nod. It was me who after taking over the charge convened a meeting of around 300 writers, telling them to keep a check on me and vice-versa so as to see art, culture and languages thrive in the state.
However, people should also know that the academy has several infrastructure and financial constraints. Even today, we don’t have a single auditorium in Kashmir, where cultural activities are indispensable to bring it back on the track. Similarly, we don’t have any control over Kala Kendra in Jammu and we are getting the same budget as it was 10 years ago.
RKK: Every time the academy felicitates artists from the field of art, culture and languages, including theatre, it faces allegations of nepotism. How you react to them?
ZIM: We have a panel of experts from every field. Problem is created by those who don’t get awards and feel there is some bias. But our process is transparent. Though several people wanted me to manipulate things, I never compromised. I know how an artist works relentlessly to carve a niche for himself.
Whatever I have done so far as secretary of the Academy it goes down well with my conscience and I have no remorse.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Due to indifferent attitude of the academy, the Institute of Music and Fine Arts is housed in a dilapidated building that can collapse anytime. Why the authorities shy away from their responsibilities?
(ZIM): I want to make it clear that this institute has been unnecessary attached with the academy. In other parts of the country, such institutes are attached with the universities concerned. We still take care of it with our limited resources. Recently, we gave Rs 7 lakh for its repair. A decision regarding handing over the institute to Jammu University is in final stages.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): It has been alleged that the JKAACL has appointed valley-based people on some important posts instead of people from Jammu? What is the truth?
ZIM: It is not possible and there is no such criteria. There is a committee of experts from Jawaharlal Nehru University, which makes appointments for JKAACL. However, there are around nine employees who belong to Jammu and were appointed in the valley, but they managed to get transferred to Jammu.
SK: When will the academy publish its yearly calendar of events as till date no such calendar has been published?
ZIM: We will publish the calendar in June in which events, time and venue will be mentioned. The calendar will be subject to change.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): The annual Kul Hind mushaira held by the academy used to be a big draw in which stalwarts of Urdu poetry take part. But over the years, its status has come down to the level of a district-level poetic congregation. Your comments.
ZIM: We cannot invite poets like Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Bashir Badar and Nida Fazli as we have limited budget. But still we invite good poets from other states as per our resources.
AS: What is your annual budget and what is the requirement of the JKAACL?
ZIM: The budget amount to nearly Rs 7.5 crore out of which 75 per cent is utilised for disbursement of salaries and the rest is spent on cultural activities. No amount of money is sufficient enough for the promotion of cultural activities. Still, the budget amount should be doubled.
AS: There are reports from tehsils like Sunderbani and Nowshera, besides districts headquarters like Samba, RS Pura and Kathua that no cultural activities have been held there for the past two-three years. Why?
ZIM: I would appeal to writers, artists or other cultural activists to show their presence and put up proposals for holding functions in their respective areas. It’s a two way process. If proposals come from their side, the academy will surely hold functions.
AS: You display a deep understanding of political issues confronting people of the state. Do you have any plans to joining politics?
ZIM: I am a “karamyogi”. Whatever assignment comes across, I enjoy doing it. Earlier, I got a number of opportunities to enter into politics but I was occupied with other work. But after I am finished with this assignment, I would love to serve my people if such an opportunity comes to me.
Archit Watts (AW): You are known as the cultural ambassador of Kashmir, why Kashmir alone and not the Jammu and Kashmir?
ZIM: Yes, I am known as cultural ambassador of Kashmir, but I am a Dogra by blood and born in Kashmir. I love Jammu as much as I love Kashmir. It is the prerogative of public. What they want to say, they can. As far as Jammu people are concerned, they have always given me full cooperation and I expect the same in future also.
My job is to represent not only region and I have always represented the entire state with my full wisdom.
Ashish Sharma (theatre artiste): Abhinav Theatre in Jammu, the cradle of theatre culture, is in a shambles. When would it be modernised?
ZIM: You would see some changes soon. Power supply was a big issue that has been sorted out. And it’s just not about this theatre only. Media can help us a lot by raising the issue in public forums. You are well versed with the problem of funds. I think regular interaction between the academy, government, bureaucracy and media can help is finding solutions to many issues.
Keshav Sharma (theatre artiste): How do you plan to bring different regions of the state together through art and culture?
ZIM: We have finalised plans of holding Dogri conference in Srinagar. Similarly, we want to organise such programmes of different culture and region in all parts of the state.
No comments:
Post a Comment