Two days Seminar was organized by Sindhi Council of India (North Zone) in collaboration with the National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language on 6th & 7th March 2010 at Russian Cultural Centre, 24 Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi.
The theme of the Seminar was “Modern Formats of Classical Art Forms (with reference to Music, Dance, Drama) Opportunities and Challenges”. 65 Writers, Dramatists, Musicians, Sindhi personalities belonging to Television, Cinema & 14 Members of NCPSL participated in the two days Seminar.
On the first day of the Seminar Dada Laxman Das Keswani, Vice Chairman Shrikant Bhatia, Ms. Renu Idnani, Mr. Shyam Jumani and Dr. M. K. Jetly inaugurated the Seminar by lighting of Lamp.
Modern Formats of Classical with reference to Opportunitie
Renu Idnani, convenor of the Seminar welcomed the delegates and guests and said that Sindhis worship Jhulelal, God of Water. Emphasising the importance of River Sindhu, She said that Vedas were written on the Banks of River Indus. She further said that NCPSL’s this programme is examplnery in nature because a Seminar on new theme has been organized. Women are portrayed in Literature and Art. We have invited several women achievers in today’s Seminars.
Vice Chairman Shrikant Bhatia highlighted the various programme held after he took over the charge of NCPSL. In order to review and revamp the Scheme of Sindhi Language Learning one day Seminar was organized in Delhi to invite suggestions from academician. He informed that website of the Council is ready to be launched and all the information pertaining to the Schemes and programmes of the Council will be available on the Website. Highlighting the need of involving young generation, he said that young artists associated with Theatre, Art, Music and Cinema are invited in this Seminar. He assured that he will continue his endeavour in this regard. He added that Council’s programmes will be organized in small townships like Katni, Agra, Jalgaon etc.
NCPSL will provide coaching to those, who want to take Sindhi subject in the examination of IAS and Civil Services. Course material is also being prepared.
Chief Guest Shri Suresh Keswani (Ex-MP Raya Sabha) welcomed Shri Ramakant Goswami (President Delhi Jal Board) by presenting a bouquet. He said Shri Goswami has always extended full co-operation to Sindhis.
Shri Ramakant Goswami said he has long & deep relationship with Sindhis. He paid Sindhi Community occupies special status. They are rich and have achieved tremendous success in various fields including Art, Culture and Literature.
Presented Sindhi Folk Songs and a duet. A comedy skit titled “Shaadi Shart Saan” written and directed by Shankar Mulwani was presented by the Artist of Sindhu Kala Sangam, Delhi.
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At the end of the cultural programme all the Artists including Bhagat Kamal assembled on the stage and presented a chorus.
After Lunch, 1st session of the Seminar commenced with key note address by Shri Laxman Bhatia, he said that a statue of Dancing girl found from the excavation of Moan Jo Daro indicates that performing Arts like Dance, Drama, Music as well as Literature were in a highly developed state in the period of Indus Valley Civilization. But after the destruction of that civilization no clues of the following 800 years are available. The aim of the Seminar is to examine classical form of Art & explore the strength of new formats and explore the possibility of experimentation.
After his key note address Renu Idnani presented brief introduction of the paper reader Dr. Kamala Goklani. The theme of her paper was “Modern Formats of Classical Art Forms (with reference to Music, Dance) Opportunities and Challenges”. The session was presided by Justice I.S. Israni (Rtd.).
Dr. Kamla Goklani presenting the paper said that culture of Sindh is closely associated with Music, Poetry & Dance. Reminiscences found from the excavation of Moan Jo Daro confirm this belief. Poetry of Shah Abdul Latif is based on classical ragas. Sindh Bhairvi is a good example of contribution of Sindh in field of Music. She provided the information about Musicians, Singers & Dancers before partition and those who emerged after partition. She pointed out that the influence of Western music and re-mix is visible but expressed the hope that someone will endeavour to face this challenge and take advantage of Modern facilities to preserve originality.
After presentation of the paper by Dr. Kamla Goklani, Professor C.J. Daswani conducted the proceedings and invited names from the Audience to express their views about the paper and also to give suggestions. At the end of the session paper reader Dr. Kamla Goklani replied the questions raised by some participants.
On 07th March, 2010 in the second session of the Seminar Renu Idnani introduced paper reader Mr. Meghraj Gurnani. The theme of the paper was “Modern Formats of Classical Art Forms (with reference to Drama) Opportunities and Challenges”.
Shri Sunder Agnani presiding the session said that the present state of Sindhi Drama is not encouraging. Mr. Meghraj Gurnani presenting the paper provided brief account of creation of Natya Shastra and said that classical form of Drama can be traced in Natya Shastra and Classical Sanskrit Theatre but no cues are available about the way Sanskrit Theatre was presented and only several description are available in various books.
Turning to Sindhi Drama, he furnished brief description of the state of Sindhi Drama before partition and said that Modern Drama in Sindhi started in mid 50s. Problems faced by Sindhis after partition formed the theme of Modern Sindhi plays. While post Modern Drama of 70s was influence by existentialism and absurd Theatre like Indian Theatre. In Indian Theatre folk forms were used by Directors to create new formats and several playwrights wrote plays in Modern Formats but this kind of two way traffic was non-existent in Sindhi Theatre. The plays of 70s eliminated the necessity of auditorium, makeup, costumes and light designing therefore, those plays can be presented anywhere with the help of minium property. He cited several examples of such plays whose themes were derived from today’s life.
After presentation of the paper by Mr. Meghraj Gurnani, Professor C.J. Daswani conducted the proceedings and invited names from the Audience to express their views about the paper and also to give suggestions. At the end of the session paper reader Mr. Meghraj Gurnani replied the questions raised by some participants.
