*Certain officers of State express ignorance about decision
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 27: Though the Union Ministry of Culture had announced establishment of Regional Centre of National School of Drama in Jammu and Kashmir over a year back yet the State Government has not responded to this decision so far despite repeated reminders from the Centre. Shockingly, certain officers of the Department of Culture of the State are even unaware about such announcement thereby exhibiting intensity of non-seriousness.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha in the month of March 2016 had announced setting up of Regional Centres of National School of Drama-one each at Kolkata, Mumbai/Goa, J&K and North-East.
The announcement was based on the recommendations made by the Broad Based Committee. He had stated that these Regional Centres will be established in consultation with the concerned State Governments, which would have to provide accommodation for the purpose.
However, despite lapse of over one year J&K has not responded to the announcement of the Union Culture Ministry, sources said, adding “the non-serious approach is being adopted despite the fact that National School of Drama has sent a number of communications to the Culture Ministry of J&K during the past one year”.
The issue of establishment of Regional Centres of National School of Drama (NSD) announced one year back was also deliberated by the Department Related Parliament Standing Committee on Culture of Rajya Sabha but it was shocked to know from the Union Ministry that J&K was soft-paddling on the issue unlike other States which have shown positive response to the announcement.
“The National School of Drama is reminding the State of J&K to take a decision at the earliest to provide land/accommodation for the purpose of opening of Regional Centre”, reads the report of Parliamentary Panel which was tabled in the Rajya Sabha few days back. This clearly established that there is no taker of announcement made by Union Ministry over one year back in Jammu and Kashmir Government.
When contacted, Secretary to Government, Department of Culture, Dilshada Khan expressed ignorance about such announcement in respect of Jammu and Kashmir and said, “may be the Regional Centre of National School of Drama is being planned by the Union Culture Ministry and announcement is likely during the next financial year”. Similar was the response of some other officers of the Department of Culture.
However, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Dr Aziz Hajini confirmed the announcement made by the Union Culture Ministry and said, “I don’t know when the announcement regarding establishment of Regional Centre of National School of Drama was announced but I have recently received papers from the State Culture Ministry for furnishing comments on setting up of centre”.
When specifically asked about comments, he said, “I have been asked to assess the feasibility of such centre in J&K so that State’s decision is communicated to the Union Culture Ministry as well as National School of Drama”. He, however, immediately added, “we would love to have Regional Centre of NSD in J&K as theatre activities have increased considerably in the State during the past few years”.
It is matter of serious concern that while one senior officer is expressing ignorance about the announcement the other is admitting the same. This is the testimony of lack of coordination for which stress is being laid by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. “Whatsoever the level of information of the officers about the announcement but the fact remains that J&K has not responded to the announcement during the past over one year”, sources remarked.
It is pertinent to mention here that the National School of Drama is one of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi as one of its constituent units in 1959. In 1975, it became an independent entity and was registered as an autonomous organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, fully financed by the Union Ministry of Culture.
Training in the School is highly intensive and is based on a thorough, comprehensive, carefully planned syllabus which covers every aspect of theatre. The systematic study and practical performing experience of Sanskrit drama, modern Indian drama, traditional Indian theatre forms, Asian drama and western dramatic protocols give the students a solid grounding and a wide perspective in the art of theatre.
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