Press Note                                                                                                                                                                                                 24rd June, 2019

Gaashtarukh-VII, The KP Idol Talent Hunt

 

Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch is a socio-cultural organization and has been actively involved in different cultural, religious, philanthropic activities in Delhi /NCR and other parts of India. JKVM has been continuously celebrating many religious festivals in a unique manner by organizing community gatherings during the festival period. To propagate the message of love and universal peace on the festive occasion.

 

Gaashtarukh VII

New Delhi, 23rd June: The language of the community becomes the tool for transmitting culture from one generation to another. History is witness that when a language is lost, culture and heritage are also largely lost. When a culture loses its vehicle of language, the younger and newer generation will fail to experience and express their culture, threatening the collective existence of community. The challenge of Koshur (Kashmiri) community is that we are facing a race against time.

With the each passing day the number of kashmiri speaking population shrinks, threatening it to be pushed to near extinction. What else can one expect under these palpable circumstances, when you enter the auditorium to hear the koshur chants and experience the magnanimity of our culture being performed and demonstrated by our little siblings, the harbingers of the community. Gaashtarukh is an event that precisely addresses this challenge of preserving our culture and leveraging koshur language by meticulously integrating the both for a long term synergistic effect. 

 

Keeping up with the earlier tradition, Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch organised Final Competition of Gaashtaruk-VII this year on 23rd June at Mavlankar Hall, Rafi Marg, New Delhi. 

 

Gaastaarukh is a talent hunt programme organised by JKVM for displaced Kashmiri Hindu community kids who compete in domains like singing, dancing and instrumental. The idea is to help our kids carry forward our language and culture. 

 

This was the 7th Edition of ‘GaashTarukh’. The selection once again was the result of over three months long search and exposure of talent within the community. Auditions were held at Deen Dayal Research Institute, Jhandewalan, New Delhi. A group of 66 young boys and girls was shortlisted out of 98 children who had participated in auditions in various domains. Among 66 kids, 40 kids were further shortlisted for finals which was held on 23rd of June 2019 at Mavlankar Hall, Rafi Marg, New Delhi. The finale was judged by a panel of leading Kashmiri Artists Shri. Chand ji Bhat (Master Ji)  a very renowned Musician, Shri. Dileep Langoo a reputed Musician,composer and Singer, Smt. Lovely Chandra, a reputed singer, Shri. Rohit Das, music composer. Dance judgment was delivered by Mr. Anish Koul and Mr. Raman from Dance India Foundation, New Delhi.  

 

While speaking at the occasion they congratulated JKVM for organizing Gaashtarukh and urged young contestants to peruse this art in a consistent manner. 

 

Sh. Manoj Tiwari Ji, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and Sh. Akhilesh Mishra,  Director Gerenal (ICCR) graced the occasion as  chief guests. They appreciated and encouraged the team JKVM for their efforts to carry forward the legacy of Kashmiri culture and language. The programm culminated with award giving ceremony by the Chief guests to the winners of Gaashtarukh-VII. 

 

Shri. Dileep Mattoo, President JKVM presented welcome address and expressed the deep rooted commitment of JKVM towards preservation of culture and language and assured to continue it in future as well. 

 

The program was anchored by a young talented girl "Vanshika Bhat" (already a winner of Super Gaashtarukh 2017). She conducted the programm and kept entertaining the audience with her beautiful Kashmiri poetry and punches.

 

The young children of all ages competed enthusiastically and performed to the best of their ability and talent. Their talent enthused and encouraged many parents and children in the audience. It created a galvanizing environment and held the audience spell bound by the wonderful performances of these budding artists

The excitement of the event was visible in the audience , each time a , punch line in koshur was recited by any performer, the audience would respond with huge applause, rekindling the fire inside each one of us and reminding that this can be our converging element for a stronger community response to other issues as well.

 

Each performance of our little ones re-energized every member among the audience reminding us the need to stay connected with our roots. Every time a child artist came for a performance, their introductions in koshur, was making each one in audience feel strongly connected with each other.

 

Despite program continuing for 5 hours, we couldn’t see a moment when the excitement, enthusiasm dropped for even a second, indicating the inherent longing for togetherness. We are sure this event not only reinforced the need of strengthening Koshur culture and language among the audience but also made performers feel proud of what they were doing and made them the undeclared torch bearers of KP Samaj's culture, heritage and language.

 

The event has undoubtedly left many with a thought that there is a greater need to do much more to prevent the emerging dangers leading to the extinction of our Culture, Heritage and Language, that is even bigger demon than the terrorism and other exile effects.

 

Details of winners are below:

 

Winners of Gaahtarukh-VII. 

 

Singing Juniors. (6yrs to 12 yrs.)

Gashtarukh Signing Winner junior........           Saanvi Kakroo (Age 10 yrs.  from Faridabad)

1st Runner up........................................                 Aereen Dhar (Age11 yrs  from Faridabad) 

2nd Runner up.......................................                 Naina Pandita (8 yrs from Faridabad).

 

Singing winners Seniors:   (13 yrs to 18 years)

Gashtarukh Singing Winner Senior......           Radhika Koul (18 yrs from Vasundhra Enclave)

1st Runner up.......................................                  Upasana Pandita (16 yrs from Indirapuram)

2nd Runner up......................................                 Shriya Wali (17 yrs from Faridabad)

 

Instrumental Junior (6yrs to 12 yrs.)

Gaashtarukh Winner............................                 Vatsal Mattoo (10 yrs from Rohini)

Ist runner up.........................................                   Sanatan Raina (10 yrs from Jammu)

2nd runner up...................................                     Sparsh Gigoo (11 yrs from Mehrauli)

 

Instrumental winners Seniors:  (13 yrs to 18 years)

Gaashtarukh Winner.............................                  Anish Raina (13 yrs from Rohini

 

Dancing Junior Category. (6yrs to 12 yrs.)

Gaashtarukh Winner in Dancing Junior....         Lavanya Bhat (10 yrs from Rohini) 

Ist runner-up............................................                  Suyowna Kaul (11 yrs from Gurugram)

2nd  runner up.........................................                  Vashita Kaushal (10 yrs from Rohini)

 

Dancing senior Category (13 yrs to 18 years)

Gashtarukh Winner in Dancing Senior...........       Khushi Kaul (14 yrs from Gurugram)

Ist runner up..............................                                Nishtha Khushu (15 yrs from Faridabad)

2nd runner up.............................                              Shreen Koul (14 yrs from Shalimar garden)

 

All the singing finalists were accompanied on Harmonium by Ms. Ritika Raina (Prevoius Gaashtarukh).

 

Last but not the least, the entire community applauded the efforts of Sh. Sanjeev Gautam Raina for convening this program and guiding the kids at every stage. Shri. Satish Bhat, General Secretary, JKVM proposed vote of thanks.

 

This program was attended by all most all the organisations of Kashmiri community. 

 

 

Regards

Satish Bhat

General Secretary

Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch