In a significant move to safeguard its rich cultural tapestry, the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages (JKAACL) has launched a dedicated initiative rooted in the ancient Guru-Shishya Parampara (teacher-disciple tradition). The program aims to breathe new life into five critically endangered performing art forms of the Union Territory.
Master Artists Lead the Revival Mission
The academy has meticulously identified and appointed five esteemed masters, or Gurus, each a stalwart in their respective art form. These veterans will personally train selected disciples (shishyas) in an intensive, traditional setting. The selected arts for revival include the satirical folk theatre Bhand Pather, the devotional singing form Chakri, the classical Sufiana Kalam music, the lyrical Ladishah, and the traditional storytelling art of Bacha Nagma.
Noted artist Mohammad Subhan Bhagat has been entrusted with the revival of Bhand Pather. For Chakri, the renowned singer Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz will serve as the Guru. The complex and refined Sufiana Kalam will be taught by Mohammad Yaqoob Sheikh. The poignant and often socially critical Ladishah finds its teacher in Ghulam Hassan Sofi, while the vibrant Bacha Nagma will be revived under the guidance of Mushtaq Ahmad Saaznawaz.
A Sustainable Model for Cultural Preservation
This initiative moves beyond one-off workshops or festivals. It establishes a structured, long-term learning environment. The selected shishyas will undergo rigorous training directly under their Gurus, ensuring an authentic transmission of knowledge, technique, and the intangible essence of each art form. The JKAACL is supporting this knowledge transfer by providing a monthly honorarium to both the masters and the disciples, making the learning process sustainable for the practitioners.
The Secretary of JKAACL, Bharat Singh, emphasized the urgency of this mission. He stated that these unique art forms, which have been the soul of Kashmiri culture for centuries, are on the verge of extinction due to modernization and a lack of institutional support. The Guru-Shishya model, he believes, is the most effective and time-honored method to not only preserve but also propagate these traditions.
Securing the Future of Heritage
The consequences of this program are expected to be far-reaching. By creating a new cohort of trained artists, the JKAACL aims to ensure these art forms have future performers and audiences. This initiative also brings much-deserved recognition and financial stability to the master artists, who have kept these traditions alive against all odds. The revival is seen as a crucial step in maintaining the cultural identity of Jammu & Kashmir, offering the world a window into its profound artistic heritage.
Experts in cultural conservation have applauded the move, noting that while documentation is vital, the living practice of an art is its true preservation. The success of this guru-shishya scheme could serve as a model for other Indian states grappling with the erosion of their own indigenous artistic traditions.
