Balwant Thakur meets Union Minister for Tourism & Culture

New Delhi, July 16: Padma Shri Balwant Thakur, an eminent theatre director and cultural icon from Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday met Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, at his official residence in New Delhi.A statement during the meeting, Thakur passionately pleaded for substantial and targeted support for the revival and development of arts and culture in the Union Territory of J&K. Having devoted his life to the service of art and culture, Thakur shared his visionary roadmap for the holistic cultural upliftment of the region. Drawing upon decades of hands-on experience in managing and promoting the arts of J&K, he urged the Union Minister to consider J&K under a special cultural provision, similar to the model adopted for the North Eastern states, in order to address the long-standing neglect of the region’s rich cultural heritage. A key point raised in the discussion was the pending demand for a regional centre of the National School of Drama (NSD) in Jammu. Despite previous efforts, including course module structuring and identification of local collaborators, the proposal has not materialised on the ground. Thakur emphasised that such a centre is vital for nurturing talent and institutionalising theatre education in the region.