Srinagar, Oct 9: Noted creative theatre director and cultural administrator at the National Bhand Pather workshop, Balwant Thakur has said that 20 new productions in Bhand Pather style would be staged at different places across the valley in the last week of October.
 “The rich cultural treasure of Jammu & Kashmir is being preserved for posterity through a major cultural revival initiative of Natrang. As a part of the initiative, 20 young writers and directors of Bhand tradition are being equipped with the latest methodologies of play scripting, production and the performance styles,” Thakur said, adding cultural history of Kashmir had never witnessed such a kind of flip and boost of a otherwise dying tradition, which had been a victim of “neglect.”
 Terming Bhands as the custodians of culture and language, Balwant Thakur underlined their selfless contribution in preserving the rich folklore and cultural wealth of Kashmir. “They deserve appreciation, support and patronage for the yeoman’s services they have provided to preserve and pass on our heritage to the future generations. With these 20 new productions, this rarest artistic expression will not only be revolutionized, but also be given effective communication skilled tools to reach to larger network of audiences. In the past the Bhand groups have been repeating the same old themes and concepts which have no relevance in the changed circumstances and there was a dire need to infuse fresh energy of creativity and innovation amongst them.”
 The National workshop for Bhand Pather is organized by Natrang Jammu in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.
 Eminent playwright and theatre director Moti lal Kemmu is the workshop director and the top cultural figures of the valley Sajood Sailini, Amin Bhatt, Bhawani Bashir, Nissar Naseem, Dr. Farooq Fiyaz and Mushtaq Ali are the experts of the workshops.
 The new generation of Bhand being train in the first phase of the programme include, Bilal Ahmed Bhagat, Shah-e-Jahan-Ahmed Bhagat, Manzoor Ahmed Bhat, Ghulam Nabi, Muneer Ahmed, Bilal Ahmed Mir, Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, Fayaz Ahmed Bhat, Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmed Bagat, Tahir Ahmed, Ghulam Hassan Betaab, Muhammad Sultan Bhat, Feroz Ahmed Bhat, Fayaz Ahmed Rather, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, Abdul Rashid, Fayaz Ahmed Bhat, Jameel Ahmed Bhat and Ghulam Muhammad Bhat.
 The workshop assistants include Muhammad Yaseen, Manzoor-ul-Haq and Hoshiar Singh.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST