New Delhi/IBNS: Are we doing enough to preserve our folk culture and teach them at the primary levels was one of the key questions raised by Prof. Molly Kaushal, Director, National Mission on Cultural Mapping, a unit of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
She was speaking at a session organised by IGNCA to discuss the book ‘Lokgeet Manjari’ published by it and authored by Dr. Malti Rai Sharma.
Folk songs (‘lokgeet’) represent and are symbolic of society’s intrinsic ethos and its values, said author Dr Rai.
The book discussion session was chaired by Rambahadur Rai while Dr. Sachichidanand Joshi delivered the welcome address.
Dr. Sanjeev Rai, a well-known educationist, was the main speaker.
Dr. Rai touched upon different issues while discussing the book, prominent among which was the inclusion of emotional dimensions of folk songs in the book.
He also said that folk songs are based on community living and is the collective effort of the community.
Also present were Mata Prasad Pandey, former minister and former Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Assembly; Prof. Alok Rai, V.C, University of Lukhnow; C. P. Rai, former minister Uttar Pradesh;; Prof. Anil Kumar, head of department, IGNCA; Asif Azmi, Convenor, Maati Cultural Organisation; Dr. Yati Sharma, Dr. Prabhat Ojha and Pratibha Shukla.
The session was moderated by Abhay Mishra, Assistant Director, NMCM, IGNCA.
Prof. Anil Kumar extended a formal vote of thanks.
