Dr. Nirmal Singh launched ‘Basholi Anthem on Vivekananda Jayanti
BASHOLI,January 13th :- Culture plays an important role in the development of any nation. It represents a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices. Culture and creativity manifest themselves in almost all economic, social and other activities. A country as diverse as India is symbolized by the plurality of its culture.
DyCM, Dr. Nirmal Singh said this during ‘Swami Vivekananda Jayanti Celebrations’ being organized by Vishwasthali — a Basholi-based NGO working to revive the dying Basohli art, where he was the Chief Guest along with Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary and Minister of State for Education, Tourism and Culture Priya Sethi who marked their presence as Guest of Honor in the celebrations.
As many as 200 students from different schools of Pathankot, Jammu, Kathua, Samba and Udhampur participated in different events organized to mark Vivekananda Jayanti celebrations.
At the outset Dr. Singh launched ‘Basohli Anthem’, a sort of tele film to promote art, culture and heritage of Basohli besides attracting tourists. He also said that it is a first of its kind initiative in Jammu region commenced in collaboration with Tourism department to promote world famous Basohli Paintings, Basholi pashmina shawl and tourist avenues viz. Atal Setu and Ranjit Sagar Dam.
He also lauded the efforts of Vishwasthali to revive the indigenous art of Basholi and popularise it in the international market.Kashmir and Basholi (in Jammu province) are the only places in the country where pashmina shawls are manufactured on looms, DyCM added and further disclosed that concerted efforts are underway to conserve and revive the world famous Basohli paintings besides reviving pristine glory of historical Basohli town.
To increase the tourist foot fall in the region, DyCM announced that DPR for converting Lakhanpur-Dunnera road to N.H. has been prepared and will soon be submitted with the concerned department for early approval.
Invoking the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Dr. Singh said Vivekananda’s teachings have left tremendous impacts towards the enrichment of Indian socio-cultural traditions besides bringing spiritual reawakening among the Indians in the 19th century and is popularly known as the “Intellectual Monk of India” among the youth.
