Sir,
Reference Kunwar Vyogi Utsav-2017 Cheten Di Ladi, organized at Brig. Rajinder Singh Auditorium, DE 8th Sep. 2017. Behind the presidium chairs, an enlarged photograph of a design of ‘KAIL’ was suitably hanged in the rear and during function it was asked to the whatsoever present audience whether they knew what is Kail, and then made them understand that it is a popular folk instrument even being played today in very remote areas of Jammu. The designer, an art student of Institute of Fine Arts College Jammu, has been awarded Prem Jamwal Youth Art Innovative Award by the organisers.
Having a glimpse of this design, no doubt an excellent piece of art, it seemed that the members of the Kunwar Vyogi Memorial Trust has no knowledge about Kail and the other three leading and responsible institutions working for the cause of Duggar and Dogri, i.e Dogri Sanstha, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Jammu University, particularly the Dogri Department, who are coordinating this Utsav were not interested to enlighten the Memorial Trust about this popular musical instrument which is still in use at every nook and corner of Duggar. In case Poonam Jamwal, KVM Trust Founder had approached her ancestral family or village or anyone residing in old city, she would have easily understood what actually the Kail is. Hence to make the Trust a success, besides the help of these coordinators, it will be essential for her to maintain her own contacts with the deep roots of Duggar and the Dogras.
Any now, coming to the design, the musical instrument shown in the design very much resembles to a similar type of instrument being played by Lamas (Ladakh) in the given style, although it is a bit larger in length and thin in structure when compared with Kail.
The young designer, a fine art student, cannot be blamed for such an ignorance but it is a matter requiring sincere consideration that the judges of this competition have ignored the realities and there was not a single Dogra in the teaching staff or among his fellow art students who could have guided or helped him properly to design his piece of art as per the subject. Not only a sad state of affairs but an alarming situation which reflects how, we the Dogras are going away from our cultural heritage.
Yours etc…
Narsingh Dev Jamwal
Jammu
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