Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has started the Guru–Shishya Parampara Scheme with the objective of preserving, revitalising and transmitting rare and vanishing art forms of Jammu and Kashmir.
The scheme is aimed at identifying eminent masters of traditional art forms and engaging them in systematic training of young disciples, thereby ensuring continuity of the region’s rich and diverse cultural heritage through the age-old Guru–Shishya tradition.
Under the scheme, each selected Guru will impart training to a group of five to eight Shishyas in a specific art form.
To provide sustained support to the training process, monthly honorarium is being paid to all stakeholders, including ₹10,000 to the Guru, ₹7,500 to the accompanist or assistant, and ₹5,000 to each Shishya.
The duration of training has been fixed at one year for each art form, with a provision for extension by another year subject to review of performance and progress.
The scheme received an encouraging response from across the Union Territory, with a total of 200 applications submitted, including 63 from Kashmir and 137 from Jammu. Following detailed scrutiny and assessment by a panel of experts, three art forms were identified as being on the verge of extinction. Eminent practitioners of these art forms were accordingly selected as Gurus under the scheme to safeguard and revive these fading traditions by passing them on to the younger generation.
Salochna Devi has been selected as Guru for the Ghuria folk dance of Paddar, Shri Dev Raj for the Massadey folk tradition from Bani, and Shri Abdul Rashid Mir for the Dastan Folk tradition of Kashmir.
These masters will now impart structured training to young pupils, ensuring authenticity and continuity of these traditional art forms.
Massadey, a Dogri folk art form, is a vibrant traditional performance practice prevalent in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring regions.
It is deeply rooted in storytelling, music and movement, and serves as a medium for conveying local legends, myths and social messages.
Dastan-e-Goi, also known as Dastan Folk, is a classical oral storytelling tradition with origins in the Persian-speaking world that flourished in the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal era.
Known for its elaborate narratives and dramatic expression, it represents a rich legacy of oral literature and performance.
Ghuria is a vibrant women-led folk dance of Paddar, Kishtwar, blending flute, dhouns and call-and-response singing. Rooted in oral tradition, it celebrates community life, preserves the Paddari dialect, and embodies cultural unity, now endangered by migration and modern influences, requiring urgent revival.
Through the implementation of the Guru–Shishya Parampara Scheme, JKAACL has reaffirmed its commitment to the preservation and promotion of the intangible cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring that rare and endangered art forms are revived and carried forward by future generations.DD
